Best For Last: Lexington Stakes

Keeneland winners factor big on the 150th Kentucky Derby!
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Keeneland winners factor big on the 150th Kentucky Derby!
Keeneland winners factor big on the 150th Kentucky Derby!

Naturally, saving the best for last, we find ourselves at the end of The Road To The Kentucky Derby! Thank you to all of the faithful or new fans that read along from September, or before, as we finally finalize our last 150th Kentucky Derby contenders. Kentucky Derby lovers, this is our last KY Derby prep, the Lexington Stakes!

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Spring Set List: Keeneland’s Spring Stakes Schedule

Keeneland in Lexington Kentucky hosts 3 Kentucky Derby/Oaks prep races this Spring 2024.
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Keeneland in Lexington Kentucky hosts 3 Kentucky Derby/Oaks prep races this Spring 2024.
Keeneland in Lexington Kentucky hosts 3 Kentucky Derby/Oaks prep races this Spring 2024.

Ready, set, go! Check out the set list for Keeneland’s Spring Meet Stakes. Nineteen thoroughbred stake races are scheduled this month at Keeneland in Lexington, KY. Be sure to follow the sixteen days of live racing from April 5th through 26th, 2024. Read on for the full stakes schedule and check back often for regular updates.

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United By Derby Desires

Just Steel is steeling hearts and earning Kentucky Derby prep points. Watch him climb the leaderboard with the Arkansas Derby,
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Just Steel is steeling hearts and earning Kentucky Derby prep points. Watch him climb the leaderboard with the Arkansas Derby,
Just Steel is stealing hearts and earning Kentucky Derby prep points. Watch him climb the leaderboard with the Arkansas Derby.

Much of the world is coming together the weekend with one common goal. People from all over the globe want their horse to race in the 150th Kentucky Derby. This Saturday, four races in three countries, offer a chance to Run For The Roses. We are united in our Derby desires.

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A (LA)t at Steak in these Kentucky Derby Preps

Noted has proven he can race the turf and the dirt, now he takes it to an all-weather track in the Jeff Ruby Steaks!
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Noted has proven he can race the turf and the dirt, now he takes it to an all-weather track in the Jeff Ruby Steaks!
Noted has proven he can race the turf and the dirt, now he takes it to an all-weather track in the Jeff Ruby Steaks!

There are a lot of Kentucky Derby prep points at stake this weekend in the Jeff Ruby Steaks and the Louisiana Derby. Each of these American graded stakes had a dozen plus entries competing to earn the 400 points that these races offer. On Saturday, March 23, 2024, racing is on in LA and KY!

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Tampa Bay: On The Way To The Kentucky Derby

Tapit Trice won the Tampa Bay Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes too before racing in the Kentucky Derby.
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Tapit Trice won the Tampa Bay Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes too before racing in the Kentucky Derby.
Tapit Trice won the Tampa Bay Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes too before racing in the Kentucky Derby.

It’s Derby time! The Tampa Bay Derby, to be specific. This Saturday, The Road To The Kentucky Derby makes only one stop. The place to race on 3/9/24 is Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, FL. Continue reading to learn who is on the way, with the Tampa Bay Derby.

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Rebel Roster – On The Road To The Kentucky Derby

Northern Flame finished fourth in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, gathering his first Kentucky Derby prep points.
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Just Steel has Kentucky Derby fever.  He is seen here in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity.  Next up is the Rebel Stakes.
Just Steel has Kentucky Derby fever. He is seen here in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. Next up is the Rebel Stakes.

The Rebel Stakes roster is ready for race day! Offering 105 Kentucky Derby prep points, this Saturday’s stakes likely seals a spot in The Run For The Roses. Read on to review this Rebel roster.

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Risen Star Raises Prep Points

Two Phil's used his third place finish in the Risen Star Stakes to earn the points needed for the Kentucky Derby where he finished second in 2023!
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Two Phil's used his third place finish in the Risen Star Stakes to earn the points needed for the Kentucky Derby where he finished second in 2023!
Two Phil’s used his third place finish in the Risen Star Stakes to earn the points needed for the Kentucky Derby where he finished second in 2023!

It takes champion skill and many prep points to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby starter gate. The Risen Star Stakes offers a rise in the point values offered to the top five finishers. 105 points are at stake in this stakes. Fair Grounds’ Risen Star Stakes is historically full of thoroughbreds that go on to Triple Crown success. Take a look at Saturday’s Risen Star to start the Kentucky Derby Championship series.

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Looking At The Lecomte

Lat Long is looking forward to racing in The Lecomte Stakes!
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Lat Long pictured at Keeneland is entered in the Lecomte Stakes.
Lat Long, pictured at Keeneland, is entered in the Lecomte Stakes!

The Road to the Kentucky Derby levels up in point value in the Lecomte Stakes. Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, LA is set to host the 80th running of the Lecomte on Saturday, January 20th, 2024. Let’s look at the Lecomte!

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Belmont Blog

Tapit Trice
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Tapit Trice
Tapit Trice following his nice win in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

You best believe that this Belmont Stakes is a bolt from the blue. The Test Of The Champions is set for this Saturday and I suspect most fans will be in for a surprise.

