#Twin Spires

They will all dream on Saturday. Owners and trainers and jockeys of 20 thoroughbred horses will be hoping their prayers will be answered when the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby is done at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. One thing learned from the prior 144 editions of America's greatest horse race is that any horse entered has a shot to win…

Friday's headliner at Keeneland is the $300000 Sycamore S. (G3), which will be run at 1 1/2 miles on the turf as Race 9. An overflow field of 16 has been entered for the ultra-competitive event, which will be the centerpiece of my Daily Double wagers as I will look to capitalize on an especially generous offer from Twin Spires. The " Keeneland…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - They were not worried, and they said so all week. Everyone had stopped by the barn of the trainer Doug O'Neill and told him that his colt Nyquist did not have the stamina to last a mile and a quarter - that he had cranked up his baby too much in capturing a $1 million bonus last month in the Florida Derby. There could not be…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Latest on the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby (all times local): 5:15 p.m. Thousands of spectators are gathered in the infield at Churchill Downs, many not wearing face masks required amid the coronavirus pandemic. Hundreds stood in lines that were not spaced out to use ATMs or buy food. Unlike some Derby tickets this year…

LAS VEGAS - It was sure to happen, wasn't it? With the rising popularity of handicapping contests in horse racing, there had to be growing pains. And you had better believe the news that broke late this week from the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge is a pain. "I have full confidence that there was nothing amiss there," said Nisan Gabbay, 40, the…

Sunday's $250000 Smarty Jones is the first of four stops on Oaklawn Park's road to the 2023 Kentucky Derby. The one-mile stakes race drew a field of eight which celebrate their racetrack birthdays on this day and will make their first start as 3-year-olds. As an official Derby prep race, points are available to the top five eligible finishers…

Maximum Security, the colt disqualified from victory in the Kentucky Derby, returns to the winner's circle Saturday at Belmont Park. Photo courtesy of New York Racing Association Oct. 28 (UPI) -- It was a very good weekend of horse racing for Japan as Lys Gracieux landed the Group 1 Cox Plate in Australia and Almond Eye returned to her dominant…

New Year's Eve is fairly quiet for racing in Sydney, with most of the big guns resting, getting ready for either the Magic Millions carnival in Queensland in the next two weekends or for the start of the Sydney autumn carnival at the end of January. Betting opportunities continue to be strong, however. Royal Randwick plays host to a 10-race card,…

For the first time since 2015, there will be no rain falling on the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs for a Kentucky Derby held on its traditional date in Louisville, Ky., on the first Saturday in May. The 2020 Run for the Roses was contested under clear skies and a fast track on Sept. 5, with no fans in the grandstand due to the coronavirus pandemic…

Desert Encounter, winner of the 2018 and 2019 Pattison Canadian International, is back trying for a "three-peat" in Saturday's renewal at Woodbine. Photo courtesy of Woodbine Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Belmont Park returns to action this weekend with Irish and English horses, including Bolshoi Ballet, chasing the third leg of New York's rich turf…

Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Trainer Bob Baffert celebrated Christmas a day late with five winners on Santa Anita's Opening Day program Monday, likely boosting one of those horses to an Eclipse Award and perhaps setting up another for a repeat raid on the rich races in the Middle East. It was a star-studded day in front of a big crowd at Santa Anita, as Juan…

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…

Mr. Misunderstood wins Saturday's Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs, headed for bigger things in the year to come. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs A spate of major weekend races around the world fueled hopes for the coming season, even as this year's championships are still being debated. In Australia, Redzel silenced any lingering doubts…

Kentucky Derby Past Performances and statistical view at the Run for the Roses. Since 1940, a lot of talk has been placed on a Kentucky Derby hopeful's final start and where they will prep and how well the past performances were. The interest in this annual right of passage for the owners of each horses and for Kentucky Derby handicappers as well…

Trainer John Sadler thought the best place for Bran to start was far from his Southern California base, and in Saturday's $1 million FanDuel Turf Sprint, a Grade 2, six-furlong test at Kentucky Downs. His decision worked out perfectly, as jockey Vincent Cheminaud guided the 4-year-old gelding to victory by a neck over pace-setter Artemus…

Channel Cat, shown winning the Grade I Man o' War in May, is among the favorites for Saturday's Grade II Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct. Photo courtesy of New York Racing Association Nov. 19 (UPI) -- High-class graded stakes racing is spread across North America this weekend, with a turf showdown in New York, a tough mile event for fillies and mares…

Regal Glory, shown winning the 2021 Matriarch at Del Mar, takes on male rivals in Saturday's Grade I Fourstardave at Saratoga. Benoit photo, courtesy of Del Mar Turf Club Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Turf racing at Saratoga, Del Mar and Churchill Downs tops the weekend agenda, with a pair of Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" slots up for grabs. A third…

