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By J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”) It is with a degree of confusion and uncertainty that I sit down to write my analysis of the Kentucky Derby. As of yesterday—actually, make that early this morning—the 2014 Derby seemed to be one of the most clear-cut in recent memory. My confidence in the combined chances of California Chrome and Hoppertunity ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'')  Fact: In each of the last ten renewals of the Kentucky Derby, at least one horse with odds of 20-1 or higher has finished in the superfecta. And in eight of the last ten Derbies, at least one horse with odds of 30-1 or higher has cracked the top four. With this in mind, it’s clear that if one wants to ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') This Saturday, racing returns to Churchill Downs with a ten-race program that is highlighted by the $150,000 Derby Trial Stakes (gr. III). In recent years, the Derby Trial has been little more than an enjoyable opening-day feature race, with little to no effect on the Derby itself. But thanks to the presence ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') There’s something for everyone in the world of racing this weekend. If you’re a fan of the older horse division—with its aging, but still incredibly talented cast of characters—you won’t want to miss Game On Dude against Clubhouse Ride, Long River, Moreno, and others in the Charles Town Classic (gr. II) at . ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') After months of anticipation and excitement, we are nearing the end of the road to the Kentucky Derby. In approximately 60 hours, the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland and the Arkansas Derby (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park will have been run and the field for the Kentucky Derby will be more-or-less ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') With just four weeks remaining until the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, the prep races are really starting to get interesting. All told, there will be four grade I stakes races for three-year-olds this Saturday, including the Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita and the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, each of which ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') When the calendar pages turn to March, and the days slowly count down to the final Saturday of the month, the annual anticipation for one of the greatest days in horse racing begins to build. It all starts halfway across the world, in Dubai, where the always-amazing Dubai World Cup program showcases top-class ...

By J. Keeler Johnson We’re almost there, folks. The first of the final Kentucky Derby prep races are being held this weekend, namely the $550,000 Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. III) at Turfway Park and the $800,000 Sunland Derby (gr. III) at Sunland Park. These races are going to be particularly important since the winners are ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') This Saturday, the road to the Kentucky Derby continues as eight talented three-year-olds attempt to take another major step toward Louisville in the $600,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park, while across the country at Santa Anita, a wide-open field of older fillies and mares will battle for supremacy ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') In what may very well go down as the race of the year, the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) on March 8th will feature a spectacular showdown between Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge—the 1-2 finishers in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I)—as well as Game On Dude, who is shooting for an unprecedented ...