Share This: Two Phil’s used his third place finish in the Risen Star Stakes to earn the points needed for the Kentucky Derby where he finished second in 2023!
It takes champion skill and many prep points to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby starter gate. The Risen Star Stakes offers a rise in the point values offered to the top five finishers. 105 points are at stake in this stakes. Fair Grounds’ Risen Star Stakes is historically full of thoroughbreds that go on to Triple Crown success. Take a look at Saturday’s Risen Star to start the Kentucky Derby Championship series.
Share This: West Saratoga earned Kentucky Derby prep points in the Iroquois Stakes and the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. Next he hopes to win the Sam F. Davis Stakes.
If you have your sights set on the Tampa Bay Derby, the Kentucky Derby or both, you would be wise to direct your contender to enter the Sam F. Davis Stakes. The Sam F. Davis offers 42 Kentucky Derby prep points making it a stakes that has historically qualified many thoroughbreds a place in the KY Derby. Moreover, the Sam F. Davis is also a prep race for next month’s Tampa Bay Derby. Held at the same track, the Tampa Bay Derby is offering 105 KY Derby prep points and an excellent way to climb towards the top of the KY Derby leaderboard. Indeed, the Davis directs to the Derby.
Just Steel raced in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. He is hoping to earn Kentucky Derby points in the Southwest Stakes.
FOUR the love of horse racing, do not miss the four Kentucky Derby prep races this Saturday! Before The Run For The Roses there are many races on The Road to the Kentucky Derby. February 3rd, 2024 is action packed with four stakes races awarding 20 horses a chance to qualify for the 20 posts positions of the 150th Kentucky Derby. Check out these four stakes races!
Share This: Lat Long, pictured at Keeneland, is entered in the Lecomte Stakes!
The Road to the Kentucky Derby levels up in point value in the Lecomte Stakes. Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, LA is set to host the 80th running of the Lecomte on Saturday, January 20th, 2024. Let’s look at the Lecomte!
Forte is fresh off a 5 stakes winning streak. Will the 149th Kentucky Derby be his next stakes win?
Saturday, May 6, 2023 will feature the 149th edition of the Kentucky Derby! Please, delight with a bit of information and my photographic depictions of The Derby entries.
The Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve is race 12 on a card of 14. This classic stakes for 3 year-old thoroughbreds carries a purse of $ 3 million dollars. It is a 1 and 1/4 mile dirt race, posting at 6:57 PM ET. The races will air from noon until 7:30 PM ET on NBC.
The field of 20 is as follows by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/and morning-line odds: * (20 will race so the last 3 are Also- Eligible and race only if there are scratches) Practical Move has scratched and Cyclone Mischief has been drawn in to replace him. Lord Miles has scratched and Mandarin Hero will join the field. Continuar scratches and King Russell enters into the field. Skinner has scratched and there are no more eligible replacements. Forte has scratched without a replacement.
Congrats to Mage for the win!
Hit Show/Manuel Franco/Brad H. Cox/Gary and May West/30-1
Verifying/Tyler Gaffalione/Brad H Cox/Westerberg Limited, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor/15-1
Two Phil’s/Jareth Loveberry/Larry Rivelli/Patricia’s Hope, LLC, Philip Sagan and Madaket Stables, LLC/12-1
Confidence Game/James Graham/J. Keith Desormeaux/Don’t Tell My Wife Stables and Ocean Reef Racing/20-1
Tapit Trice/Luis Saez/Todd A. Pletcher/Whisper Hill Farm, LLC and Gainesway Stable/5-1
Kingsbarns/Jose L. Ortiz/Todd A. Pletcher/Spendthrift Farm, LLC/12-1
Reincarnate/John R. Velazquez/Tim Yakteen/SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC and Robert Masterson, et al./50-1
The final Kentucky Derby prep race is the Lexington Stakes in Lexington, KY. Saturday, 4/15/23, Keeneland will host the 41st running of the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes. It is the last chance to qualify for entry to the 149th Kentucky Derby.
The Lexington Stakes is race 9 and posts at 5:16 PM ET. It offers 20-8-6-4-2 KY Derby prep points to the respective winners. The race is 1 and 1/16miles.
