#Tim Yakteen

Michael "The Wizard'' Kipness has been a professional horse racing handicapper since 1986. The Las Vegas resident analyzes the 20-horse field for Saturday's 148th Kentucky Derby, designating each horse as a contender or a pretender. Visit Wizardraceandsports.com for his full card selections and wagering strategies for Oaks Day (13 races) and Derby…

The Kentucky Derby is one of the most iconic sporting events in the world. Every year, millions of fans tune into NBC to watch top race horses from around the globe compete in "The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports." The 2021 Kentucky Derby will air on May 1 from 12 to 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Coverage is also…

The Road to the Kentucky Derby series opened in late September, but the prep season doesn't get into full swing until the New Year. And the first qualifier of 2023 took place at Oaklawn Park on New Year's Day, the Smarty Jones. Twenty-six additional point races will be offered for the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) over the next 3 1/2 months. Let's…

Brad Cox's Essential Quality opens as the 2-1 favorite for the 2021 Belmont Stakes ahead of Preakness winner Rombauer (3-1). Essential Quality and Rombauer will break side-by-side from the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively. The 153rd Belmont Stakes airs on Saturday, June 5 from 3-5 p.m. ET on NBCSN and from 5-7 p.m. on NBC. Coverage is also…

The Kentucky Derby, the first and perhaps most important leg of the Triple Crown, is just two days away and horse racing fans will finally get to see what the race looks like without a Bob Baffert-trained colt on the track. Zandon, this year's betting favorite to win in the field of 20 thoroughbreds at 3-1, enters the 148th Run for the Roses having…

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Whatever happens Saturday will simply be resume-padding for Knicks Go. His retirement home has been picked out, his stud fee has been set and he's in the relatively small club of thoroughbreds with multiple Breeders' Cup race victories including last year's Classic. There's not much left to prove. "I would think that he's…

A historic 15 weeks after it began, the 2020 Triple Crown drew to a close as Swiss Skydiver crossed the line first in the 145th Preakness Stakes at a spectatorless Pimlico to become the sixth filly to win the race. She was the first filly to run in the Preakness since Ria Antonia in 2014, who finished last. Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra was the…

Brad Cox's favorite Essential Quality ran down a furious pacesetting Hot Rod Charlie down the stretch to win the 153rd Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park. New York regular Luis Saez was in the irons. United Arab Emirates ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum owns Essential Quality. The victory by Essential Quality could bring extra scrutiny of…

Country House, jockeyed by Flavien Prat and trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, was named the winner of the 2019 Kentucky Derby after it was ruled that post time favorite Maximum Security made a move that significantly changed the outcome of the race. This is the first Derby win for both jockey and trainer. Maximum Security crossed the finish line…

The Kentucky Derby, traditionally held on the first Saturday in May, is one of the most well known Grade 1 Thoroughbred stakes races in the world. First run in 1875, this 1 1/4-mile (10 furlongs) race kicks off the American Triple Crown of horse racing. When and where is the 2021 Kentucky Derby? The 147th running of the Kentucky Derby is set for…

The principal action for Kentucky Derby 148 occurred more than 2000 miles west of Churchill Downs Thursday morning as Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner Taiba worked six furlongs in 1:12.80. "It was very straight forward," trainer Tim Yakteen said. "He worked three-quarters from the five-eighth pole. It was a typical Taiba work and we accomplished what…

Get the best Kentucky Derby plays from the horse racing experts at TwinSpires, including exacta, trifecta and superfecta picks. The 148th running of the Kentucky Derby will feature a fierce field of 20 horses set to race 1 1/4 miles on Churchill Downs' historic race track on Saturday, May 7. One undefeated runner, a Japanese-bred starter, and a…

According to Churchill Downs' Mike Battaglia's opening odds, thoroughbred contender Cyberknife is a 20-1 shot for Saturday's Kentucky Derby. Even if he doesn't win, his owner deserves a bouquet of roses or at least a glass of champagne. You see, Al Gold had more important things on his mind when he named his Chestnut colt. The prostate cancer he…

