Today the Daily Racing Blog takes a look at the final six entrants in the 2026 Kentucky Derby. And there has been yet another scratch in the Run for the Roses as FULLEFFORT will not go on Saturday and will be replaced by OCELLI. 15. EMERGING MARKET [ML 15-1] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Chad Brown. Enters with just two starts under his belt and no Derby … Continue reading Who Wins The Kentucky Derby? (Part III)
Today the Daily Racing Blog brings you the second portion of the field for the 152nd Kentucky Derby– horses 8 through 14. There has been one defection since Monday as SILENT TACTIC has been scratched due to a foot bruise. That means first alternate GREAT WHITE is in and he will be profiled on Friday. 8. SO HAPPY [ML 15-1] Jockey: Mike Smith. Trainer: Mark Glatt. … Continue reading Who Wins The Kentucky Derby? (Part II)
The most exciting two minutes in sports is upon us. Saturday is the 152nd edition of the Kentucky Derby. As has been the norm is the past couple decades there will be a full field of 20 horses running for the honor of wearing the horseshoe-wreath of roses With that in mind, the Daily Racing Blog will look at this year’s field on three separate … Continue reading Who Wins The Kentucky Derby? (Part I)
Kentucky Derby Post Positions are scheduled to be randomly assigned tomorrow afternoon (4/25), but their influence on the outcome of the race is far from arbitrary. The Kentucky Derby has used a starting gate since 1930 and actually (when necessary), it has used two gates. If the field was larger than 14 entrants, an auxiliary gate would be used and could accommodate up to six additional … Continue reading Post Position Matters In The Derby
The 2026 Kentucky Derby is two weeks away and while most handicappers are focusing in on the first Saturday in May there is a race this Saturday that is worthy of their attention. The $1,250,000-dollar Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park feels like a throwback race in a bygone era when true horse racing heavyweights of the handicap/older male division would meet regularly in feature Stakes across … Continue reading Who Wins The Oaklawn Handicap?
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?
