The Virginia Derby was formerly a late-summer, headliner turf race at Colonial Downs. This year the Virginia Derby has morphed into a qualifying race for the May 3rd Kentucky Derby. The race is a one-turn, 1 1/8-mile contest with a purse of $500,000 dollars, and awards qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale to the top five finishers. Here is a brief look at the runners: 1. CALLING CARD … Continue reading Who Wins The Virginia Derby?
OWEN ALMIGHTY Won the $350,000 dollar Tampa Bay Derby this past Saturday by 3 ½-lengths. In addition to the Winner’s share of the purse the bay colt also earned 50 points toward qualifying for the 2025 Kentucky Derby and ranks second on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 65 points in total. But does the Brian Lynch trained colt have what it takes to shine on … Continue reading Can Owen Be Almighty In The Derby?
Tampa Bays Downs has its marquee Kentucky Derby prep race Saturday. Seven 3-year-old colts are entered to compete for a total of 105 Derby points in the 45th running of the $400,000 dollar Tampa Bay Derby. The 1 1/16-mile race distributes points on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis to its top five finishers. Here is a brief look at the field: 1. OWEN ALMIGHTY [ML 5-1] Jockey: Irad Ortiz … Continue reading Who Wins The Tampa Bay Derby?
Prep races are in full swing, owners, trainers and fans are getting caught caught up in Derby Fever- and rightfully so. It was over thirty years ago when a Kentucky Derby hopeful had his Derby dreams dashed on the morning of the first Saturday in May. And even after all these years, when old rail-birds talk about him, his name is usually prefaced with but … Continue reading A.P. Indy…What If?
The Tampa Bay Derby is this Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs. The 1 1⁄16-mile Tampa Bay Derby (G2) has long been overshadowed by the richer Derby prep races at nearby Gulfstream Park. Despite the fierce competition to attract the best three-year-old’s in Florida, the Tampa Bay Derby has more than held its own as a productive prep for the Run For The Roses. First held in 1981, the Tampa Bay … Continue reading It’s Tampa Bay Derby Time
The road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby goes autobahn come March 1st. Saturday Gulfstream Park will be one focal point on a nation-wide day of prep races as it hosts the 79th edition of the Fountain Of Youth Stakes. The $415,000 dollar, Grade 2 Stakes run at 1 1/16 miles on dirt is the third of four preps at Gulfstream that offer qualifying points to the … Continue reading Who Wins The Fountain Of Youth?
Saturday is the $415,000, Grade 2, Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Some of the top 3-year-olds in the country will do battle in this 1 1/16-mile contest. The Fountain of Youth is named after the mythical spring that attracted explorers to Florida in the 16th Century. The race was first held in 1945, and has been run every year since 1953. In 1973, it … Continue reading Youth Is Served
The Rebel Stakes was originally scheduled to be run Saturday, but Oaklawn Park officials moved the entire Saturday card to Sunday due to inclement weather conditions forecast for the region. That said, a large field of fourteen 3-year-olds are scheduled to compete in the 65th edition of the Rebel Stakes. The 1 1/16-mile contest distributes Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis to the top five finishers … Continue reading Who Wins The Rebel Stakes ?
The Road to the Kentucky Derby makes a stop at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, with the running of the $1.25 million dollar, Grade 2 Rebel Stakes. This 1 1/16-mile event typically draws a deep, competitive field, buoyed by a massive purse plus 50 qualifying Derby points going to the Winner. The race was inaugurated in 1961 as the Rebel Handicap, and was changed to the Rebel Stakes … Continue reading Rebel History
The Road To The Kentucky Derby is open for business as the qualifying prep races have began in earnest. So, it seems a good time to talk about the pilots of the Derby hopefuls. More specifically, a charity that is near and dear to their hearts. The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) is a public charity that provides financial assistance to former jockeys who have suffered … Continue reading A Tasty Way To Donate
