Kenny McPeek and Corey Lanerie had a nice finish with Eskimo Kisses in second place in the Ashland Stakes!
Are you ready for my favorite fourteen filly face-off on Friday, the 4th? I have a quick breakdown on the facts, fun, food, fashion, feelings and fortune that awaits in the 144th Kentucky Oaks. Please, follow along with my easy outline for the Oaks.
Share This: Good Magic (#11) won this ride for Jose Ortiz in the Blue Grass Stakes to earn the second spot on the leaderboard for the 2018 Kentucky Derby!
Oh, lucky day! With just 13 days left on the countdown to the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby there is still so much to consider when choosing a favorite. With a field of 20 contenders it is still best to wait for the post position draw on Tuesday to make any hasty decisions. It is a good time to think about all 40 athletes that will face off on 5/5/18. The Thoroughbreds always capture my attention and imagination but what thought do I give the jockeys? Having spent time in and around Keeneland’s jockey quarters this spring meet I have paid more attention to their influence. In this story, I want to focus on two jockeys that will compete in the upcoming KY Derby, the brothers Ortiz.
Photo taken as the 14 contenders in the 2018 Blue Grass Stakes approach the first pass over the finish line. 5 are still on the top of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Go GoodMagic, Flameaway, Free Drop Billy, Blended Citizen and Sporting Chance! Machismo will race again, just 1 week later in the 2018 Arkansas Derby!
Happy Friday the 13th! I am tickled to think of all the peculiar betting habits and quirks I will see among the superstitious gamblers and horsemen at Keeneland today! Everyday is a good day at the track but tomorrow we will see the very last lap on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Saturday, 4/14/18 features the final two prep races, the Lexington Stakes and the Arkansas Derby.
Share This: There is nothing better than live racing at Keeneland!
And their off! Live racing returns to Keeneland today. This opening weekend of the Spring Meet will feature eight grades stakes races with purses equaling $2.75 million dollars. The 16 day meet is packed with quality Thoroughbred racing. I hope many of you get the opportunity to visit Keeneland soon and for those who can not, my favorite race of the meet, the Blue Grass Stakes, will be aired live on NBC Sports Network. Here is what we have to look forward to at Keeneland this weekend.
Share This: Peppy Miller, one of Eikleberry’s top performers, circles in the Turf Paradise paddock.
It’s a double Derby weekend! Louisiana has one, New Mexico has one and in just over a month, Kentucky has the Derby to top all derbies! We are really entering the final stretch as two of the last 10 KY Derby prep races take place this weekend. Derby, Derby, everywhere a Derby!
Share This: A view from the coveted winner circle at Keeneland!
Good morning racing fans! It is an especially early morning for those of you switching to daylight saving time, like myself. I consider it another sign of spring, which I welcome with open arms. I am ready for longer evenings, warmer weather, Saint Patrick’s Day and just a dozen more prep races until the Kentucky Derby. Everything is coming up roses!
Share This: Tapit, sire to several in the 2018 Fountain of Youth Stakes
The action and the interest in the Kentucky Derby is really heating up! There are so many news stories and blog posts on the upcoming Fountain of Youth stakes race it is hard to find the time to take it all in. At Thoroughbred U, I could not be happier to find that there is a wealth of information pouring in. If you are short on time, this should be a helpful source for the need to know material.
Share This: Graydar is happy to welcome visitors at Taylor Made Farm
As the Road to the Kentucky Derby winds its way through Europe this week I’m taking a moment to evaluate the top of the leaderboard to look for patterns and new talent. I must say, I am overjoyed to have trainer D. Wayne Lukas, with Bravazo and Sporting Chance, back in the running. Also, I am struck by the presence of second-crop sires Poseidon’s Warrior, Violence and Graydar. It is refreshing to see the new breath of young sire power blowing into Thoroughbred racing. Graydar is the leading second-crop sire in North America by winners. Watch out for his offspring in the Kentucky Derby and other Classic races.
Share This: CaliforniaChrome, full brother to Faversham, delights his visitors.
The future is bright for Faversham, the full brother to two time Horse of the Year, CaliforniaChrome! Chromies rejoice as today is the 7th birthday of CaliforniaChrome and tomorrow, Faversham will race in the California Cup, just like Chrome did before he started down the Road to the Kentucky Derby!
Share This: Sydney, Australia, home of the 2000 Summer Olympics and Winx!
As the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics started a few days ago, I quickly lost interest following the opening ceremony. I wish all of the athletes luck in pursuit of their Olympic dreams but the featured sports are just not, “The Sport of Kings”. I’ve never been to the Olympics and I am good with that. The closest I have ever been to anything Olympic was this street art when I visited Sydney in September of 2011. All the while, when I was checking out koalas and joeys, my favorite thing about Australia was foaling and I didn’t even know it. Winx was born on 9/14/11 and racing has never been the same for Sydney or the world. Winx is my favorite Olympian of the Outback!
