The Major 2019 Kentucky Derby Prep-Races begin Saturday, when the Fair Grounds hosts the Grade 2, $1 Million Dollar Louisiana Derby, offering qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 basis to its first four finishers.  It is run at a distance of a Mile & 1/8 with a scheduled Post Time of 6:13 Eastern Time. WAR OF WILL is squarely the horse to beat, as he has already taken the local Lecomte … Continue reading The Louisiana Derby

Two-time Louisiana Derby winning jockey Rosie Napravnik is pictured in the winner’s circle with PANTS ON FIRE in 2011.   The Kentucky Derby is less than seven weeks away, and the final round of Prep Races kicks off this Saturday in New Orleans.  The Louisiana Derby at the Fairgrounds offers KD qualifying points and a hefty purse for 3-year-old Derby hopefuls, including WAR OF WILL, COUNTRY HOUSE, and SPINOFF. To get ready for this … Continue reading Louisiana Derby By The Numbers

The Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) and The Stronach Group, which operates Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields reached a historic agreement on March 16th that will serve to protect the safety and welfare of horses and riders in the Golden State.  This collective mandate enacts the most stringent medication policy in North America. Santa Anita, Golden Gate and the TOC have agreed to the following initiatives for racing and … Continue reading Santa Anita Update

The Daily Racing Blog has decided to take a closer look at the 2nd Division flight of the two races that will comprise the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.  We feel this field is deeper than the first flight and the favorite(s) more vulnerable, therefore offering us a better shot at finding a Value play. GAME WINNER is the prohibitive favorite in the second division of the mile … Continue reading Rebel Yell

When Santa Anita Park temporarily closed down for racing and training last week it left some horsemen in a bit of a bind.  It is getting late in the Kentucky Derby Prep-Race season and there were some KD contenders who didn’t get to run last week when the San Felipe Stakes (G2) was cancelled.   Oaklawn Park  didn’t feel that was right, so they stepped up and opened this Saturday’s Rebel Stakes (G2) to any … Continue reading Rebel Rebel

Racing at Santa Anita Park should resume around March 22, according to track officials.  Upon their return, horses and their connections will find much needed changes in place regarding the safety of the horses and riders.  Tim Rivito, the Chief Operating Officer of the group that operates the facility, talked about the changes: “The safety of our equine and human athletes remains our highest priority.  … Continue reading Safer Santa Anita?

The unbeaten California invader INSTAGRAND headlines the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct Park, with this stop on New York’s Road to the 2019 Kentucky Derby.  This race will pay out qualifying points to the Top 4 finishers on a 50-20-10-5 scale. The contest is Race 10 on a card of 11, with a scheduled post time of 5:09 pm Eastern Time. Here is a look at the field of … Continue reading The Gotham Stakes

In an unprecedented move, Santa Anita Race Track has canceled horse racing at least through this weekend after the 21st fatality at the track Tuesday morning.  The move was made so experts could continue to study the track surface in the hopes of finding out what has caused the sudden, dramatic rise in racing deaths since the meet opened December 26th. Tuesday the track hired Dennis Moore, … Continue reading Santa Anita Closes

Fields are forming for the biggest afternoon yet, on the 2019 Kentucky Derby Trail.  Saturday March 9th has 3 KD Prep-Races with the feature events taking place at Aqueduct Park, Tampa Bay Downs, and Santa Anita Park.  All three races will pay out points on 50-20-10-5 scale.  Here then is a brief look at the probable fields for those contests. Gotham Stakes (G3) @ Aqueduct This is shaping up to be one of … Continue reading Preps For Points

The 2019 Kentucky Derby Trail gets serious Saturday with major contenders meeting at Gulfstream Park in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.  The mile and a sixteenth race (G2) carries with it a $400,000 purse and Derby Qualifying points on a 50-20-10-5 scale to the Top 4 finishers. Going back to ORB in 2013, every Fountain of Youth Winner has gone on to run the first Saturday in May. This contest … Continue reading Derby Prep