National Treasure
National Treasure parades in to the track before the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

The 155th running of the Belmont Stakes will post at 7:02 PM ET on June 10th, 2023. It is race 12 on a card of lucky 13. The Grade I, $1,500,000 race for 3 year-old thoroughbreds is 1 and 1/2 miles on the dirt. Nine contenders have entered this last jewel of The Triple Crown.

Forte is fresh off a 5 stakes winning streak. Will the 149th Kentucky Derby be his next stakes win?
Forte is fresh off a 5 stakes winning streak. Will he win the 155th Belmont Stakes?

The field is as follows by post position/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/morning-line odds/and participation in the preceding Triple Crown series races as applicable:

  1. Tapit Shoes/Jose L. Ortiz/Brad H. Cox/Spendthrift Farm, LLC., Steve Landers, Martin S. Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, LLC., Big Easy Racing, LLC., Rick Kanter and Michael J. Caruso/20-1
  2. Tapit Trice/Luis Saez/Todd A. Pletcher/Whisper Hill Farm, LLC. and Gainesway Stable/3-1/7th in the Kentucky Derby
  3. Arcangelo/Javier Castellano/Jena M. Antonucci/Blue Rose Farm/8-1
  4. National Treasure/John R. Velazquez/Bob Baffert/SF Racing, LLC., Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC., Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, LLC., Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC. and Catherine Donovan/5-1/winner of the Preakness Stakes
  5. Il Miacolo/Marcos Meneses/Antonio Sano/Eduardo Soto/30-1
  6. Forte/Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd A. Pletcher/Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable/5-2
  7. Hit Show/Manuel Franco/Brad H. Cox/Gary and Mary West/10-1/5th in the Kentucky Derby
  8. Angel Of Empire/Flavien Prat/Brad H. Cox/Albaugh Family Stables, LLC./7-2/3rd in the Kentucky Derby
  9. Red Route One/Joel Rosario/Steven M. Asmussen/Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC./15-1/4th in the Preakness Stakes
Hit Show
Hit Show broke his maiden at Keeneland in his first start.

Be sure to watch the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The filly race, The Acorn, is on Friday, 6/9/23 at 5:14 PM ET. Friday’s races are on FS2 from 12:30 PM to 5 PM ET and 6 to 6:30 PM ET. FS1 will play the races from 5 to 6 PM ET. Then, On Saturday, FS1 will televise the card from 11 AM to 7:30 PM ET, while FOX will cover 4 PM to 7:30 PM ET and FS2 will show the races from 7:30 to 8 PM ET.

Red Route One
Red Route One showed in Keeneland’s Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity.

The Run For The Carnations is a true classic stakes race. I am eager to see who wins. Thank you for following Thoroughbred U along the long road that lead to this last leg of The Triple Crown. I hope you enjoy my blog on the Belmont. Please, check back again for all things thoroughbred.

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Post On The Preakness

Blazing Sevens finished third in Keeneland's Blue Grass Stakes. He looks to be first in the Preakness Stakes!
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First Mission was first indeed in Keeneland's Lexington Stakes.  He will go for first again the Preakness Stakes!
First Mission was first indeed in Keeneland’s Lexington Stakes. He will go for first again the Preakness Stakes

On to part two of The Triple Crown, the 148th Preakness Stakes. The Grade I, $1.5 million dollar dirt race for 3 year-olds will race on Saturday, 5/20/23. Pimlico Racecourse, in Baltimore, MD will host lucky race 13 on a card of 14. The 1 and 3/16 mile race will post at 7:01 PM ET. CNBC will start televising the races at 1 PM ET and then turn to NBC at 4:40 PM ET until 7:30 PM ET. The winner of the Kentucky Derby, Mage, is entered so the possibility of a Triple Crown winner exists! The Run For The Black-Eyed Susans is a race not to miss.

The field of 8 is as follows by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/and morning-line odds: First Mission has scratched.

  1. National Treasure/John R. Velazquez/Bob Baffert/SF Racing, LLC., Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC./ Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, LLC., Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, LLC. and Catherine Donovan/4-1
  2. Chase The Chaos/Sheldon Russell/Ed Moger, Jr./Adam Ference and Bill Dory/50-1
  3. Mage/Javier Castellano/Gustavo Delgado/OGMA Investments LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, LLC. and CMNWLTH/8-5
  4. CoffeeWithChris/Jaime Rodriguez/John E. Salzman, Jr., John E. Salzman, Jr., Fred Wasserloos and Anthony Geruso/20-1
  5. Red Route One/Joel Rosario/Steven M. Asmussen/Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC./10-1
  6. Perform/Feargal Lynch/Claude R. McGaughey III/Woodford Racing LLC., Lanes End Farm, Phipps Stable, Ken Langone and Edward J. Hudson, Jr./15-1
  7. Blazing Sevens/Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad C. Brown/Rodeo Creek Racing, LLC./6-1
  8. First Mission/Luis Saez/Brad H. Cox/Godolphin, LLC./5-2

I hope the Preakness brings the sweetness. Thanks you for visiting Thoroughbred U and please invite your friends.

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