After a two-week break, the Road to the Breeders' Cup resumes on Saturday with a significant prep at the Jersey Shore anchoring the weekend's stakes activity, which has been adjusted somewhat compared with previous years due to changing track schedules in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The $1 million, Grade 1 TVG.com Haskell Stakes at Monmouth…

Last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Knicks Go is the early favorite at 5-2 for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Jan. 23 (NBC, 4:30-6 p.m. ET). He is trained by Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer finalist Brad Cox and will be ridden by Joel Rosario, a finalist for the Eclipse Award for Outstanding…

Last Saturday's Florida Derby, Arkansas Derby and Jeff Ruby produced as many as seven starters for the Kentucky Derby on May 7. A similar allotment may be known by the end of racing Saturday after the Santa Anita Derby, Blue Grass and Wood Memorial. The Santa Anita Derby in California features the brilliantly fast Forbidden Kingdom and Messier in…

Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Practical Move upset three of trainer Bob Baffert's 2-year-olds in the weekend's feature race, the Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity, adding his name into the mix of candidates for the 2023 Kentucky Derby. Things went a bit more to expectations among the Japanese 2-year-olds as the three favorites reported 1-2-3 in Sunday's Grade 1…

Keeneland Barn Notes: Basin Gets Final Prep for G2 Blue Grass Stakes (Trainer Steve Asmussen / Photo by Holly M. Smith) From the Keeneland Media Team: GRADE 1 WINNER BASIN WORKS FOR TOYOTA BLUE GRASS Toyota Blue Grass (G2) hopeful Basin, who races for Terry Green's Jackpot Farm, was the first horse to breeze over Keeneland's fast track Monday when…

Derby day has arrived, as sports bettors worldwide are looking to cash in on "the most exciting two minutes in sports" with the running of the 148th Kentucky Derby. Starting positions have been set, and a post time of 6:57 p.m. ET means that the first leg of the Triple Crown will likely conclude before the clock strikes 7. The 2022 Kentucky Derby…

Trainer Bob Baffert will be in search of his sixth straight win in this race and ninth overall when he sends out a trio of juvenile fillies in Saturday's Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos. Leading the way will be Faiza. A daughter of Girvin, she was supplemented for $10000 to the $300000 feature. In her only career start, she was an impressive…

There's a reason we're the #1 trusted source for premium racing picks & info. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will have three opportunities to win the $300000-guaranteed Starlet - the final Grade I of 2022 for 2-year-old fillies - for a sixth consecutive year Saturday at Los Alamitos. The race at 1 1/16 miles is being offered locally for the ninth…

The $300000, Grade 1 Starlet Stakes Saturday at Los Alamitos brings together a field of seven 2-year-old fillies hoping to earn points on the Road to the Longines Kentucky Oaks and stamp themselves as horses to watch in 2023. There are no stakes winners in this group, and the best finish in a stakes came when Uncontrollable checked in second in the…

There will be 20 horses lined up in the posts at Churchill Downs for Saturday's Kentucky Derby. And 1.25 miles later, one will be crowned the 2022 champion and go on to leave Louisville with the opportunity to try to capture the illustrious Triple Crown. This year's Derby field is fairly wide-open, as there's no clear-cut favorite. So The Most…

Saturday's Coverage Kicks Off with Kentucky Derby Prep at Noon ET on USA Network Live Coverage from Churchill Downs Begins with Five Hours of Kentucky Oaks Day Races This Friday, May 6 at 1 p.m. ET on USA Network Peacock to Live Stream NBC's Triple Crown Horse Races for the First Time STAMFORD, Conn. - May 2, 2022 - NBC Sports presents the 148…

The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown and it will take place Saturday evening at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The year's derby will be one of the more interesting ones in recent memory since legendary trainer Bob Baffert will not be allowed at the track as he's serving a 90-day suspension. The ban was given to him by…

