RACE REPLAY: 2016 California Chrome Stakes

Gun Runner

I can't help it. I don't know why but I think Gun Runner is going to win the Derby next week.

Gun Runner gallops 4.28

He who keeps his eye on Gun Runner may get a pay out on Derby Day

Nyquist Jogs in Advance of Final Derby Work

Nyquist Jogs in Advance of Final Derby Work

Trainer Doug O'Neill said the Uncle Mo  colt was scheduled to gallop on the main track Thursday morning but it was wet from overnight rain. He said he decided to have Nyquist jog rather than gallop because the workout is scheduled for Friday afternoon, about 45 minutes before the first race at Keeneland.

Gun Runner works April 25, 2016, Looked Great Today!

Kentucky Derby Horses at a Gallup

Kentucky Derby Video Updates: Nyquist Vs Exaggerator

All of Nyquist's Races here and Exaggerator here

All On Red and Chomsky @ Aqueduct, John's Kitten @ Keeneland

$80,000 Maiden Special Weight Aqueduct Race 5, April 24,2016 Video Replay and Chart ~ All On Red was first, Chomsky was second

Keeneland Race 8 ~ John's Kitten ~ $62,000 Allowance ~ April 24, 2016

2016 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare (G3) – BROOKLYNSWAY

Surfside Stakes, 4/24/16, Race 8

Super nice display of tenacity by Uptown Twirl!

Wando Stakes @ Woodbine, April 24, 2016 Race 8

What can you say about this one but wow?

Time and Motion - 2016 Memories of Silver Stakes

Kentucky Derby Update April 24, 2016

Nyquist Breezes

Working in company with grade I winner Ralis, Reddam Racing's Nyquist completed five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 Saturday morning on the Keeneland main track. The champion son of Uncle Mo   registered splits of :12, :23 4/5, and :35 4/5 under regular exercise rider Jonny Garcia. Nyquist did very little in terms of a run out.

The five-furlong time, which ranked 19th of 34 at the distance, was exactly what O'Neill wanted from the move, which he called a maintenance work.

"He's fit and ready so we're just strictly working for maintenance," O'Neill said. "We told Jonny '1:01 and change,' and the clockers had him at 1:01 4/5. So that's pretty good." (Bloodhorse)

Exaggerator

"He felt great," Hall of Fame Jockey Keith Desormeaux said of the drill. "Good energy, started out keen, then relaxed, and cruised around the racetrack. I gave him his head at the quarter pole, he extended his stride and quickened, even well after the wire."

Keith Desormeaux, who will have his first starter in the Derby if all goes well in the next two weeks of preparation, said Exaggerator will ship to Churchill Downs overnight April 26-27 and get one timed workout over the track a week ahead of the Run for the Roses. (BloodHorse)

Outwork Breezes

Stepping onto the training track just after the second renovation break, he was accompanied by a pony to the backstretch before being turned loose behind stablemates Spooked Out (Catienus) and Jimmy Winfield S. hero Awesome Gent (Awesome Again). Owner/breeder Mike Repole was on hand with trainer Todd Pletcher, who caught Outwork in splits of :12 3/5 and :24 1/5 before he caught and passed his targets, finishing about 2 1/2 lengths in front and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01 4/5, up in 1:14 4/5.  (Full Story)

Body’s Cause and Fellowship

Full Story at Bloodhorse

Highland Sky - 2016 Woodhaven Stakes

RACE REPLAY: 2016 Elkhorn Stakes

Libreta - 2016 New York Stallion Series Park Avenue Division

I guess Frosty Margarita was a little too cold in this one...

RACE REPLAY: 2016 Charles Town Classic

It aint easy beating Javier Castellano and Todd Pletcher

Kentucky Derby Updates

Steve Haskin's Dirty Dozen
This is a very nice breakdown of Steve Haskin's Top 12 in the Derby (Full Article).  The links to the horses below are from this blog. Each has complete videos of all or most of their races. 
1. Nyquist
2. Exaggerator
3. Mor Spirit
4. Brody's Cause
5. Whitmore
6. Suddenbreakingnews
7. My Man Sam
8. Creator
9. Gun Runner
10. Outwork
11. Destin
12. Majesto

That's right. No Mohaymen. 