In 1919, Sir Barton became the first of 13 horses to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, capturing what would become known as the Triple Crown, horse racing's most cherished and elusive prize. Before the Kentucky Derby is run each spring, every trainer, owner, jockey and bettor dreams of a Triple…

Life Is Good, shown winning the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January, is favored in Saturday's Grade I Whitney at Saratoga. Photo courtesy of Katsumi Saito Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Life is Good and Olympiad square off in the heavyweight match that is Saturday's Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, just one race after an international Group I rematch on…

Sconsin, shown winning the 2021 Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs, tries for a repeat in the Memorial Day renewal. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs May 27 (UPI) -- The long Memorial Day weekend is not short on racing action with two "Win and You're In" events, one in California amid a flurry on Grade I races and the other in Chile. The…

Rich Strike, seen posing the morning after his Kentucky Derby win, returns in Saturday's Grade I Clark Stakes with a chance to stake a claim for year-end honors. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs Nov. 25 (UPI) -- It's getting to be crunch time for horses who seek year-end honors, and this weekend's Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs provides one of…

With the NYRA Racing Festival complete, and Todd Pletcher's 1-2 score in Belmont Stakes now in the record books, it is time to turn our attention to the rest of the Meet. That runs through mid-July, which will in-turn, give way to celebrated Saratoga. There is much left to do in Elmont... so, tune in! Most Likely Winner: (Race 10: Sinfully Sweet…

There is an old saying in horse racing - "pace makes the race" - that is a core tenet of analyzing races. Essentially what it means is that how fast a race in run in the early stages and how many horses vie for the lead plays a major role in which runners have the best chance to win. A talented front-runner thus would be formidable in a race in…

Making the 33rd start of her career, her 19th in the last two years and ninth of her 5-year-old season, Lothenbach Stables' She Can't Sing (Bernardini) may just be better than ever and earned an extremely valuable first victory at the graded level in the GIII Chilukki S. as the sun began to set on Churchill Downs Saturday afternoon. A highly…

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…

Imagine for a moment being loaded with money. So loaded there was plenty to unload on any of the three sure-fire ways to blow an investment. As some financial wizard told Tony Kornheiser, they are a private plane, a restaurant and a racehorse. Forget about the plane and the restaurant. How about being someone like Jack Wolf? He and his wife Laurie…

The name Phil Thomas does not appear in present-day past performances. The last race on his training record was run more than three years ago. His last winner was at the end of the summer of 2013. But something he said resonates to this day with horseplayers handicapping the Kentucky Derby. "I bet if you looked at it," he said, "horses that won the…

The fall meet at Churchill Downs rolls on with a 10-race Wednesday program, and all events are scheduled for the dirt. Here are my five favorite heats on the card. Best bet: Summer Splash (race 3) Best value bet: Flyin Bessie (race 8) Race 3 No. 7 Summer Splash (3-1) demolished a similar field at Remington on Sept. 17 before finding allowance foes…

The $1 million Grade 1 Preakness Stakes on May 15 at Pimlico Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve as the second leg of the Triple Crown, taking place just two weeks after the fabled showdown under the twin spires at Churchill Downs. But what a difference two weeks makes in how horseplayers approach handicapping the two races. The Kentucky…

New York takes center stage of the racing world this weekend. Belmont Park hosts 14 graded stakes between its Friday and Saturday cards, including nine at the Grade 1 level, culminating in the 2022 Belmont Stakes on Saturday afternoon. Rougir (6-5) is morning-line favorite for the first of those Grade 1 affairs, the $750000 New York Stakes. Post…

Churchill Downs' Barn Notes: Mr Wireless Was Well Connected On Friday (Mr Wireless / Coady Photography) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: It was a sentimental win Friday at Churchill Downs for Jon Lapczenski and JIL Stable's Mr. Wireless. Just days before his allowance victory, his co-owner/breeder John Kerber passed away at age 86. Kerber, who…

This marks the latest edition of "Stackin' Cheddar: Looking Back", a new biweekly series on America's Best Racing. Here, we'll look back on an early race in the careers of some of the greatest horses of all time, including spots where they went off at a big price. June 13, 2008 Maiden Special Weight Jess Jackson and Steve Asmussen arrived at…

Like the national open stakes schedule on this first post-Breeders' Cup weekend, the TwinSpires Jury has a slimmed-down look this week. James Scully and Vance Hanson opine with their best opinions on a weekend that includes the 2022 Claiming Crown at Churchill Downs. James Scully: #2 Divine Leader in Saturday's ninth race at Churchill Downs, the…

One week after racing's biggest stars contested the Breeders' Cup, the sport's hard knockers are featured Saturday under the Twin Spires. Intrepid Heart is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the 2022 running of the $175000 Claiming Crown Jewel. Post time from Churchill Downs is 5:35 p.m. EST, with the race shown on FS2. The Claiming Crown features…

