Here’s my updated ranking of the Top 10 Kentucky Derby contenders from bottom to top Dave Letterman’s style: Gemologist: The Todd Pletcher trainee boasts two of his three triumphs at Churchill Downs. The son of Tiznow has the same connections as Super Saver, who captured the ’10 Derby. Next start: Oaklawn Park’s Rebel on March […]
The first edition of this year’s Top 10 Kentucky Derby contenders includes several horses in the stable of top trainer Todd Pletcher. While it’s a long road to the Run for the Roses, here’s my list of the leading sophomores from bottom to top Dave Letterman’s style: Rousing Sermon: This Cal-bred with a slew of […]
Hansen, who has been training in South Florida since late last year, will attempt to become only the second Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion to capture the Run for the Roses. Street Sense, the 2006 BC Juvenile champ that won the ’07 Kentucky Derby, began his sophomore season with a victory in the Hutcheson Stakes at […]
Gulfstream Park has always been considered a speed track since I first visited the South Florida facility many, many years ago when I was a young man. Even after Gulfstream extended its main track to 1 1/8 miles while refurbishing the dirt surface, it continues to favor the swift. Horses with early speed always do […]
This is the third time during the past two decades that the Preakness has a full field – 14 horses going 1 3/16 miles at Pimlico on Saturday. Both times the favorites in the second leg of the Triple Crown bounced back from defeats in the Kentucky Derby. Back in 1992, Pine Bluff, who finished […]
This Saturday, Pimlico holds the second jewel in the Triple Crown. Baltimore offers a chance for runners who skipped Louisville two weeks ago. They come into the 1 3/16ths race fresh, and on a solid work program to ready. But, as good as this sounds, it may be a better plan to select the colts that have competed […]
Scores of upsets in major preps and injuries have muddled my Top 10 Kentucky Derby contenders. But here’s my final list from the bottom to the top: Stay Thirsty: Although the son of Bernardini ran poorly in the Florida Derby, he did defeat Wood Memorial victor Toby’s Corner in the Gotham. On April 24, he […]
There have been more jinxes associated with the Kentucky Derby than I care to recall. But there have been memorable curses snapped during the 21st Century worth mentioning. One of the more discussed horse jinxes ended in 2007 when Street Sense became the first 2-year-old champion to capture the Derby since Spectacular Bid in ’79. […]
Well, I guess I am going to partly break a rule and lean in a direction. I had said wait until we see some of the other big preps before you buy your stock. Now I am really starting to lean, and it is the fault of a couple of nice runners. The big dance, […]
Sunday is just a few days away and it is never too early to get your plans together. I like two plays on the Gulfstream card, it may be worth a few shekels. Gulfstream Park It is the Florida Derby, and that signals to horse players all over, that the big dance is about 5 […]
