Gene Kershner

1 month ago | buffalonews.com | Gene Kershner

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Kentucky Derby undercard includes six graded stakes leading up to the $5 million Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. The flagship network NBC Sports and Peacock will broadcast the undercard races starting at noon on USA Network and Peacock, switching over to NBC at 2:30 p.m. through the Derby which will go to post at approximately 6:57 p.m.Here’s a capsule look at Saturday’s five graded races heading into Race 12, the 151st Run for the Roses.

1 month ago | buffalonews.com | Gene Kershner

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It was like old times for trainer Bob Baffert, who stood at ease outside his barn on the backstretch of Churchill Downs on Thursday morning. After serving a three-year ban from the property after a medication violation disqualified 2021 winner Medina Spirit, he held court in his usual spot after the morning training session. “It doesn’t seem like I’ve been gone,” said Baffert. “It’s the same thing. You get here, it’s the same grind, it’s the same rhythm watching everything.

1 month ago | buffalonews.com | Gene Kershner

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A dynamite group of 14 fillies will seek a win in Friday’s $1.5 million Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. Trainer Brad Cox will saddle the morning line favorite for the third year in a row with Good Cheer (6-5), who comes into the race undefeated in six races, including three under the Twin Spires. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro will look to provide Cox with his third Oaks training win after previous victories with Monomoy Girl (2018) and Shedaresthedevil (2020).

1 month ago | buffalonews.com | Gene Kershner

It’s time to roll out the annual Degrees of Separation column, where we separate the contenders from the pretenders for this year’s Kentucky Derby. It's a light look at the horses that have qualified for a gate on the first Saturday in May, to help segregate the horses I'm high on versus the tosses come Derby day. Using my Derby spreadsheet as a guide, we review the 20 horses entered, and one also-eligible entry in case of scratches in the 151st Kentucky Derby.

1 month ago | buffalonews.com | Gene Kershner

It is a week out from the 151st edition of the Run for the Roses, and it is time to start hunting for a live long shot to use in the Derby. The draw for post positions for next week’s Kentucky Derby will be held Saturday at approximately 7:15 p.m. and will be livestreamed on kentuckyderby.com from the second floor terrace at Churchill Downs. It is the second year in a row for the early drawing, which will give handicappers a full week to dive into the past performances before the big race.