Rich Strike, the 80-1 shot ridden by Sonny Leon and trained by Eric Reed, mounted a furious and improbable rally to capture the 148th Kentucky Derby on May 7. He was not even in the field until another horse was scratched the day before the race. But after initially pointing the colt toward the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, Rich Strike's owner said…

Mark Messier lifted the Stanley Cup six times during his NHL career, but it will be a different Messier going for a title on Saturday. With the Kentucky Derby this Saturday, one of the horses has a name that will be very familiar to hockey fans. Messier, a Canadian-bred racehorse, is set to compete as one of the 20 horses at Churchill Downs. The…

The horses are nearing the starting gate for the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby. The post position draw and morning line oddswere released today, and the countdown to "the most exciting two minutes in sports" and America's most popular horse race is set. Post time for the Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY is 6:57 p.m. ET on…

Rich Strike is the winner of the 148th Kentucky Derby at famed Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The horse entered the race with 80-1 odds to win. It's one of the biggest upsets in the history of the race. Epicenter (4-1) came in second, Zandon (6-1) finished third, and Simplification (35-1) finished fourth. Rich Strike takes home the $1.86…

By Andy Serling FOX Sports Horse Racing Analyst Every year, people shift their attention to Louisville on the first Saturday in May for the Kentucky Derby. Whether you are a horse racing expert or betting for fun, there is plenty of action to go around in the first leg of the Triple Crown. In my role as a public handicapper, I make thousands of…

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) - Tim Yakteen has been to the Kentucky Derby with good horses before. Now the trainer is at Churchill Downs in charge for the first time with two top contenders that used to be trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Watch the Kentucky Derby LIVE Saturday on TSN3 and TSN Direct with coverage starting at 12:30pm ET/9:30am…

May 20 (UPI) -- The Preakness, even without Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, is the marquee event in weekend horse racing, but by no means the only top-shelf event on the schedule. Pimlico Race Course provides an impressive supporting program on Friday and Saturday. Churchill Downs and Monmouth Park add to the mix. On the international front,…

Taiba is a horse that will certainly have his supporters ahead of the 2022 Kentucky Derby after winning both his career starts, with the most-recent being a tidy win in the Grade One Santa Anita Derby on 9th April - and you can back him at 12/1 with BetOnline by clicking below. Age: 3 year-old colt Trainer: Tim Yakteen Jockey: Mike E Smith Runs:…

Mo Donegal rallied in deep stretch to get up in the final strides to take the 97th running of the $750000, Grade 2, Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on Saturday. After a slow start, Mo Donegal and pilot Joel Rosario settled comfortably towards the rear of the pack while Early Voting and Jose Ortiz set the pace in the 1-1/8 mile event. Mo Donegal saved…

The only graded stakes on Saturday's racing schedule features distaffers battling under the twin spires. Coach is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the Grade 3, $300000 Chilukki Stakes. Post time from Churchill Downs is 5:35 p.m. EST, with FS2 showing the one-mile race for 3-and-up fillies and mares. The Chilukki is part of a November Churchill…

Taibahas won the Santa Anita Derby after surpassing Messier with a great run down the stretch. Order of Finish, Pre-Race Odds, Payouts 1. Taiba (4-1): Win ($10.60), Place ($3.60), Show ($3.20) 2. Messier (6-5): Place ($2.80), Show ($2.10) 3. Happy Jack (25-1): Show ($4.20) 4. Armagnac (70-1) 5. Win The Day (25-1) 6. Forbidden Kingdom (Even) Odds…

Early Voting Set for Preakness; Zandon Decision Pending BALTIMORE, Md. - Trainer Chad Brown has not decided whether he will have one or two runners in the 147th Preakness (G1) on May 21 at Pimlico Race Course. Klaravich Stables' Early Voting (Gun Runner) is on course for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness, while Brown said that he is still considering a run…

