Sean Collins

2 weeks ago | bloodhorse.com | Sean Collins

Juddmonte homebred has yet to race on a dirt race track, debuting on the turf before a trio of starts on Turfway Park's Tapeta surface that culminated in a Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) victory March 22. The Not This Time colt posted his second workout on the Churchill Downs dirt track since the Jeff Ruby April 9, breezing five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 with exercise rider Edvin Vargas aboard. So far, trainer Brad Cox is happy with how he's traveling. "I really like what I see from him," Cox said.

2 weeks ago | bloodhorse.com | Sean Collins

Godolphin and trainer Michael Stidham were thinking big following a pair of allowance turf victories by homebred , and they were rewarded with a graded stakes victory in the $376,563 Shakertown Stakes (G2T) at April 8. "We had a couple of options. He was the horse who could have improved more than the rest of them," said Godolphin USA director of bloodstock Michael Banahan. "They're all sprinters that have run 20, 30 times. He's only run a couple of times, he's sprinted three times.

2 weeks ago | bloodhorse.com | Sean Collins

Despite all the recent Kentucky storms, there was no raining on Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse's parade of 3-year-old fillies during opening week at . Less than 24 hours after won the delayed Ashland Stakes (G1), Casse was back in the winner's circle April 8 after topped a Casse-trained exacta in the $500,000 Appalachian Stakes (G2) April 8. "If the turf had been really soft, I wouldn't have ran them," Casse said about the race being delayed from April 5.

2 weeks ago | bloodhorse.com | Sean Collins

It was a frigid morning at Churchill Downs April 8, but Rebel Stakes (G2) winner Coal Battle heated up his Kentucky Derby (G1) preparations by returning to the worktab for the first time since finishing third in the March 29 Arkansas Derby (G1). With assistant trainer and exercise rider Bethany Taylor aboard, the son of easily clocked a half-mile in :48 2/5 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:02 2/5, according to clocker Adam Wallace. "He did really good.

2 weeks ago | bloodhorse.com | Sean Collins

Opening day at looked different than usual April 6. With constant storms pelting the bluegrass throughout the weekend, the traditional opening Friday card was delayed and the Sunday card stepped up to become the introduction to one of racing's most prestigious meets. Those storms continued intermittently Sunday afternoon, keeping a large portion of the typical opening day patrons at their homes.