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1 week ago | 
attheraces.com | David Grening
By David Grening, Daily Racing FormRiver Thames, most recently third in the Blue Grass Stakes, will bypass the Kentucky Derby and point to the Preakness on May 17, Elliott Walden, president of WinStar Farm, which co-owns the colt, said Tuesday. Walden said the fact River Thames, trained by Todd Pletcher, has had four runs since Jan. 11, played a part in the decision to wait an additional two weeks for the Preakness.
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2 weeks ago | 
attheraces.com | David Grening
By David Grening, Daily Racing FormThe results of Tuesday’s Blue Grass Stakes helped expand the Kentucky Derby bubble with three horses previously on the outside now safely in the body of the race and another who was safely in now out.
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2 weeks ago | 
attheraces.com | David Grening
By David Grening, Daily Racing FormBob Baffert said multiple times that Rodriguez reminded him of his sire Authentic, Baffert’s 2020 Kentucky Derby winner who benefitted when that race was held on the first Saturday of September rather than May due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ability was there; the mentality, not so much.
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2 weeks ago | 
attheraces.com | David Grening
By David Grening, Daily Racing FormHill Road, who had to scratch from Saturday’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial due to a fever, will remain in consideration for several spots, including the Kentucky Derby, depending on how quickly he rebounds, trainer Chad Brown said Friday. Hill Road, third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Tampa Bay Derby, has 24 qualifying points toward the Derby, unlikely enough to crack the field, which is limited to 20 starters.
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3 weeks ago | 
attheraces.com | David Grening
By David Grening, Daily Racing FormAs impressive as Captain Cook has been winning his last two races, even trainer Rick Dutrow knows the horse has more to prove before being considered a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender. Heck, he has more to do just to qualify for the $5 million Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs. Captain Cook is not alone.
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3 weeks ago | 
attheraces.com | David Grening
By David Grening, Daily Racing FormOn the walls of his office and in areas throughout his Belmont Park barn are photographs of some of the biggest victories in the career of trainer Rick Dutrow. There are Big Brown’s tour-de-force triumphs in the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness. There are winner’s circle photos of Kip Deville winning the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Mile and Benny the Bull the 2008 Dubai Golden Shaheen.
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3 weeks ago | 
attheraces.com | David Grening
By David Grening, Daily Racing FormFive G was put on the lead early by rider Manny Franco and was never seriously challenged as she scored a 2 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks to punch her ticket to the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in five weeks. The easy victory validated the decision by owner Mike Gatsas and trainer George Weaver to run Five G in the Kentucky Oaks rather than ship to Kentucky for next Friday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Ashland at Keeneland.
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1 month ago | 
attheraces.com | David Grening
By David Grening, Daily Racing FormFar Bridge, a two-time Grade 1 winner last year, makes his 2025 debut Saturday at Gulfstream in the Grade 3, $215,000 Pan American Stakes. Far Bridge, trained by Christophe Clement for LSU Stables, kicked off his 2024 campaign with an allowance win on the Florida Derby day card. After three losses in graded stakes, Far Bridge won the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga and the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct.
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1 month ago | 
attheraces.com | David Grening
By David Grening, Daily Racing FormManny Franco, currently the leading rider at Aqueduct’s winter meet, has picked up the mount on morning-line favorite Sovereignty for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, trainer Bill Mott said Tuesday afternoon. Franco replaces Sovereignty’s regular rider, Junior Alvarado, who suffered a fractured shoulder blade in a spill Sunday at Gulfstream Park and is expected to miss at least three weeks.
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1 month ago | 
attheraces.com | David Grening
By David Grening, Daily Racing FormIn hopes of getting both horses qualified for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Chad Brown said that he is leaning toward running multiple Grade 1 winner Chancer McPatrick in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland while sending Hill Road to the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Both races are on April 5.
