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By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The weekend between the Preakness and Memorial Day is typically a quiet one in U.S. horse racing. The international stage is considerably richer this year, with spring classics set to take place in Ireland and Japan. But the local scene nevertheless features a handful of graded ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman How times flies! The 146th running of the Preakness (G1) will take place on Saturday at Pimlico, just two weeks after an ultra-competitive renewal of the Kentucky Derby (G1). The second leg of the Triple Crown has attracted a field of 10, including seven newcomers who skipped ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The weekend between the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Preakness (G1) brings a busy Saturday of racing at Belmont Park. Five graded stakes are on the agenda, and while the Man o' War (G1) for older turf horses is the star of the card, the Peter Pan (G3) is arguably the more intriguing ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman After a couple of frustrating misses in recent years, you might say I'm highly motivated to pick the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. Preferably a winner who isn't the top betting choice. I was among the handicappers who selected Maximum Security to win the ...

In terms of today's methods of preparing Thoroughbreds for the spring classics, Essential Quality has gained about as much experience in his five starts before this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) as any horse could expect. With horses no longer building toward the Derby through a long series of races at 2 and 3, it's ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Kentucky Derby is just nine days away, and the field is pretty much set. All that remains is to watch workouts, review replays, decipher data, and come up with our selections. In years past, I've taken this week before the Derby to highlight live longshots worth considering ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Get ready, everyone! Another great Saturday of racing awaits! At Oaklawn Park, a couple of million-dollar stakes are on the agenda, including a fantastic renewal of the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park. But an allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita is also worth ...