Tales From the Crib

Rick and Sharon Waller’s homebred Stronghold outdueled even-money favorite Imagination in Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby (G1), garnering 100 more points toward the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Sierra Leone confirmed himself as one of the favorites for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 4, utilizing a dynamic late kick to win Saturday’s $1 million Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland going away by 1 1/4 lengths

Resilience was a dominant winner of the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct on Saturday, securing a berth in next month's Kentucky Derby (G1) while leading home several pari-mutuel outsiders who garnered minor placings in the 1 1/8-mile fixture.

Where’s My Ring made her cross-country trip to Aqueduct worth it in Saturday’s $200,000 Gazelle (G3), and at Santa Anita, Nothing Like You was part of a banner day for Frankie Dettori.

The 10-1 shot Bracken’s Laugh got the last laugh on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, flying home to win the Cardinal Conditions S. by 2 3/4 lengths at Chelmsford City.

The bloom was very much back on Leslie’s Rose in Friday’s Ashland (G1), as the $1.15 million yearling upstaged champion Just F Y I and other Breeders’ Cup alumnae on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

One month remains until the first Saturday in May and there are only four remaining opportunities for horses to qualify for the 150th running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I).
Three of those races will be run Saturday:...

Repole Stable’s homebred Fierceness has amassed 136 points on the 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series following his 100-point victory in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park on March 30.

Although Darren is still on Spring Break, KK is joined by Churchill Downs handicapping analyst Kaitlin Free. A lot is on tap for the last week of the Kentucky Derby 100 point prep races.

Blue Grass Stakes in Lexington at Keeneland on Saturday.
Wood Memorial...

Before the trio of major preps stateside on Saturday, the European Road to the Kentucky Derby concludes with the Cardinal Conditions S. at Chelmsford City near London.