Churchill Downs' Barn Notes: Sconsin Returns in Sunday's Dream Supreme Stakes (Sconsin / Photos by Coady Photography) From the Churhcill Downs Media Team: Lloyd Madison Farm's growing broodmare band will add another member to their roster with their homebred Sconsin, who has a date with 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner in a few months. The…

Set Piece Is Set to Return to Churchill Downs in Sunday's G3 River City (Set Piece / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: Juddmonte's multiple graded stakes winner Set Piece (GB) leads an oversubscribed cast of 14 horses that were entered in Sunday's $300000 River City (Grade III) at Churchill Downs. Sunday's featured…

Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Last weekend, some of the world's best horses were on display in the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. This weekend, the blue-collar horses get their time in the sun in the Claiming Crown races 75 miles to the west at Churchill Downs. We'll also see if the Twin Spires folks have been able to coax grass to grow, as two of…

Churchill Downs Press Release/Edited LOUISVILLE, Ky.- A total of 95 of some of the nation's top claiming-level horses, including seven also-eligible entries, have been entered in Saturday's 24th annual Claiming Crown Championship Series, which will be staged beneath Churchill Downs' historic Twin Spires in Louisville, Ky. for the first time. The…

There's a reason we're the #1 trusted source for premium racing picks & info. A total of 95 of some of the nation's top claiming-level horses, including seven also-eligible entries, have been entered in Saturday's 24 annual Claiming Crown Championship Series, which will be staged beneath Churchill Downs' historic Twin Spires in Louisville, Ky. for…

KY HBPA Interviews: "Claiming Crown" Coming to Churhcill Downs This Saturday From the KY HBPA Media Team / Jennie Rees: The Claiming Crown was created 24 years ago to serve as a Breeders' Cup-style event celebrating the blue-collar horses that populate most of America's racing programs. With the eight-race series coming to Churchill Downs for the…

The Run for the Roses is set for Saturday, with a full day of horse racing for bettors to enjoy. Get our best bets throughout the day's card as we break down our favorite Kentucky Derby spot plays. Derby Day at Churchill Downs will be celebrated with a sensational 14-race card, and the 148th Run for the Roses is the headliner! We'll give out our…

Churchill Downs To Offer Special "Wagering Menu" for KY Derby Week (Twin Spires of Churchill Downs / Coady Photography) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: A new $3 All-3-Year-Old Pick 3 and a 50-cent All-Dirt, All-Stakes Pick 5 that close with the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I), highlight the spectacular…

Still sorting out just what went wrong, Keeneland racingofficials had to correct an embarrassing mistake in the results of the fifthrace on opening day Friday - but not before an untold amount of money was paidinto the wrong hands. "They really haven't figured it out," Keeneland vice presidentof racing Gatewood Bell told Horse Racing Nation.…

The best sprinter I've seen who conquered everything thrown at him. From Royal Ascot to York, Paris to New York. Apart from the shadows cast by the Belmont Park grandstand 100 yards from the finish on the dirt track. The fastest racehorse in the world, doing what he was bred to do, jumped not once, but twice. Spooked and startled by what he thought…

Before the holiday weekend gets started, Churchill Downs rolls out another Friday card. Check out these selections below, plus some targeted analysis from our reside'capper, J.N. Campbell. Race 1: 3-2-6-4 Race 2: 5-1-3-8 Race 3: 4-2-6-1/1A Race 4: 6-8-4-5 Race 5: 10-6-2-9 Race 6: 5-8-6-2 Race 7: 8-3-4-10 Race 8: 3-1-2-4 Race 9: 10-6-2-4 **Most…

While the undefeated, unchallenged 4-year-old colt Flightline may be drawing the majority of the headlines for this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland, there are, as always, a number of other compelling stories hidden amongst this year's contenders. Some of those listed below are race favorites; others may well offer the longest…

The Race to the KY Derby Is On: A Look at the Various Roadtrips (Secret Oath / Photo by Holly M. Smith) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: Kentucky Derby fans across the world will be eyeing Hot Springs, Ark. on Saturday as outstanding 3-year-old filly Secret Oath, trained by 86-year-old Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, will take on the boys…

Moments after crossing the wire second in a field of 20, the big lanky filly Eight Belles collapsed in the dirt with two shattered front ankles. Bone pierced flesh as she struggled to stand but could not. The lather on her dark coat and the blood on her mangled legs glistened under the late afternoon sun. In the charming grandstand of Churchill…

Juddmonte's Elite Power (Curlin) showed a new dimension and continued his ascension while punching his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint in Saturday's'Win and You're In' GII Vosburgh S. at Belmont at the Big A. Heavily favored at 1-2 to win his fourth straight over just four rivals in this belated stakes debut, Elite Power broke on top and…

In a key Breeders' Cup prep, Wonder Wheel and Fun and Feisty, both stakes winners at Churchill Downs, headline a full field of 14 juvenile fillies entered in Friday's Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland. Wonder Wheel was the runner-up in the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga in her most recent start, five weeks ago. The daughter of Into Mischief was a debut…