By Leslie Huddleston The 2008 edition of C-J Derby DataTrack has now been updated for the last time and contains the Derby Rating, a total based upon a mathematical formula that assigns a value to each of the nearly 60 factors included in the data base. Derby Ratings can only be generated back to Sea...
Well, we are finally here. Time to make Derby selections. Considering the inconsistency of many of the top 3-year-olds, inexperience of some of the contenders (mainly Big Brown), and trying to decipher how these synthetic track horses will run on the Churchill dirt, this year's handicapping challenge...
One night during the 2007 Keeneland November sale, Eoin Harty was enjoying a leisurely dinner when the topic turned to horses, in particular those in his Southern California stable. The trainer got a twinkle in his eye when he began to speak about a colt that had impressively broken his maiden the month...
11 a.m. Inspiring Artist Out by section 115, Maureen O’Donnell Lassiter is working hard with her sketch pad. One look up and then down at her paper, you can see her inspiration: the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs . The Louisville native loves the Downs. She’s getting an up-close look today, but often...
Noon Street Party Between the paddock and the Paddock Pavilion, there’s a “Street” party going. Signing copies of the book “Kentucky Derby” are jockey Calvin Borel , trainer Carl Nafzger , and breeder/owner James Tafel . The team won last year’s Kentucky Derby with Street Sense . Also with them is Churchill...
My first experience with advising a friend on how to bet held glory and shame all in one. I had been working here at Blood-Horse for several months when the Keeneland 2007 fall meet started. I had been laying out a lot of stories for the daily PDF/News and knew who was hot and who was not. My friend...
With less than four weeks left until Derby day, and only a couple of important preps remaining, things are finally beginning to take shape. What did we learn last weekend? Well, for one, Colonel John is legit. The son of Tiznow quieted all those who claimed El Gato Malo would have won the Sham had it...
With Saturday's Sham Stakes the only significant Derby prep this past weekend, all eyes were focused on Santa Anita. The race itself did not disappoint, as Colonel John held off El Gato Malo during a stirring stretch duel, knocking the latter from the ranks of the unbeaten. However, although both 3-year...