{Friday, April 30, 2010} HOW ABOUT THE ALSO-RANS? Turf writer Andrew Beyer recently wrote an opinion piece describing why many Thoroughbred owners enter horses in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. It's not because they believe they

{Thursday, April 29, 2010} Blind Luck out to be next Oaks queen Jerry Hollendorfer knows the feeling of saddling a Kentucky Oaks winner, having already done it twice. "It's very nice," he said in knowing understatement. But it's been a

{Tuesday, April 27, 2010} BELMONT SEASON PREVIEW   
TOP FLIGHT RACING RETURNS TO N.Y.
By Noel Michaels - OTB Learning Labs  It's Derby week and everyone in the

{Sunday, April 25, 2010} Backtalk heads to Keeneland for final pre-Derby move Trainer Tom Amoss said that Sanford S. (G2) victor BACKTALK (Smarty Jones) would van from Churchill Downs to Keeneland on Saturday in order to work over the

{Friday, April 23, 2010} ON THE DERBY TRAIL... ICE BOX FIRES BULLET AT CHURCHILL Robert LaPenta’s Ice Box broke out the heat April 23, firing a bullet :46 2/5 workout for a half-mile over a sloppy main track at Churchill

{Thursday, April 22, 2010} KEY DERBY QUESTIONS They all have questions. Eskendereya: Has he peaked too soon? Sidney's Candy: Can he rate off the lead and win, and can he handle the dirt as well as synthetics? Rule: Can he rate off the pace

{Monday, April 19, 2010} KENTUCKY DERBY REPORT Backtalk works, hopes to get into Derby field Grade 3 veteran BACKTALK (Smarty Jones), who currently sits 22nd on the graded earnings

{Sunday, April 18, 2010} Ice Box takes a spin under the Twin Spires ICE BOX (Pulpit), who stamped his ticket to the Kentucky Derby (G1) with a nose victory in the Florida Derby (G1) last out, breezed four furlongs in :48 2/5 over Churchill

{Friday, April 16, 2010}  Lookin at Lucky, Conveyance work for Baffert Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert wasted no time in getting some serious work at Churchill Downs for LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike) and CONVEYANCE (Indian Charlie),

{Thursday, April 15, 2010} DERBY BRIEFS Aikenite to Derby Trial but Kentucky Derby is still out Following a disappointing eighth-place effort in Saturday's Blue Grass (G1), AIKENITE (Yes It's True) will run back in

{Monday, April 12, 2010} Noble's Promise uncertain for Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby (G1) status of Grade 1 winner NOBLE'S PROMISE (Cuvee) was in question on Sunday, one day after the Ken McPeek colt finished fifth in the Arkansas Derby

{Sunday, April 11, 2010} A World of Their Own Thoroughbred racing in 2010 consists of three universes, all moving in parallel lines. One is the Triple Crown trail, which possesses an aura all to itself and is oblivious to any other existing

{Friday, April 09, 2010} Synth to dirt has equaled success The trend has been unmistakable. Time and again in recent months, across all divisions, horses have been leaving Southern California, having raced or trained on the synthetic surfaces

{Thursday, April 08, 2010} EAST TO MEET WEST IN CHURCHILL DOWNS It is shaping up as a classic East-West confrontation. The 136th edition of the Kentucky Derby, to be held May 1 at Churchill Downs

{Tuesday, April 06, 2010} NOEL MICHAELS' TOP 20 CONTENDERS IN THE 2010 KENTUCKY DERBY
By Noel Michaels 1) ESKENDEREYA --- The unquestioned leader of the 3-year-old division heading into the Kentucky Derby has a lot going

{Monday, April 05, 2010} A FRESH DERBY DOZEN The previously muddled 3-year-old class finally has a most spectacular leader. After three months of seeing this year's Kentucky Derby hopefuls beat up on each other without anyone grabbing

{Sunday, April 04, 2010} American Lion restores image in Illinois Derby The Lion finally roared. American Lion was widely considered one of the most promising 3-year-olds as the calendar flipped to 2010, but lost luster when he finished

{Friday, April 02, 2010} THE HIGH COST OF ROSES This weekend’s stakes action will be as much about earnings as the performances of the horses competing. Because of the wide-open nature of this year’s 3-year-old picture, in which multiple

{Thursday, April 01, 2010} DERBY DRAMA WILL PLAY OUT ON BOTH COASTS The two favorites for the May1 Kentucky Derby have their final preps on opposite coasts this Saturday. And if champion Lookin At Lucky wins the Santa Anita Derby in California