The final three major prep races for the Kentucky Derby are scheduled for Saturday. Each of the three races offers 100 qualifying points to the winner. The last one scheduled is the $500,000, Grade 1, Santa Anita Derby. Here is a brief look at the field for that contest: 1. CHEROKEE NATION [ML 5-2] Jockey: Florent Geroux. Trainer: Bob Baffert. The light bulb finally went on for him … Continue reading Who Wins The Santa Anita Derby?
The Tampa Bay Derby takes center stage on the east coast Saturday afternoon, as the road to the May 2nd Kentucky Derby continues. The $400,000-dollar, Grade 3 Stakes offers a total of 105 qualifying points toward a spot in the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs, distributed to the top five finishers on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale. Here is a brief look at the field … Continue reading Who Wins The Tampa Bay Derby?
The Arkansas Road to the Kentucky Derby is paved with gold. Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs has four Derby points races with total purses equaling $3.75 million dollars. These rich pay-days along with Derby qualifying points leads to deep and talented fields with compelling 3-year-olds looking for a spot in the gate for the May 2nd Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. Sunday the $1 … Continue reading Who Wins The Rebel Stakes?
This is the time on the calendar when Derby hopefuls should be concentrating on two-turn preps and qualifying points. The Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct Park on Saturday is a bit counter intuitive to this thinking. The Gotham is contested as a one-turn mile; however, the winner does receive 50 Derby qualifying points, a total that should be good enough for a spot in The Run for … Continue reading Who Wins The Gotham Stakes?
There’s been no race postponements in Tampa. So, Saturday brings us the $250,000 dollar Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. The SFD is the first of two Kentucky Derby points races at the Gulf Coast track, with the second being the Tampa Bay Derby on March 7th. Saturday’s contest will award 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points to the top five finishers in the 1 1/16-mile … Continue reading Who Wins The Sam F. Davis Stakes?
Having been postponed last Saturday due to the brutally cold conditions, the Grade 3, Southwest Stakes is Friday (2/6) at Oaklawn Park. Not only does the 1 1/16-mile contest feature a million-dollar purse, but it also offers a total of 42 Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis to the top five finishers. Here is a brief look at the field: 1. RECLAMATION [ML 30-1] … Continue reading Who Wins The Southwest Stakes?
Stakes winners LITMUS TEST and STRATEGIC RISK headline a competitive field of 14 in the Grade 3, $1 million-dollar Southwest Stakes, which has been moved to Friday, February 6th. Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas announced last Tuesday that racing in the final weekend of January had been canceled due to freezing temperatures. The Southwest Stakes, which was originally scheduled for Saturday (1/31), is a … Continue reading The Southwest Stakes
The 10th annual Pegasus World Cup Invitational is set to go on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The Grade 1, $3 million-dollar, 1 1/8-mile contest is a Win and You’re In race for the $7 million-dollar Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 31st at Keeneland. Here then is a brief look at the field for this year’s Pegasus World Cup: 1. DISCO TIME [ML 8-5] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Brad … Continue reading Who Wins The Pegasus World Cup?
The next phase of Derby prep races begins Saturday with the $250,000-dollar Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds. The top five finishers in the Grade 3 Stakes will receive 20-10-6-4-2 points in descending order. Here is a brief look at the field: 1. QUALITY MISCHIEF [ML 10-1] Jockey: Marcelino Pedroza. Trainer: Brad Cox. Made some progress in the Gun Runner Stakes over this track when he rallied for 4th … Continue reading Who Wins The Lecomte Stakes?
Saturday is the $250,000 dollar Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The mile & 1/16th contest is a Kentucky Derby points race that offers 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top five finishers. Here is a brief look at the field: 1. UNIVERSE [ML 3-1] Jockey: Joel Rosario. Trainer: Ken McPeek. Ran 2nd in a pair of Churchill Downs Graded Stakes races at this distance in his last two … Continue reading Who Wins The Smarty Jones Stakes?
