Tag: Churchill Downs

(Image: Churchill Downs/Coady Photography)

Breaking Down the 2022 Kentucky Derby: Chaos Theory Reigns

Welcome to Kentucky Derby 148, a.k.a. The Chaos Derby. And we’re not talking about the usual infield escapades that happen as the Derby returns to it’s pre-pandemic crowds north of 150,000. Unpredictability? Depth? A Derby where surprises almost wouldn’t be surprising? This edition of America’s most popular race has it […]

In an incredibly deep and talented field, Nest is the 5/2 morning-line favorite for Saturday's Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. (Image: Churchill Downs/Coady Photography)

From this Kentucky Oaks Grows a Mighty Deep Field

To illustrate the depth of this year’s Kentucky Oaks, we re-introduce Echo Zulu, your reigning 2-Year-Old Champion Filly. She’s undefeated in five races, three of those Grade 1s and one of those, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. At the beginning of 2022, Echo Zulu was being discussed as a superhorse. […]

Mike Smith and Taiba will attempt to parlay this Santa Anita Derby win into a Kentucky Derby triumph as only the second Derby winner since 1882 to win without racing as a 2-year-old. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Taiba Trying to Take a Shortcut to Kentucky Derby History

The path Taiba is attempting to follow started four years ago when a lightly raced colt with only three starts under his saddle went into the Kentucky Derby as the 5/2 favorite. He “Justified” those odds by winning the Derby en route to the Triple Crown. Jockey Mike Smith remembered […]

Last fall, Jack Christopher was expected to be one of the horses to watch in the Kentucky Derby. Instead, an injury put him into the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile, one of the eight stakes on Churchill Downs' Derby Day card. (Image: Dana WImpfheimer)

Churchill Downs’ Deep Kentucky Derby Undercard Has Familiar Look

In case Saturday’s 148th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs isn’t enough excitement or action for you, the undercard features Jackie’s Warrior against Aloha West in one Grade 1, Shirl’s Speight vs. Tribhuvan in a second Grade 1, Bells the One vs. Just One Time in a third Grade 1 and […]

Churchill Downs has horseplayers covered across the gate with a smorgasbord of betting options for Kentucky Oaks/Derby week. (Image: Coady Photography)

Zandon Opens as 3/1 Favorite for 148th Kentucky Derby

Neither Chad Brown nor Steve Asmussen has a Kentucky Derby win on their considerable resumes. They’re a combined 0-for-30 in America’s most-followed race. But, the two are saddling the two morning-line favorites, 3/1 Zandon and 7/2 Epicenter, for Saturday’s 148th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Brown’s Zandon drew Post 10 […]

Simplification won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth from seventh on the backstretch. His versatile style and other factors make him a good long shot Kentucky Derby pick. (Image: Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson)

Keeping it Simple With Kentucky Derby Sleeper Simplification

Lost in Friday’s Kentucky Derby news of the final California works from the former Bob Baffert/now Tim Yakteen duo of Taiba and Messier, and Zandon’s latest impressive work at Churchill Downs (1:00.40 for five furlongs) was the happenings out of Gulfstream Park, where Simplification quietly turned in a bullet five-furlong […]

Kentucky Derby hopeful Crown Pride should offer juicy odds on numerous wagers you can find on the Kentucky Derby/Oaks wagering menu. Churchill Downs unveiled several bets unique to Derby/Oaks weekend. (Image: Churchill Downs/Coady Photography)

Churchill Downs Unveils Exotics Betting Menu for Derby/Oaks Weekend

An All-3-Year-Old Pick 3 and an All-Dirt, All-Stakes Pick 5 join a crowded wagering menu of bets Churchill Downs is offering for Kentucky Derby/Oaks Weekend on May 6-7. The All-3-Year-Old Pick 3 comes with an uncommon $3 minimum wager. The bet, which also comes with a 22% takeout, requires you […]

Nevada horseplayers can once again partake in the full wagering menu of Churchill Downs races like the Kentucky Oaks. An agreement between Churchill Downs and Nevada racebooks opened the betting windows for that state's bettors after a three-year impasse. (Image: Churchill Downs/Coady Photography)

Nevada Racebooks, Churchill Downs Inc. Reach Agreement

The three-year conflict between Churchill Downs Inc. and Nevada racebooks finally ended Tuesday when the two formerly bickering entities signed a contract that will allow Nevada horseplayers access to the entire Kentucky Derby wagering menu this year. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that the deal between the Nevada Pari-Mutuel Association […]

Zandon captured the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes shortly after he closed at 18/1 in the final Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool. (Image: Keeneland/Coady Photography)

Epicenter Finishes as Final Favorite in Last KDFW Pool

With four weeks remaining until the May 7 Kentucky Derby, horseplayers stuck by Louisiana Derby winner Epicenter, making him the 9/2 favorite in the fifth and final Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) pool. That pool closed Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET, prior to the running of the final 170-point Kentucky […]

Trainer Tim Yakteen has worked for two Hall of Fame trainers in Bob Baffert and Charlie Whittingham. He has never trained a Kentucky Derby horse, a streak that may end this year with the transfer of three Baffert prospects to his barn. (Image: Yakteen Racing)

