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So, just what did we learn about Lani in the Kentucky Derby? Well, even though he finished ninth, we learned he is not the harlequin many thought he was watching his unconventional training methods at Churchill Downs and his numerous quirks. Although America has only a brief history hosting Japanese-trained horses, we can’t forget the ...

(On May 1, I reprinted the amazing story of Canonero II’s shocking victory in the 1971 Kentucky Derby to celebrate its 45th anniversary, and with Venezuelan connections represented in this year’s Derby by Florida Derby runner-up Majesto. As promised, here is the rest of Canonero’s remarkable story). As the Kentucky Derby hoopla began to quiet ...

With all the big preps and impressive winners, when you get right down to it, the only prep you can truly say was fast, and I mean fast fast, not just speed figure fast, was the San Vicente Stakes, run in 1:20 3/5. And with my belief that starting the year off in a sprint is old school and still the best way to sharpen a horse and prepare him ...

It’s been 16 years since the epic slugfest between Tiznow and Giant’s Causeway in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and they’re still at it, but this time it’s two against one. In this year’s Kentucky Derby, Giant’s Causeway will have a distinct advantage over his conqueror, when his talented sons, Blue Grass Stakes winner Brody’s Cause and Tampa Bay ...

1 Nyquist Doug O'Neill Uncle Mo—Seeking Gabrielle, by Forestry We should learn by now not to pay attention to time when it comes to O’Neill’s works. Clockers got Nyquist 5f in :12 3/5, :24 4/5, :37 1/5, and 1:02 3/5, out in 1:17 1/5. A private clocker, commenting on Twitter, got him 7f in :13 1/5, :26 1/5, :38 3/5, 1:03 4/5, 1:16 1/5, and ...

1 Nyquist Doug O'Neill Uncle Mo—Seeking Gabrielle, by Forestry We all know by now he missed a couple of days of training with a slightly elevated white blood count, but he never missed an oat and has been back to the track showing great energy. Remember, he did travel cross-country, ran in the Florida Derby, and immediately traveled to ...

A young comedienne who had just met Rodney Dangerfield on “The Tonight Show” was asked by host Johnny Carson what she thought of the hound dog-faced comic who had made “No Respect” his trademark slogan. Looking Dangerfield up and down, she purred, “I respect him.” Sensing potential danger to his act, Dangerfield shot back combatively, “Oh yeah, ...

Jeff Lukas walked along the outside rail heading back to the barn following Charismatic’s victory in the 1999 Kentucky Derby. The fans in the grandstand off to his right were still buzzing over the 31-1 triumph of the former $62,500 claimer. Jeff wore a blank expression on his face, staring straight ahead. No longer the Jeff Lukas that had ...

The Belmont Stakes; the end of the Triple Crown journey; the one race, as fickle and unsympathetic as any in the country, that has the power to grant or deny a horse immortality on the slightest whim. It has the patience to wait 25 years or 37 years for a Triple Crown winner or it can get restless and crown three in a six-year period. It is an ...

With Todd Pletcher scoring his 4,000th win today, I thought this would be a good time to reprint my recap of the 2007 Belmont Stakes victory by Rags to Riches, which I feel is still Pletcher’s greatest training job. It was also his and John Velazquez’ first classic victory. Not only was this one of the most thrilling Triple Crown races ever, ...