Kentucky Derby News
Derby News March 10, 2017
Unbeaten Mastery Headlines Weekend's Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series
Bob Baffert is a face synonymous with Kentucky Derby success and he looks to showcase his next potential star Mastery in Saturday’s $400,000 San Felipe (GII) at Santa Anita Park in Southern California – one of two Championship Series races...
March 9, 2017
Mastery, Gormley and Iliad square off in San Felipe
As it often does, the $400,000 San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita on Saturday will go a long way toward clarifying the picture regarding the West Coast's leading Kentucky Derby (G1) prospects.
The 1 1/16-mile San Felipe is the final major lead-in to...
March 8, 2017
Tapwrit seeks to take advantage of McCraken’s absence in Tampa Bay Derby
After finishing second in the February 11 Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, Tapwrit figured to be trying to turn the tables on McCraken in Saturday’s $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2). But the absence of the leading Kentucky Derby contender due...
March 8, 2017
Chanel’s Legacy looks to continue successful Oaklawn path to Kentucky Oaks in Honeybee
A field of 11 sophomore fillies will line up Saturday in the next race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks – the $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
The 1 1/16-mile contest is part of the Championship portion of the series and will award...
Derby News March 7, 2017
J Boys Echo jumps forward with 104 BRIS Speed in Gotham upset
J Boys Echo significantly raised his Kentucky Derby profile in the March 4 Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct, registering a 104 BRIS Speed rating the 3 ½-length victory. That’s the top number from a 2017 qualifying race, two points better...
March 7, 2017
Gunnevera bolsters BRIS Speed ratings in Fountain of Youth blowout
A multiple graded stakes winner, Gunnevera had plenty of experience but his BRIS Speed ratings were lacking entering the March 4 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park. He stepped up while rallying last-to-first in the 1 1/16-mile race, generating...
March 6, 2017
Gunnevera, J Boys Echo rise to top of Derby leader board
Wins by Gunnevera in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and J Boys Echo in the Gotham (G3) last Saturday elevated the two colts to the top of the Kentucky Derby (G1) leader board, thus virtually cementing their participation in the year’s first classic...
Features March 6, 2017
Tales from the Crib: Classic Empire
Classic Empire, last year’s unanimous champion two-year-old colt, has had a bumpy ride on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail so far this year.
Diagnosed with a foot abscess after his subpar third in the February 4 Holy Bull (G2), he was all...
March 5, 2017
Unique Bella continues division dominance in Santa Ysabel
Don Alberto Stable’s Unique Bella pulled off yet another easy victory on Saturday when taking the $100,345 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park by 2 1/4 lengths.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and ridden by Mike Smith, Unique Bella was challenged...
March 5, 2017
Gunnevera romps in Fountain of Youth as Irish War Cry fades
The day of upsets in Kentucky Derby (G1) preps continued Saturday from the Gotham (G3) to the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park, where Gunnevera turned in an explosive stretch run to win the 1 1/16-mile race by 5 3/4 lengths, while even-money...