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By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Every year, California hosts a trio of major 1 1/4-mile dirt races: the Santa Anita H. (G1), the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2), and the Pacific Classic (G1). They're hard races to win, but trainer John Sadler makes the task look easy. Sadler's recent record in these three races is ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Although Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Sovereignty is skipping Saturday's 150th running of the $2 million Preakness (G1) at Pimlico, the second leg of the Triple Crown has nevertheless drawn a quality field. A couple of proven Grade 1 winners have joined the nine-horse lineup, along ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Saturday in between the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) presents an opportunity for possible Belmont (G1) contenders to shine in the $200,000 Peter Pan (G3) at Aqueduct's ''Belmont at the Big A'' meeting. The 1 1/8-mile race for three-year-olds turns out a Belmont winner ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs is almost here. Months of prep races have produced a strong field for Saturday's 151st edition of the ''Run for the Roses.'' This is my 12th year handicapping the Kentucky Derby on Unlocking Winners. My Derby record stands at 11-4-1-0 ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) is barely more than one week away. Post positions will be drawn on Saturday, after which we can start finalizing our betting strategies. Journalism is expected to start as a clear favorite in the Kentucky Derby, and I'm confident he'll prevail on the ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby is complete, and the field is coming into focus for the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1). It's time to ponder an annual handicapping question: how fast a pace will unfold in the Run for the Roses? As the old saying goes, pace makes the race, and that's ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Seven months after it began, the 2024-2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby concludes on Saturday with the running of the $400,000 Lexington (G3) at Keeneland. The 1 1/16-mile race is unlikely to produce a Kentucky Derby (G1) starter, but we could certainly see a Preakness (G1) contender ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Arguably the most wide-open Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier taking place this Saturday (barring a postponement due to heavy rain) is the $1.25 million Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland. The seven-horse field is small in size, but quality runs deep. Four of the entrants have won ...