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By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Slowly but surely, quietly but steadily, the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds is emerging as one of the most influential prep races for the Kentucky Derby (G1). The numbers craft a compelling story. The Louisiana Derby has produced at least one Kentucky ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman If you want to breed a superstar U.S. turf horse, where would you begin? Perhaps by crossing the genetics of Kitten's Joy and English Channel, two of the top U.S. turf stallions of the last decade. Breeders' Cup winners Stephanie's Kitten, Oscar Performance, Bobby's Kitten. ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Limehouse. Verrazano. Carpe Diem. Destin. Tapwrit. What do these five colts have in common? A lot, actually. They were all conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. They all competed in the Kentucky Derby (G1). And they all won the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa Bay ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The first week of March is a giant one on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Four U.S. prep races are on the agenda, along with a European Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier in Ireland. Two of the most important events are the San Felipe S. (G2) at Santa Anita and the Fountain of ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby takes an exciting turn this Saturday with the running of the 1 1/16-mile Rebel S. (G2) at Oaklawn Park. The last 20 years have seen the Rebel rise steadily in prominence. Rebel winners Smarty Jones (2004) and American Pharoah (2015) both went on to ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman One of the most prestigious races taking place this week is also one of the most difficult to handicap. Saturday's $400,000 Risen Star S. (G2) at Fair Grounds awards Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points on a 50-20-15-10-5 basis to the top five finishers, a prize so ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues this Saturday with a trio of prominent prep races: the $250,000 Sam F. Davis S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, the $250,000 Withers S. (G3) at Aqueduct, and the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields. We'll take a look at all three ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Originally, three Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers were slated to take place this Saturday. But the postponement of Aqueduct's $250,000 Withers S. (G3) due to cold weather leaves the $250,000 Holy Bull S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park and the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) at Santa ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman A giant Saturday of racing is on the agenda at Gulfstream Park. The $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1), the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), and the $400,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3) highlight an action-packed afternoon featuring seven graded stakes. As has become ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby makes a stop at Fair Grounds this Saturday for the $200,000 Lecomte S. (G3), a 1 1/16-mile prize worth 10-4-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers. The Lecomte has risen steadily in prominence over the past 20 years or so. In 2002, future ...