The Midsummer Derby, better known as the Travers Stakes, boasts a purse of $1 million. The 1 ¼ miles race has what appears to be a depleted field after the defections of Bodemeister, Hansen, Union Rags and Paynter. Nonetheless, 11 stalwarts of the three-year-old division are ready to stake their claim to the throne. Speightscity [...]
August 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
July 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
2012 Jim Dandy Stakes betting preview
You know it is really summertime when the $600k Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes rolls around. The Saratoga race for sophomores is contested at 1 1/8 miles and is a great harbinger for the Grade 1 Travers Stakes the following month. Five of the last 10 Travers winners (Medaglia d’Oro, Flower Alley, Bernardini, Street Sense [...]
June 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I’ll Have Another – Forever Underestimated
I’ll Have Another was never meant to be a great racehorse. His sire Flower Alley, who at the time was considered to be so-so, wasn’t exactly turning heads with his progeny. When this chestnut colt entered the Keeneland sales ring as a yearling in September of 2010, the audience wasn’t too impressed. He brought only [...]
May 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment
One leg down, two to go; recapping the 2012 Kentucky Derby
Bodemeister seemingly had the 2012 Kentucky Derby in his pocket turning for home under the Twin Spires, but it was I’ll Have Another who rallied down the lane to register the 1 ½ length score. It was a neck back to the hard charging Dullahan and ¾ of a length behind that one was Went The Day [...]
May 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Daily Derby News Blitz – May 4, 2012
Welcome to the final installment of the 2012 Daily Derby News Blitz. It has been a fun pre-Derby season, with many talented colts graduating from major races all across the United States set to converge in Louisville tomorrow. The Derby boys will have to wait though, because today was all about the ladies. The [...]
May 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Daily Derby News Blitz – May 3, 2012
As with many things, in horseracing no news is good news. That is especially the case in the two days between the drawing of post positions and Kentucky Derby day. Usually, if a major headline appears during one of those days, it is because a horse has been injured or has become ill and will [...]
May 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Kentucky Derby Contender: Liaison
by Chelsey Burris **Learn about ALL of the 2012 contenders by getting our Kentucky Derby Guide** Liaison (Starts: 7 Win: 3 Place: 0 Show: 1 Earnings: $487,560) Trainer: Bob Baffert (21.8%) Jockey: Martin Garcia (15.2%) THE CONNECTIONS: Liaison is one of two entrants for Hall Of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in the 2012 Kentucky Derby (the [...]
May 2, 2012 By 1 Comment
The Daily Derby News Blitz – May 2, 2012
The field has officially been set for the 138th Kentucky Derby! At Churchill Downs today, the post positions for the 20 Derby entrants (as well as one also-eligible runner) were drawn in front of their connections, who cringed or applauded at the various outcomes. Post positions can be a huge factor in the success of [...]
May 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Daily Derby News Blitz – April 30, 2012
Louisiana Derby second place finisher Mark Valeski worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 at Churchill Downs. Trainer Larry Jones was non-committal about the Kentucky Derby, saying that he would wait until Wednesday morning to make a decision about running. San Felipe Stakes winner Creative Cause was sent through four furlongs in :47.80 for trainer Mike Harrington. The normally quiet [...]
April 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Daily Derby News Blitz – April 29, 2012
Only 6 days remain until the 138th Run For The Roses, and this year’s crop is bringing plenty of excitement and intrigue. A muddy surface at Churchill Downs didn’t stop Bodemeister from turning in an impressive drill this morning. The Arkansas Derby winner stopped the clock in 0:59.48 for 5 furlongs, which ranked 2nd best [...]