It’s on: Baffert Transfers Four Derby Prospects to Other Barns

With a tick more than six weeks remaining until the Kentucky Derby, suspended trainer Bob Baffert finally moved four of his Derby prospects to other trainers. Provided the horses receive enough points in their impending final Derby preps, the move makes them eligible for the May 7 Derby. The Los […]

Churchill Downs presents a record 53 stakes races in 2022. That includes the Grade 1 Arlington Million, which it brought over from the shuttered Arlington Park. (Image: Coady Photography)

Churchill Downs’ 2022 Stakes Schedule Includes Arlington Million

Churchill Downs announced a 2022 stakes schedule for its spring/summer meet featuring a record 53 stakes worth a record $20.37 million. But, it’s a special stakes race Aug. 13 that drew the attention of horse racing fans. The Arlington Million. Yes, that Arlington Million, the marquee race at the now-late Arlington […]

This daylight victory in last Saturday's San Felipe Stakes is one big reason why Forbidden Kingdom is the 5/1 favorite in Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Forbidden Kingdom Runs Into Favored Status in KDFW Pool 4

Fresh off the heels of his dominant San Felipe Stakes win, Forbidden Kingdom opened as the 5/1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) Pool 4. That pool opens Friday and runs through Sunday. It runs concurrently with the lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager (KOFW) pool. There, Churchill Downs oddsmaker […]

Tuesday morning, Churchill Downs' workers literally take down the sign marking Medina Spirit's 2021 Kentucky Derby victory. (Image: Coady Photography)

Mandaloun Illustrates New Sign of the Times at Churchill Downs:

Churchill Downs officials wasted little time putting cosmetic touches on what they hope is a concrete decision. On Tuesday, the track’s staff replaced Medina Spirit’s nameplate with the now-official 2021 Kentucky Derby champion: Mandaloun. The 3-year-old Kentucky Derby king is dead — literally in the late Medina Spirit’s case, and […]

Medina Spirit's half-length victory over Mandaloun in last year's Kentucky Derby was overturned Monday. Mandaloun was declared the official winner after Medina Spirit was disqualified for a drug violation. (Image: Coady Photography)

Stewards Strip Medina Spirit of 2021 Kentucky Derby Title

After nine months, numerous fits and starts and several legal challenges, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission stewards disqualified Medina Spirit as winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby. The Monday decision came as a result of Medina Spirit failing a drug test for the banned-on-race day, anti-inflammatory betamethasone. Along with the ruling, […]

White Abarrio went from closing at 171/1 in the second Kentucky Derby Future Wager to opening at 8/1 in the third pool. That came as a result of this 4 1/2-length victory in last weekend's Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. (Image: Coglianese Photo)

White Abarrio Goes from Long Shot to KDFW Individual Co-Favorite

The third of five pools for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) opens Friday at noon ET with the familiar “All Other 3-Year-Olds” – a.k.a. “the field” – as the 5/2 morning-line favorite. But it opened with a new co-individual favorite sharing that status with a familiar favorite. That newcomer […]

Tiz the Bomb is the 10/1 second individual choice behind stablemate Smile Happy in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2, which closed Sunday. (Image: Coady Photography/Keeneland)

Both the Field, Smile Happy, Keep Their Favorite Status in KDFW Pool 2

Just like it did in November’s Pool 1, the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2 finished with All Other 3-Year-Olds as the favorite, and Smile Happy closing as the individual favorite. While Smile Happy closed at the same 8/1 odds he finished at in Pool 1, All Other 3-Year-Olds wound […]

Kentucky Jockey Club winner Smile Happy opens as the 8/1 individual favorite for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2. That pool opens Friday and runs through Sunday. (Image: Coady Photography/Churchill Downs)

All Other 3-Year-Olds Claim Favorite Status on KDFW Pool 2

The second of five pools for the Kentucky Derby Futures Wager (KDFW) opens Friday at noon ET with All Other 3-Year-Olds (aka the field), carrying 7/5 favorite odds. Meanwhile, the individual Pool 2 favorite comes from a trainer not usually seen with Derby favorites. That would be Kenny McPeek, whose […]

Gamine won her second-to-last race: the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga. It was her ninth win in 11 career races and fifth Grade 1 triumph. She was retired Tuesday. (Image: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher)

Champion Sprinter Gamine Retired Mere Days Into Her 5-Year-Old Season

Gamine, the incomparable sprinter who is among the fastest runners this century, was retired Monday, according to a release from her owner, Pandora jewelry baron Michael Lund Petersen. Through a representative, Petersen announced the now-5-year-old mare will reside at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Kentucky. With a 9-0-1 record and […]

Corniche and Mike Smith won October's Grade 1 American Pharoah for one of his three victories in as many races. The presumptive Champion 2-Year-Old will remain with trainer Bob Baffert despite the conditioner's suspension from the next two Kentucky Derbies. (Image: Benoit Photo)

After Break, Baffert Will Get Kentucky Derby Prospect Corniche Back

Any reports of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Corniche moving out of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s barn are premature — as of now. According to the Daily Racing Form, the odds-on favorite to win the Eclipse Award as 2-Year-Old Champion will return to Baffert’s California base after a freshening […]