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 Risen Star Stakes is the feature race at Fairgrounds on Saturday. But the undercard has the Rachel Alexandra Stakes in which the Winner is awarded 50 qualifying points toward a spot in the Kentucky Oaks. Here is a brief look at the field for the Grade 2, $300,000 dollar, mile & 1/16 contest: 1. ANONIMA [ML 6-1] Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Trainer: Ken McPeek. Has … Continue reading Rachel Alexandra Stakes
On Saturday, Fair Grounds will host the $500,000 dollar, Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes. It’s the first race of the season to offer the Winner 50 qualifying points toward a spot in the Kentucky Derby. The contest will award a total of 105 points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale. The race was first held in 1973 as the Louisiana Derby Trial Stakes. In 1989, it was renamed in honor of … Continue reading Risen Star Stakes Historic Stars
Tampa Bay Downs hosts its first Kentucky Derby points race Saturday with the1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis Stakes. A springboard to the March 8th Tampa Bay Derby, the Sam F. Davis is also a solid first step toward a starting spot in the May 3rd Run For The Roses as it awards 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points to the top 5 finishers. Here’s a brief look at … Continue reading Who Wins The Sam F. Davis Stakes?
The $265,000 dollar Holy Bull Stakes is Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/16-mile dirt race is the first of three Road to the Kentucky Derby stops at the Hallandale facility, followed by the Fountain of Youth on March 1st and the Florida Derby March 29th. The Holy Bull offers qualifying points for the 151st Run for the Roses to the top five finishers, distributed on … Continue reading Who Wins The Holy Bull?
The Road to the Kentucky Derby makes a stop in Arkansas on Saturday with the running of the million dollar, Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Aside from the $1 million purse, the contest will also award 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers. Last year’s Southwest Stakes Winner MYSTIK DAN used the race as a springboard on his way to Win the Run … Continue reading The Southwest Stakes
On Saturday Gulfstream Park will host the $3 million dollar Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes. The 1 1/8-mile dirt race has been a centerpiece of the winter season since it was rebranded in 2017. The contest annually brings together some of the best older dirt horses in training to compete. Here is a brief look at this year’s field: 1. MIXTO [ML 10-1] Jockey: Frankie Dettori. … Continue reading Who Wins The Pegasus?
