James Scully
James Scully is a passionate sports analyst who grew up traveling to various sporting events around the country. James follows the NFL and NCAA, but also plays golf and other sports as time allows. Whether it be pro or college football, basketball, baseball…James can share solid insight with actionable information. When James isn’t watching sports, he can be found handicapping horse racing and playing golf. Twitter: @James_Scully111
Tiz the Bomb: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Tiz the Bomb secured his Kentucky Derby berth by recording a convincing win in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park, registering top-notch 101 Brisnet Speed and 105 Late Pace ratings for the 2 1/4-length decision.
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Simplification: Kentucky Derby contender profile
The bay Florida-bred colt settled nicely from off the pace before charging to a convincing win in the Fountain of Youth (G2).
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Tawny Port: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Tawny Port confirmed himself as a Kentucky Derby participant when capturing the April 16 Lexington S. (G3), his first win on a dirt track.
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Pioneer of Medina: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Pioneer of Medina barely made the 20-horse cut for the Kentucky Derby, qualifying by virtue of a fourth in the Risen Star (G2) and a third in the Louisiana Derby (G2) in his first two stakes outings.
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Barber Road: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Barber Road will bring a late kick to the Kentucky Derby, rallying to finish second in the Arkansas Derby (G1), Southwest (G3), and Smarty Jones, and third in the Rebel (G2), all at Oaklawn Park.
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Cyberknife: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Cyberknife has always been well-regarded by his connections, but he didn’t meet expectations early in his career.
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Zozos: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Zozos punched his Kentucky Derby ticket in the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby (G2), finishing second to Epicenter by 2 1/2 lengths in his lone qualifying race.
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White Abarrio: Kentucky Derby contender profile
White Abarrio will be the most accomplished Kentucky Derby (G1) runner from Florida, having recorded wins in the Florida Derby (G1) and Holy Bull (G3), and the gray Kentucky-bred colt ran well when making his two-turn debut in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs last fall.
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Zandon: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Zandon exits an impressive win in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland, closing last-to-first in the final three furlongs to score going away by 2 1/2 lengths.
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Summer Is Tomorrow: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Summer Is Tomorrow carried his speed to a runner-up finish in the UAE Derby (G2), earning a Kentucky Derby (G1) berth in his first two-turn start.
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Taiba: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Following a smashing win in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Taiba will try to become the first three-year-old to win the Kentucky Derby in his third start since Leonatus in 1883.
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Messier: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Messier will bring excellent form to the Kentucky Derby, after recording a 15-length win in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) and a runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby (G1).
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Happy Jack: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Happy Jack exits a pair of fast races, the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and San Felipe (G2), and he earned enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby by finishing a non-threatening third in both.
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Smile Happy: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Smile Happy was favored among individual entrants in the first four Kentucky Derby Future Wagers.
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Mo Donegal: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Mo Donegal utilized a tremendous late kick to win the Wood Memorial (G2), reeling in a classy loose-on-the-lead rival to prevail by a head, and the bay Kentucky-bred registered a whopping 111 Brisnet Speed and 121 Late Pace figure for the career-best effort.
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Crown Pride: Kentucky Derby contender profile
The fourth Japanese horse to ship over the Kentucky Derby, UAE Derby (G2) hero Crown Pride is the country’s most formidable challenger to date.
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Epicenter: Kentucky Derby contender profile
The probable Kentucky Derby favorite, Epicenter exits a pair of resounding wins in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds.
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Classic Causeway: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Classic Causeway appeared well on his way to the Kentucky Derby when opening the year with a pair of convincing wins in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and Sam F. Davis (G3), but the speedy colt faltered when stretching out to 1 1/8 miles in the Florida Derby (G1).
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Charge It: Kentucky Derby contender profile
A runaway wire-to-wire maiden winner the second time out in mid-February, Charge It switched tactics and stamped his Kentucky Derby ticket with a rallying second in the Florida Derby (G1).
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Brisnet Speed Rating report for 2022 Kentucky Derby
Analyst James Scully uses Brisnet Speed ratings to handicap the Kentucky Derby. Triple-digit Speed ratings have been a common trait for Kentucky Derby winners.
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Un Ojo: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Un Ojo sprung a 75-1 upset in February’s Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park to earn a Kentucky Derby berth, and the late-running dark bay will try to rebound from a troubled trip in the Arkansas Derby (G1).
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Brisnet Late Pace Rating report for 2022 Kentucky Derby
A handicapping tool for the Kentucky Derby, Brisnet Late Pace ratings measure how fast a horse ran from the second call of a race to the wire.
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Scully: Keeneland spot plays for April 16
Saturday’s $400,000 Lexington S. (G3) marks the last opportunity for Kentucky Derby hopefuls, awarding points on a 20-8-4-2 scale to the top four, and three entrants (Ethereal Road, In Due Time, and Tawny Port) can guarantee themselves a berth in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series qualifier.
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Major contenders emerge from final round of Kentucky Derby preps
The final round of prep races did not disappoint, as Mo Donegal, Taiba, and Zandon all established themselves as serious Kentucky Derby win contenders.
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Scully: Handicapping All-Stakes Late Pick 5 on Louisiana Derby program
The Louisiana Derby and Fair Grounds Oaks are part of the $500,000 guaranteed All-Stakes Late Pick 5 sequence. Here is how I will attack the sequence.
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Scully's stakes spot plays for March 12
Scully handicaps the stakes action, including the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) for Kentucky Derby hopefuls, on March 12
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Scully: Handicapping Coast-to-Coast All Dirt Pick 5 on March 5
Saturday’s Coast-to-Coast All Dirt Pick 5 includes a pair of 85-point Kentucky Derby qualifiers, the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park and $400,000 San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita, and the new wager features a 12% takeout and $1 minimum.
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Scully: Spot plays for Oaklawn, Turfway Feb. 26
The $1 million Rebel S. (G2) for Kentucky Derby contenders will be offered on Feb. 26, and James Scully has picks for Oaklawn and Turfway Park.
Racing
Scully: Handicapping All-Stakes Pick 5 on Risen Star program
Saturday’s Louisiana Derby Preview Day at Fair Grounds features a $500,000 guaranteed Late Pick 5, and the $400,000 Risen Star (G2), the first Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 85 points (50-20-10-5 scale) this year, anchors the all-stakes sequence. Here are the horses I will use and my Pick 5 ticket.
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Risen Star Day maiden races prove highly productive
Over the last three years, maiden races on the Risen Star undercard have produced at least nine stakes winners, including millionaires By My Standards and Mystic Guide.
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