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Stats and storylines for 2023 Belmont Stakes
The 155th running of the $1.5 million Belmont S. (G1) on June 10 will wrap up the Triple Crown. Known as the “Test of the Champion,” the Belmont is the oldest and longest race in the Triple Crown series.
Belmont Stakes
Catching My Eye: Churchill Downs May 26-28
Racing analyst Kevin Kilroy discusses a number of horses who caught his attention at Churchill Downs last weekend.
Features
Stakes jottings: Six contenders to watch on May 27
In studying the Saturday stakes, several contenders prompted note-taking. We’ll find out if any qualify as actionable intelligence or turn out to be merely random scribbling!
Racing
Subtleties in race grades can produce lucrative payoffs
You might assume that a Grade 1 race is better than a Grade 2, and a Grade 2 is better than a Grade 3. That’s a good rule of thumb, but it doesn’t always hold true.
Racing
Catching My Eye: Churchill Downs Saturday, May 20
Through the first three weeks of the spring meet, horses taking inside trips on the main track are struggling to hold on at Churchill Downs.
Analysis
Four takeaways from 2023 Preakness Stakes
For the fourth straight year, the Preakness (G1) winner did not run in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Preakness Stakes
Post position success in the Preakness
Below we look at which gates have produced the most winners and examine which horses in the 2023 edition of the Preakness are most likely to succeed based on recent history at Pimlico.
Preakness Stakes
Preakness: Which new shooters can beat Mage?
If Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage is going to add Saturday’s $1.25 million Preakness (G1) at Pimlico to his roster of victories, he’ll have to defeat seven new shooters who skipped the Derby.
Preakness Stakes
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Mage
It’s safe to say Mage hails from a family of Kentucky Derby veterans. His sire, grandsire, and dam sire all started in the Run for the Roses.
Kentucky Derby
The Preakness Stakes Betting Guide for 2023
The Preakness Stakes Betting Guide for 2023
Preakness Stakes
Brisnet Speed Rating report for 2023 Preakness
Only a couple of days remain until Monday’s post position draw for the 148th running of the $1.5 million Preakness at Pimlico on May 20. Let's examine Brisnet Speed ratings for the contenders
Analysis
Watch out when route runners are actually sprinters
It’s not uncommon to see young horses run well in their first route race, only to falter in subsequent two-turn events. A single victory running long isn’t always indicative of a true route racer in the making.
Education
Catching My Eye: Churchill Downs, May 11-14
Racing analyst Kevin Kilroy shares which horses caught his eye at Churchill Downs the week after the Kentucky Derby.
Analysis
This key moment is vital for Mage to win the Preakness Stakes
Mage will enter Saturday’s $1.5 million Preakness at Pimlico off a one-length victory under the Twin Spires, and four of the last 11 Kentucky Derby winners have come right back to add the second leg of the Triple Crown 14 days later.
Preakness Stakes
When analyzing layoffs, sometimes basic handicapping trumps all
There are many ways handicappers can gauge whether a horse is ready to win off a long layoff. One of the simplest is, has the horse shown the ability to win a race like the one you’re handicapping?
Education
Catching My Eye: Kentucky Derby Weekend at Churchill Downs
Analyst Kevin Kilroy looks back on the weekend of racing at Churchill Downs, including the 149th Kentucky Derby (G1), the Pat Day Mile (G2), and the Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard.
Kentucky Derby
Racing Roundtable: 2023 Kentucky Derby weekend
James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson recap the events of Kentucky Derby weekend in this edition of the Racing Roundtable.
Kentucky Derby
2023 Kentucky Derby: Five Takeaways You Need to Know After Mage's Win in 149th Race
Mage’s victory as a 15-1 chance in Saturday’s 149th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) will leave plenty of food for thought in the coming days. For the moment, here are five instant takeaways.
Kentucky Derby
Mage – Kentucky Derby Context
Mage launched an eye-catching, sweeping move past Forte on the far turn of the Florida Derby (G1) to strike the front in upper stretch, eventually winding up second to the odds-on favorite in only his third start.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby International Scouting Report: Mandarin Hero
Mandarin Hero will be the third Japanese runner in Kentucky Derby 149. There are a couple of key differences from compatriots Derma Sotogake and Continuar.
Kentucky Derby
Betting Guide: Official Kentucky Derby 149 Betting Guides
In our Meet the Contenders edition, we focus on providing insight on each of the horses poised to start in the Kentucky Derby. Download this free betting guide below!
Kentucky Derby
Top 10 angles to watch in 2023 Kentucky Derby
The 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) offers several intriguing historical angles. As we settle in to enjoy the 149th Run for the Roses, let’s see which come to pass, and how many are deferred for another year.
Kentucky Derby
Angel of Empire – Kentucky Derby Context
An off-the-pace runner, Angel of Empire displayed a terrific turn of foot in the Arkansas Derby (G1), surging from sixth to reach the lead by the top of the stretch, and the up-and-coming colt established himself as a serious Kentucky Derby contender while notching his first triple-digit Brisnet Speed rating (101)
Kentucky Derby
Tapit Trice – Kentucky Derby Context
A powerful late runner, Tapit Trice will bring a four-race win streak into the Kentucky Derby, including stakes tallies in the Blue Grass (G1) and Tampa Bay Derby (G3).
Kentucky Derby
Derma Sotogake – Kentucky Derby Context
One of two Japanese horses in the Kentucky Derby field, Derma Sotogake established himself as a contender recording a fast win in the UAE Derby (G2), leading all the way to score by 5 1/2 lengths.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby jockey profile: James Graham
Jockey James Graham is slated to ride Confidence Game in the 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1), which will mark Graham’s third time competing in the historic 1 1/4-mile classic.
Kentucky Derby
More named Future Wager options get 2023 Kentucky Derby starts
With the Kentucky Derby (G1) just one day away, it’s worth a look to see how the Future Wager pools are set to play out, and how that might impact betting strategies for the big race.
Kentucky Derby
How has the winning time of the Kentucky Derby changed over time?
Below we explore how the average winning Kentucky Derby time has transformed over history.
Kentucky Derby
Who was the biggest underdog ever to win the Kentucky Derby?
Most recent underdogs weren’t facing an overwhelming favorite or toppling a budding superstar or two. In fact, many underdog winners can be judged less on how much they paid, but by who they beat.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby jockey profile: Kazushi Kimura
Kazushi Kimura has enjoyed abundant success riding in the United States and Canada. The young jockey from Hokkaido, Japan has repeatedly won acclaim, not to mention hundreds of races.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby jockey profile: Juan Hernandez
One of the hottest up-and-coming jockeys in the nation is Juan Hernandez, who is slated to make his Kentucky Derby (G1) debut aboard Skinner.
Kentucky Derby
Jason Beem's Thursday Column for May 4, 2023
Jason gives his picks for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Racing
Betting with, and against, Forte in the Kentucky Derby
The historic contest attracted a fantastic field full of excellent contenders for this edition of the tilt, but the clear one to beat is Champion #15 Forte (3-1) for conditioner Todd Pletcher.
Kentucky Derby
Catching My Eye: Mornings with the Kentucky Derby and Oaks Runners
Working on the Kentucky Derby notes team, I’ve been on the backside from the opening set at 5:15 a.m. until the final gallop at 10:00 a.m. every day for the last week.
Kentucky Derby
Brisnet Speed Rating Report for 2023 Kentucky Derby
Brisnet Speed ratings provide a measure of how fast horses have run in their preceding races and serve as a valuable handicapping tool for Saturday’s 149th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: King Russell
One start after securing his initial victory, King Russell finished second in the Arkansas Derby (G1) to emerge as a contender for the 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1).
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby jockey profile: Jareth Loveberry
Jockey Jareth Loveberry has been riding since 2005, winning more than 1,750 races from over 12,800 mounts. Now he's slated to ride in the Kentucky Derby aboard Two Phil's.
Racing
Kentucky Derby jockey profile: Ryusei Sakai
One of the younger jockeys slated to ride in the 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) is Ryusei Sakai. He's traveling from Japan to guide Continuar in the Run for the Roses.
Kentucky Derby
Reviewing the final workouts of Kentucky Derby contenders
As of Monday morning, with just hours remaining until the Kentucky Derby (G1) post position draw, the majority of the Derby contenders have completed their final pre-race workouts.
Kentucky Derby
Cyclone Mischief – Kentucky Derby Context
Cyclone Mischief will be expected to show speed if he makes the Kentucky Derby field. Last seen finishing third in the Florida Derby (G1), the bay colt still needs a defection in the days leading up to the post position draw on May 1
Kentucky Derby
How to think about the post position factor in Kentucky Derby handicapping
Whether a post is good or bad is generally dependent on who occupies it and/or what their running style is, while many times events simply overtake any advantages or disadvantages related to it away.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Oaks international scouting report: Mimi Kakushi
Named for a Japanese restaurant in Dubai, Mimi Kakushi is the second straight UAE Oaks (G3) winner to try the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
International
Continuar – Kentucky Derby Context
An expected deep closer, Continuar will seek to improve upon a late-running third in the UAE Derby (G2) when he starts in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Derby
Skinner – Kentucky Derby Context
A late runner, Skinner enters the Kentucky Derby on the upswing for a Kentucky Derby-winning trainer.
Kentucky Derby
Analyzing 30 years of Kentucky Derby pace fractions
Once upon a time, the Kentucky Derby was a race in which any running style could regularly succeed. But times have changed.
Kentucky Derby
Sun Thunder – Kentucky Derby Context
Sun Thunder will need the right set up; the one-dimensional late runner will be rallying from off the pace in the Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky Derby
Jace's Road – Kentucky Derby Context
Jace’s Road led all the way on slow fractions when romping in December’s Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds, and the bay colt will attempt to race close to the pace in the Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky Derby
Reincarnate – Kentucky Derby Context
A frontrunning winner of January’s Sham (G3) at Santa Anita, Reincarnate will look to show speed from the Kentucky Derby starting gate.
Kentucky Derby
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