In many ways the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday represents a return to normal. A capacity crowd is expected at Churchill Downs after two years of COVID-19 disruptions and Nevadans are again able to access a full wagering menu on races from the Louisville track after resolution of a contract dispute. But the party-as-usual…

Evenas debut winner Arabian Knight held firm as the favorite, one of his stablematesbecame the 14th horse from Bob Baffert's stable to be listed in the Kentucky Derby 2023 futures posted at Caesars Sportsbook in Nevada. Massimo,a $575000 Uncle Mo colt who broke his maiden at Del Mar on Sunday in hisfourth start, opened this week at 135-1. His…

The "Fastest Two Minutes in Sports" is only one day away. The prestigious race will feature three horses with single-digit odds and 17 other contenders at potentially double-digit odds in a wide-open betting affair. Zandon for trainer Chad Brown was installed as the morning-line favorite (3-1), just slightly ahead of Steve Asmussen's attempt at a…

With three different Derby points races on Saturday and many other graded stakes races, fans can watch racing all day and not get bored. From a betting standpoint, the Grade 2, $750000 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct, Grade 1, $1 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and Grade 1, $750000 Santa Anita Derby appear chalky. Players need to either go…

Cal-bred champ doing'Super' for Santa Ana; Mandella says United up to speed in training ARCADIA, Calif.- Doug O'Neill hopes The Great One rebounds from his disappointing fifth-place finish behind recently sidelined Life Is Good in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes on March 6 when he runs in the Grade I Runhappy Santa Anita Derby next Saturday, April…

The draw for Saturday's 147th Preakness Stakes lacked the drama of a Kentucky Derby draw because the field is half its size. The draw was held at a lakeside restaurant in Baltimore on Monday if for no other reason than Pimlico Race Course is very old and shows every bit of its age. In fact, there were more mentions of the post-draw private event…

Barely more than one month remains until the Kentucky Derby (G1) on the first Saturday in May. The Kentucky Oaks (G1), held one day prior, is also rapidly approaching. News and notes are coming fast and furious, so let's dive in and see what's happening. A trio of Kentucky Derby qualifiers worth 100-40-20-10 points to the top four finishers took…

With Secret Oath officially pointing toward the Kentucky Oaks again on May 6 at Churchill Downs, the comparisons between the daughter of Arrogate and last year's 2-year-old filly champion Echo Zulu will carry on for the next few weeks. According to oddschecker, Echo Zulu remains the slight favorite over Adare Manor in overseas wagering.…

Pimlico Race Course has a complicated history, but somehow it is still in operation. Known as the "Home of the Preakness," it will only be running for a short time in May. Watch and wager while it lasts... The Black-Eyed Susan Day on Friday is upon us, and it promises to have a strong All-Stakes Pick 6 in races 8 through 13. The "featured" race for…

CaveRock went into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile with the best speed numbers. Fortecame out of it with the victory. Two days after they raced at Keeneland,neither was the Nevada futures favorite for Kentucky Derby 2023. Instead, it wasa Bob Baffert colt who won a maiden race on the Breeders' Cup Saturday undercard. Arabian Knight, who won Saturday's…

Will this weekend's Breeders' Cup Classic serve as the crowning moment for a horse that will go down in the history books, or will it be the setting for a major upset? We'll find out Saturday evening at Keeneland, which will host horse racing's World Championships for the third time and welcome one of the sport's biggest stars in recent memory. The…

10TH RACE: 1-3-8-7-6 11TH RACE: 8-3-1-6-7 (BEST BET) 12TH RACE KENTUCKY DERBY 1. (3) Epicenter, 2. (16) Cyberknife, 3. (12) Taiba, 4. (10) Zandon. LONG SHOT: (8) Charge It. Gotta be honest, this year, I don't have a strong opinion. This crop seems pretty even. That being said I think the best 3-year-old I've seen is EPICENTER (7-2). Thank goodness…