#Ashland Stakes

This content was produced in partnership with Sean Miller. If you are a casual fan of horse racing, you will know the first Saturday in May is for the Kentucky Derby. But that is just the culmination of months worth of qualifying to get into the main race, let alone all the other races on Kentucky Oaks and derby day. That is where we are at now:…

There is no complete Triple Crown at stake this year when the 154th Belmont Stakes is run this Saturday, June 11 (post time 6:45 p.m. ET, NBC). But after missing the Preakness Stakes following his shocking Kentucky Derby win, Rich Strike will return to the field to try to take a non-consecutive second jewel. While Preakness winner Early Voting and…

The Bob Baffert-trained Gamine will try to establish herself as the top three-year-old filly in the country on Friday when she leaves the starting gate in the nation's top race for three-year-old fillies, the 2020 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. This daughter of Into Mischief has never trailed in any of her four career starts. She is coming off a…

One of the most exciting races that fans will be looking forward to later in the year comes in the form of the Breeders' Cup Distaff. This race brings together the best fillies and mares on the dirt, as the field competes across 1 1/8 miles. Last year there was a shock+5000 winner of the race, as Japanese-trained Marche Lorraine managed to hold off…

Reigning 2-year-old champion Echo Zulu will try to take a step toward another Eclipse Award when she leaves the starting gate in the 2022 Kentucky Oaks on Friday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Echo Zulu is a perfect 5-for-5 in her career. Last year, she won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies en route to earning…

Malathaat, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2021, makes her long-awaited return to the races when she headlines a field of six older females entered for Friday's $300000 Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland. An impeccably bred daughter of Curlin, the Todd Pletcher-trained filly earned the first of three Grade 1 victories in her seasonal debut last…

Nest takes a shot against males in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday for trainer Todd Pletcher, a man who has won this race with the filly Rags to Riches in 2007. Even though Nest belongs in the Belmont, choosing the filly requires faith that the 1 1/2 miles elevates her to a new level. On previous form alone in normal route races, Nest…

Tools & Tips to Win Big on Kentucky Derby 2021! All Derby handicapping Free Derby PPs Expert sets Derby Odds Derby Analysis & Bets Fastest Derby speed figs How to Crush the Super! Get expert Derby picks! Clocker's 5 Best Works Derby pedigree analysis 10 Derby Secrets (FREE) (VIDEO) 30-1 Long shots Get up to $200 from TVG! The Kentucky Oaks is set…

One year ago, trainer Todd Pletcher's filly Malathaat started her 3-year-old campaign with a late rally to win Ashland Stakes by a head. The victory launched her to an Eclipse Award-winning season that also included Grade 1 wins in the Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes. Pletcher will hope for similar things Friday and beyond with Nest (2-1),…

Art Collector came through with a masterpiece in the $600000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on Saturday, rolling past the filly Swiss Skydiver near the eighth-pole and cruising to a 3 ½-length victory. Sent off as the second choice just behind slight favorite Swiss Skydiver, Art Collector stamped himself as a Kentucky…

The brilliantly fast Gamine, a dual Grade 1 winner owned by Michael Lund Petersen and trained by three-time Oaks-winning trainer Bob Baffert, has been installed as the even-money favorite for Friday's $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. The 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief drew post position 5 for the 1 1/8-mile race with Hall of…

Ce Ce, shown winning the Azeri Stakes on March 12 at Oaklawn Park, is among the favorites for Saturday's Grade I Apple Blossom over the same track. Coady photography, courtesy of Oaklawn Park April 22 (UPI) -- As spring blossoms, horse racing stars including Letruska, Ce Ce, Pizza Bianca, Malathat and Channel Maker return from winter vacations this…

There is one guarantee in this year's wide-open Kentucky Oaks. The post-time favorite will be higher than 5-2, the odds of morning-line choice Nest. Kathleen O., Nest, Echo Zulu and Secret Oath all have put forth efforts that are good enough to compete for the top spot. Below I take a closer look at all 14 fillies that will line up for the 2022…

Toyota Blue Grass returns to $1 million; Central Bank Ashland moves to opening day LEXINGTON, Ky. - Keeneland revitalizes the 2022 Spring Meet with record $7.7 million in awards. 19 stakes will be run during the meet to be held from April 8-29. The new schedule features increased purses for all stakes and significant changes to the season's two…