The Derby Journey, Part 2: The Smarty Jones Stakes
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress – It’s hard to believe that the first half of January has already passed, but then again, time flies on the road to the Kentucky Derby…
Toews On Ice Headlines Full Field for Smarty Jones
© Benoit Photo Get ready, racing fans! On Monday, Oaklawn Park’s road to the Kentucky Derby will begin with the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes…
Weekend Recap: California Chrome Makes Successful Return
© Benoit Photo When a champion racehorse returns from a long layoff, you cross your fingers and hope for the best, but until they actually race and prove themselves to be just as good as ever, there’s always a question mark–will they … Continued
Slideshow: California Chrome Wins the San Pasqual
© Benoit Photo On Saturday at Santa Anita, 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome made a successful return to the races in the San Pasqual Stakes (gr. II), winning by 1 1/4 lengths over a talented field. Check out this slideshow of … Continued
Whitmore “50-50” for the Smarty Jones Stakes
According to the Oaklawn Report for January 8th, there is a “50-50” chance that the promising three-year-old Whitmore will run in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on January 18th at Oaklawn Park. Trained by Ron Moquett, the son of Pleasantly Perfect–who breezed … Continued
The Derby Journey, Part 1: Richard Keith’s Dream
The field passes under the Twin Spires for the first time in the 1943 Kentucky Derby Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress Welcome to the first in a series of articles chronicling the Kentucky Derby journey of Richard Keith, … Continued
LeComte Stakes Draws 15 Entries
Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand The first Kentucky Derby prep race of the season in Louisiana will be held on January 16th, that being the $200,000 LeComte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds. The one-mile and seventy-yard race, which offers a total … Continued
Moreno Back in Training, Targets Charles Town Classic
The talented Moreno, who won the 2014 Whitney Stakes (gr. I), is back in training after being retired earlier this year and has the $1,250,000 Charles Town Classic (gr. II) on April 23rd as a major goal for his comeback. Moreno won … Continued
Weekend Recap: Flexibility Enters the Spotlight
© Benoit Photo Last Saturday was the kind of racing day that I always enjoy. Being that it was the first weekend of January, it wasn’t as if the racing action was particularly significant at the championship level–no grade I races were run, and no soon-to-be-crowned Eclipse … Continued
Mor Spirit Heads for Robert B. Lewis Stakes
© Benoit Photo According to the Santa Anita Stable Notes for January 3rd, the highly-promising two-year-old Mor Spirit will likely run next in the February 6th Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita. Trained by Bob Baffert, Mor Spirit score an impressive … Continued