Follow updates here for Keeneland’s stakes this Spring Meet:
75th running of the Lafayette Stakes/April 7th/race 7/4:12 PM ET/7 furlongs/3 YOs/dirt/$400,000/Corona Bolt
35th running of the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (GIII)/April 7th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/3 YOs/turf/$400,000/Mo Stash
86th running of the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (GI)/April 7th/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/3 YO fillies/dirt/$600,000/worth 200 points on The Road To The Kentucky Oaks/Defining Purpose
36th running of the Commonwealth Stakes (GIII)/April 8th/race 5/2:50 PM ET/7 furlongs/4 YO and up/dirt/$300,000/Here Mi Song
35th running of the Appalachian Stakes (GII)/April 8th/race 6/3:25 PM ET/1 mile/3 YO fillies/turf/$400,000/Papilio
22nd running of the Madison Stakes (GI)/April 8th/race 7/4:00 PM ET/7 furlongs/4YO and up fillies and mares/dirt/$600,000/Goodnight Olive
27th running of the Shakertown Stakes (GII)/April 8th/race 8/4:35 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3YO and up/turf/$350,000/Caravel
99th running of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI)/April 8th/race 9/5:15 PM ET/1 and 1/8 miles/3 YOs/dirt/$1 million dollars/worth 200 points on The Road To The Kentucky Derby/ Tapit Trice
4th running of the FanDuel Limestone Stakes (listed)/April 14th/race 7/4:12 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3 YO fillies/turf/$250,000/Love Reigns
35th running of the Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (GI)/April 14th/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 mile/4 YO and up/turf/$600,000/Chez Pierre
26th running of the Giant’s Causeway Stakes (listed)/April 15th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3 YO and up fillies and mares/turf/$250,000/Twilight Gleaming
41st running of the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (GIII)/April 15th/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/3 YOs/dirt/$400,000/worth 40 points on The Road To The Kentucky Derby/First Mission
35th running of the Jenny Wiley Stakes (GI)/April 15th/race 10/5:48 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/4 YO and up fillies and mares/turf/$600,000/In Italian
4th running of the Palisades Stakes (listed)/April 16th/race 7/4:12 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3 YOs/turf/$250,000/Gaslight Dancer
38th running of the Beaumont Stakes (GII)/April 16th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/7 furlongs/3 YO fillies/dirt/$400,000/worth 20 points on The Road To The Kentucky Oaks/Key of Life
28th running of the Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (GIII)/April 21st/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/4 YO and up fillies and mares/dirt/$300,000/Frost Point
38th running of the Elkhorn Stakes (GII)/April 22nd/race 8/4:44 PM ET/1 and 1/2 miles/4 YO and up/turf/$350,000/Verstappen
92nd running of the Ben Ali Stakes (GIII)/April 22nd/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 3/16miles/4 YO and up/dirt/$300,000/Rattle N Roll
61st running of the Bewitch Stakes (GIII)/April 28th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/1 and 1/2 miles/4 YO and up fillies and mares/turf/$300,000/War Like Goddess
Photo caption: Curly Larryand Mo has raced at Keeneland in Lexington, KY twice before. He is entered in the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes.
The Spring Meet is on at Keeneland! From April 7th through the 28th, 2023, live racing returns to my favorite racetrack, in Lexington, KY. Fifteen race dates will host 19 stakes, offering over eight million dollars in purse money. Save this post for your stakes reference, throughout the meet, for regular updates.
Here is the Keeneland stakes schedule by historical running/race name (grade)/date/race # on the card/post time/length/age and/or gender/surface/purse/and Road to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks points when applicable and winner :
75th running of the Lafayette Stakes/April 7th/race 7/4:12 PM ET/7 furlongs/3 YOs/dirt/$400,000/Corona Bolt
35th running of the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (GIII)/April 7th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/3 YOs/turf/$400,000/Mo Stash
86th running of the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (GI)/April 7th/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/3 YO fillies/dirt/$600,000/worth 200 points on The Road To The Kentucky Oaks/Defining Purpose
36th running of the Commonwealth Stakes (GIII)/April 8th/race 5/2:50 PM ET/7 furlongs/4 YO and up/dirt/$300,000/Here Mi Song
35th running of the Appalachian Stakes (GII)/April 8th/race 6/3:25 PM ET/1 mile/3 YO fillies/turf/$400,000/Papilio
22nd running of the Madison Stakes (GI)/April 8th/race 7/4:00 PM ET/7 furlongs/4YO and up fillies and mares/dirt/$600,000/Goodnight Olive
27th running of the Shakertown Stakes (GII)/April 8th/race 8/4:35 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3YO and up/turf/$350,000/Caravel
99th running of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI)/April 8th/race 9/5:15 PM ET/1 and 1/8 miles/3 YOs/dirt/$1 million dollars/worth 200 points on The Road To The Kentucky Derby/ Tapit Trice
