Bob Ehalt

6 days ago | bloodhorse.com | Bob Ehalt |Byron King

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, a six-time Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, has narrowed his squad of Thoroughbreds for the May 3 Run for the Roses from three to two. Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner and reigning champion 2-year-old male remain pointed to the 1 1/4-mile first leg of the Triple Crown, but not , who would have been a Derby longshot.

1 week ago | bloodhorse.com | Bob Ehalt

It all started in 2013 with a $50,000 investment in a nine-person partnership. From that pool of money, none of the group's horses won above the allowance level. That was Sol Kumin's rather humble introduction to Thoroughbred racing. Inauspicious? For sure. Yet it was also the spark that fueled the kind of success that seems too lofty to believe. Just 12 years later, Kumin stands on the verge of a mind-boggling milestone.

2 weeks ago | bloodhorse.com | Bob Ehalt

WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden said April 9 that River Thames came out of his third-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) fine and will be pointed to the Kentucky Derby (G1). "He came out great. As of now we are looking at the Kentucky Derby and we'll see how it goes the next few weeks," said Walden, the CEO, president, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. The New York-bred River Thames was third in the April 8 Blue Grass at , three-quarters of a length behind the victorious Burnham Square .

2 weeks ago | bloodhorse.com | Bob Ehalt

The Lexington Stakes (G3) generally offers a last chance for a 3-year-old prospect to move into the Kentucky Derby (G1). Not this year. With a maximum of 20 qualifying points up for grabs, the winner of the April 12 stakes at will fall far short of the cutoff to qualify for the May 3 Run for the Roses. Still with an evenly matched field of nine, it could be an interesting betting race. 1. (30-1 morning-line odds): Has yet to be tested on dirt.

2 weeks ago | americasbestracing.net | Bob Ehalt

The Stonestreet Lexington Stakes generally offers a last chance for a 3-year-old prospect to move into the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. Not this year. With a maximum of 20 qualifying points up for grabs, the winner of Saturday’s stakes at Keeneland will fall far short of the cutoff to qualify for the May 3 run for the roses. Still with an evenly matched field of nine, it could be an interesting betting race. 1. Hard as Life (30-1 morning-line odds): Has yet to be tested on dirt.