Kentucky Derby Workout Notes

Speed Updates on Entire KY Derby Field from Lady and the Track, this is outstanding. 

Gun Runner Fires Churchill Bullet Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Three Chimneys Farm’s Gun Runner (Profile) took another step toward a start in the May 7 GI Kentucky Derby with a bullet five-furlong breeze in 1:00 flat [1/16] over the main track at Churchill Downs Monday morning. With regular pilot Florent Geroux aboard, Gun Runner clicked off eighth-mile splits of :12.80, :24.40, :36.40 and :48 flat en-route to galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.20. The GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby winner worked in company with stablemate Gold Hawk (Empire Maker), who covered the distance in 1:00.60.

“I thought he breezed very well this morning and has settled into Churchill very nicely,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “I thought that he handled the racetrack very well and I’m obviously very excited about our opportunities. He’s a tremendous individual as far as conformation and pedigree-wise, and he’s got a great attitude. He’s very energetic as far as training goes. He’s always been very effortless over the racetrack.” (Full Story)

Amazingly Cute Foals Here

Video Nyquist works out for Derby April 15

Keeneland clockers caught Nyquist in fractions of :12.60, :24.80, :37.20 and 1:02.60 with a six-furlong gallop out in 1:17.20 More Story

Songbird Will Not Run in Kentucky Oaks

Songbird Profile
Undefeated champion Songbird, the heavy early favorite to win the $1 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs, will miss the May 6 event due to a fever. Kentucky Derby.Com.

“Unfortunately we have to report that Songbird will miss the Kentucky Oaks. She developed a low grade fever after the SA Oaks and has not been able to go out to the track. With the fever not resolved, she was started on a course of antibiotics today, and as a result it'll be another 7-10 days before she's able to return to the track. We are sorry to have to miss the Oaks but what's most important is to get Songbird well, and we have 2 great vets along with Jerry and his team taking good care of her.”

The sophomore daughter of Medaglia d'Oro would have been the heavy favorite for the May 6 race. Songbird has posted a seven-race win streak thus far, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and three additional Grade 1 events. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has campaigned the filly over the course of her star-studded career, which earned her the 2015 Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Filly. Paullick

REPLAY: 2016 Arkansas Derby Creator, SuddenbreakingNews, Cupit, Gettysburg

WinStar Farm's Creator posted an 11-1 upset when he closed from dead last to win Saturday's Grade 1 Arkansas Derby by 1 1/4 lengths, earning 100 points toward the Kentucky Derby and guaranteeing himself a spot in the starting gate on May 7. The sophomore son of Tapit covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.14 over the fast main track for meet-leading trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr., before a crowd of over 65,000 fans at Oaklawn Park.

“Ricardo has a ton of confidence in the horse and I'm glad to see him rewarded for how much he believed in the horse,” said Asmussen. “I can't say enough about the job that (assistant) Darren Fleming and (exercise rider) Abel Flores have done with this horse here at Oaklawn. His race in the Rebel (third) was good and we felt like he came out of it good. He had a little break and came out for the Arkansas Derby training great. I am very proud of the outcome today.” Full Story from Paullick

Tapit isn't on the masthead of this blog for nothin'

RACE REPLAY: 2016 Lexington Stakes

Who else but Javier Castellano?

RACE REPLAY: 2016 Ben Ali Stakes

RACE REPLAY: 2016 Oaklawn Handicap Featuring Effinex

Sweet duel at the end with Effinex, mounted by HOFer Mike Smith breaking the wire first.

RACE REPLAY: 2016 Jenny Wiley Stakes Featuring Tepin

RACE REPLAY: 2016 Apple Blossom Handicap

RACE REPLAY: 2016 Los Angeles Stakes

Big Saturday Ahead

All Eyes On Arkansas 
Saturday spotlights the final two prep races for the Kentucky Derby, led by the 100-point Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. Bob Baffert's Cupid is the morning-line favorite for the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in a full 12-horse field, which includes the other top three finishers from the Rebel Stakes, Whitmore and Creator. (Paullick)

Tepin Returns to Keeneland for Wiley Run
Tepin has won her last four races in a streak that started at the Lexington oval last fall, when she took the First Lady (gr. IT) by seven lengths, four weeks before beatingmales by 2 1/4 lengths in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) to cinch her 2015 Eclipse Award honors as outstanding turf mare. Her perfect record this year was earned for owner Robert Masterson and trainer Mark Casse with easy victories in the Lambholm South Endeavor (gr. IIIT) and Hillsborough (gr. IIT) at Tampa Bay Downs. (Bloodhorse)

Tara's Tango Profile

Tara's Tango Profile

Scroll Down for Her 2016 Races

2016 ~ 3 Starts, 2 Wins, 1 Show

Career ~ 10 Starts, 4 Wins, 3 Pace, 1 Show

2016 Earnings ~ $444,000
Earnings Per Start ~ $148,000
Jockey ~ Rafael Bejarano
Trainer ~ Jerry Hollendorfer
Owner ~ Stonestreet Stables
Pedigree (Unbridled, Mr. Prospector, Northern Dancer)

Santa Margarita Stakes

Santa Maria Stakes



Santa Monica Stakes

Songbird Profile

Songbird
Scroll Down for Replays of All 7 Races

7 races, 7 wins

Total Earnings ~ $1,982,000

Earnings Per Start ~ $283,143 

Jockey: Mike Smith

Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer

Owner: Fox Hill Farms, inc. 

6 Generation Pedigree: Here (Northern Dancer, Native Dancer, Bold Reasoning, Mr. Prospector)

Enola Gray's 16 Length Win!

Here's the video/full results bloodhorse.com link from Santa Anita's Maiden Special Weight race by Enola Gay. She won (at 4 to 1) by 16 1/2 lengths. You gotta see this race!

Kentucky Derby Leaderboard

This will give you a pretty good idea of the field in the derby.

Santa Anita Derby ~ Exaggerator

I am not surprised that Exaggerator won this race, even with this talent rich field. He's an incredibly resilient horse. He hit the accelerator in the slop and blew past a field that was running a blistering pace of 22 and 45.  Enjoy!



Under jockey Kent Desormeaux, the 3-year-old son of Curlin   raced as many as 14 3/4 lengths back early, but he blew by the frontrunners, took command in the stretch and pulled away to win by 6 1/4 lengths, ahead of Mor Spirit. Uncle Lino, who raced in second tracking early leader and San Felipe winner Danzing Candy, gamely finished 2 1/4 lengths back in third. From a Very nice article at Bloodhorse  crammed full of insight from all the jockeys involved.

Songbird Destroys the Santa Anita Oaks

2016 Santa Anita Oaks (Songbird)

2016 Central Bank Ashland - WEEP NO MORE

This was a fantastic race! It was a shocker to see 30-1 Weep No More dash across a 3 wide duel. Who says girls aren't athletes?

Wood Memorial

Exaggerator Profile

Complete Videos ~ Scroll Down~

Scroll down for video of Exaggerator's last four stakes races

Equibase Profile
Horse Racing Nation Profile

9 Starts: 4 Wins, 2 Seconds, 1 Third

Earnings
Total  $1,671,210
Per Start $185,680

Dad: Curlin
Mom: Dawn Raid
Notable in Bloodline: Curlin and Seattle Slew and Bold Reasoning

Rival: Brody's Cause and Nyquist
Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
Trainer: J Keith Desormeaux
Owner: Big Chief Racing
Breeder: Joseph Murray

2016 Blue Grass Stakes, Carter Handicap, Madison Stakes, Gazelle Stakes, Bay Shore Stakes, Echo Eddie Stakes

2016 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes


2016 Carter Handicap 2016 Madison Stakes 2016 Gazelle Stakes 2016 Bay Shore Stakes 2016 Echo Eddie Stakes

Interview Leading Track Announcer Larry Collmus

And it was even more so in the Belmont with American Pharoah because there was just so much on the line. I was calling it for both the network and the track and I wanted to make sure I did it justice and didn't make any mistakes. And when it was over and you realized you have called one of the most historical moments in the history of racing, and you got it right, it was just incredible. I broke down in tears immediately. I was overjoyed and at the same time completely relieved. - Full Interview

Winsham Lad Stakes & Gulfstream Action, 4-6-16

$75,000 Winsham Lad Stakes @ Sunland If nothing else about this smaller purse stakes race, I love the way the videos from Sunland start with that ground level view of the horses leaving the gate. As long as man or mount aren't injured (or God forbid, killed), I love to see the horses muscle and bump into the race.



Gulfstream Park Replay Show April 7, 2016

April 4 Two Sired by Smarty Jones Break Maidens

Hearty Jones (link includes video and results) won a three horse race (there were 4 scratches) with blistering splits of :22, :46, :59 and 1:12:00. That's a wicked pace for fillies.

Smarty Mr. D (link includes video and results). SMD bested his half sister with similar (and faster) times of :22, :45, :58 and 1:11:00. He went wire to wire with a holstered whip the whole ride.

both were at Parx

Preview for Weekend 4-9

Three prep-races for the Kentucky Derby this weekend: the Wood Memorial, the Santa Anita Derby and Bluegrass. 

Kentucky Derby 2016 Contenders Update: Nyquist stole headlines over the weekend with his win in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. The popular son of Uncle Mo takes second place in the standings, while Gun Runner continues to top the list with 151 points on the Kentucky Derby Trail - See more 

Wood

Shadwell's homebred 3-year-old Shagaf has won his three starts by a combined margin of almost 10 lengths, but trainer Chad Brown believes he hasn't reached his limit. Shagaf, who never has raced less than one mile and won the grade III Gotham Stakes at 1 1/16 miles in his last start March 5, is one of two colts Brown plans to run in the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack. The other is Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's Flexibility, winner of the grade III Jerome Stakes in January.  (Brown: Undefeated Shagaf Has Room to Improve)

Pletcher's Cards of Stone and Outwork are Wood entrants. 

Past Wood Winners 1976-2015

Bluegrass

Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Stonestreet Stables’ Zulu was installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s 92nd running of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1). A total of 16 3-year-olds were entered Tuesday with the Ken and Sarah Ramsey-owned duo of Pinson and Hint of Roses being placed on the also-eligible list. (Zulu is the Tabbed Choice in the Bluegrass). 

2015 Cincinnati Spiral Stakes

Cincinnati Spiral Stakes

Go to 25:15 at the video. This was a KY Derby qualifier.

Gulfstream Stakes Races April 2, 2016

Florida Derby Honey Fox Stakes The Pan American Running of the Orchid Running of the Appleton Gulfstream Park Oaks Running of the Skip Away

RACE REPLAY: Nyquist Tops Mohaymen in Florida Derby

Santa Anita Stakes: Tokyo City, San Simeon Stakes and Santana Mile

Tokyo City Cup

San Simeon Stakes


  Santana Mile

Aqueduct Stakes Races April 2, 2016

2016 Karakorum Elektra Stakes

2016 Videogenic Stakes




  Caixa Stakes

  Stud Muffin Stakes



  Mr Sinatra Stakes

  More to Tell Stakes


  Extra Heat Stakes

  Kelly Kip Stakes

Rainbow Miss Stakes

Arkansas Stakes Video Link

Last night's Arkansas Stakes Here