4th running of the FanDuel Limestone Stakes (listed)/April 14th/race 7/4:12 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3 YO fillies/turf/$250,000/Love Reigns
35th running of the Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (GI)/April 14th/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 mile/4 YO and up/turf/$600,000/Chez Pierre
26th running of the Giant’s Causeway Stakes (listed)/April 15th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3 YO and up fillies and mares/turf/$250,000/Twilight Gleaming
41st running of the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (GIII)/April 15th/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/3 YOs/dirt/$400,000/worth 40 points on The Road To The Kentucky Derby/First Mission
35th running of the Jenny Wiley Stakes (GI)/April 15th/race 10/5:48 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/4 YO and up fillies and mares/turf/$600,000/In Italian
4th running of the Palisades Stakes (listed)/April 16th/race 7/4:12 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3 YOs/turf/$250,000/Gaslight Dancer
38th running of the Beaumont Stakes (GII)/April 16th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/7 furlongs/3 YO fillies/dirt/$400,000/worth 20 points on The Road To The Kentucky Oaks/Key of Life
28th running of the Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (GIII)/April 21st/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/4 YO and up fillies and mares/dirt/$300,000/Frost Point
38th running of the Elkhorn Stakes (GII)/April 22nd/race 8/4:44 PM ET/1 and 1/2 miles/4 YO and up/turf/$350,000/Verstappen
92nd running of the Ben Ali Stakes (GIII)/April 22nd/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 3/16miles/4 YO and up/dirt/$300,000/Rattle N Roll
61st running of the Bewitch Stakes (GIII)/April 28th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/1 and 1/2 miles/4 YO and up fillies and mares/turf/$300,000/War Like Goddess
Photo caption: Verifying is seen entering the track for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland. He returns to Keeneland in the Blue Grass Stakes. He will aim to get points in order to race in the 149th Kentucky Derby
Thank you for reading! If you or your friends are coming to Keeneland this Spring, please leave me a comment.
The Road to the Kentucky Derby is coming to an end. We are down to the final month and just six stakes to qualify for an opportunity to Run For The Roses. Kentucky Derby 149 is on the first Saturday in May. Before that can happen, the first Saturday in April, holds double the Derby, double the fun, the Florida Derby and the Arkansas Derby.
4/1/23 features the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Race 14 posts at 6:40 PM ET. The $1 million dollar, GI stakes has a distance of 1 and 1/8 miles. Then, at 7:24 PM ET, Oaklawn Park hosts the GI Arkansas Derby. It is race 12, worth $1.25 million dollars and of the same distance. Finally, the European Road is also featuring the Cardinal Condition Stakes as well!
Photo caption: Forte edged out Loggins to win the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. Forte is fourth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. He will aim for the top in the Florida Derby!
This weekend has a whopping five ways to win! There are five Kentucky Derby prep races, with five winners per race. Watch the Kentucky Derby leaderboard light up with new rankings as the best in three year-old thoroughbred racing compete for this pentagonal of points!
Five racetracks, spread over 3 countries are hosting Kentucky Derby prep races this Saturday and Sunday. On March 25, 2023, the UAE Derby (at Meydan), the Louisiana Derby (at Fair Grounds), the Jeff Ruby Steaks (at Turfway Park) and the Fukuryu (at Nakayama) all take place. The following day will feature the Sunland Derby (at Sunland Park).
Be sure to catch all of the action with a large portion of points to see who is On The Road to the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown Trail.
Photo Caption: Two Phil’s walks through Keeneland’s paddock onward to race in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. In his next start, he will aim to earn Kentucky Derby points in the Jeff Ruby Steaks!
It’s Derby time! On The Road To The Kentucky Derby there are many stakes, some of which are also called derbies. Florida is home to two of these derbies. On March 11, 2023, the Tampa Bay Derby will offer five in a field of twelve a chance to race in The Derby, the Kentucky Derby!
The Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby is held at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, FL. The race offers 50-20-10-15-5 points to the respective winners. The $400,000, 1 and 1/16 mile, dirt race was inaugurated in 1981.
Entries for this Tampa Twelve field, posting at 5:15 PM ET, race 11 stakes are:
Lord Miles
Classic Car Wash
Classic Legacy
Groveland
Mikey Bananas
Tapit Trice
Freedom Road
Dreaming of Kona
Shesterkin
Champions Dream
Zydeceaux
Prairie Hawk
Photo caption: Classic Causeway won the Tampa Bay Derby in 2022. In this photo, he is in Keeneland’s paddock before the GI Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes.