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!
Share This:Belmont Blog
You best believe that this Belmont Stakes is a bolt from the blue. The Test Of The Champions is set for this Saturday and I suspect most fans will be in for a surprise.
The 155th running of the Belmont Stakes will post at 7:02 PM ET on June 10th, 2023. It is race 12 on a card of lucky 13. The Grade I, $1,500,000 race for 3 year-old thoroughbreds is 1 and 1/2 miles on the dirt. Nine contenders have entered this last jewel of The Triple Crown.
The field is as follows by post position/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/morning-line odds/and participation in the preceding Triple Crown series races as applicable:
- Tapit Shoes/Jose L. Ortiz/Brad H. Cox/Spendthrift Farm, LLC., Steve Landers, Martin S. Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, LLC., Big Easy Racing, LLC., Rick Kanter and Michael J. Caruso/20-1
- Tapit Trice/Luis Saez/Todd A. Pletcher/Whisper Hill Farm, LLC. and Gainesway Stable/3-1/7th in the Kentucky Derby
- Arcangelo/Javier Castellano/Jena M. Antonucci/Blue Rose Farm/8-1
- National Treasure/John R. Velazquez/Bob Baffert/SF Racing, LLC., Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC., Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, LLC., Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC. and Catherine Donovan/5-1/winner of the Preakness Stakes
- Il Miacolo/Marcos Meneses/Antonio Sano/Eduardo Soto/30-1
- Forte/Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd A. Pletcher/Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable/5-2
- Hit Show/Manuel Franco/Brad H. Cox/Gary and Mary West/10-1/5th in the Kentucky Derby
- Angel Of Empire/Flavien Prat/Brad H. Cox/Albaugh Family Stables, LLC./7-2/3rd in the Kentucky Derby
- Red Route One/Joel Rosario/Steven M. Asmussen/Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC./15-1/4th in the Preakness Stakes
Be sure to watch the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The filly race, The Acorn, is on Friday, 6/9/23 at 5:14 PM ET. Friday’s races are on FS2 from 12:30 PM to 5 PM ET and 6 to 6:30 PM ET. FS1 will play the races from 5 to 6 PM ET. Then, On Saturday, FS1 will televise the card from 11 AM to 7:30 PM ET, while FOX will cover 4 PM to 7:30 PM ET and FS2 will show the races from 7:30 to 8 PM ET.
The Run For The Carnations is a true classic stakes race. I am eager to see who wins. Thank you for following Thoroughbred U along the long road that lead to this last leg of The Triple Crown. I hope you enjoy my blog on the Belmont. Please, check back again for all things thoroughbred.
Share This:Post On The Preakness
On to part two of The Triple Crown, the 148th Preakness Stakes. The Grade I, $1.5 million dollar dirt race for 3 year-olds will race on Saturday, 5/20/23. Pimlico Racecourse, in Baltimore, MD will host lucky race 13 on a card of 14. The 1 and 3/16 mile race will post at 7:01 PM ET. CNBC will start televising the races at 1 PM ET and then turn to NBC at 4:40 PM ET until 7:30 PM ET. The winner of the Kentucky Derby, Mage, is entered so the possibility of a Triple Crown winner exists! The Run For The Black-Eyed Susans is a race not to miss.
The field of 8 is as follows by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/and morning-line odds: First Mission has scratched.
- National Treasure/John R. Velazquez/Bob Baffert/SF Racing, LLC., Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC./ Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, LLC., Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, LLC. and Catherine Donovan/4-1
- Chase The Chaos/Sheldon Russell/Ed Moger, Jr./Adam Ference and Bill Dory/50-1
- Mage/Javier Castellano/Gustavo Delgado/OGMA Investments LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, LLC. and CMNWLTH/8-5
- CoffeeWithChris/Jaime Rodriguez/John E. Salzman, Jr., John E. Salzman, Jr., Fred Wasserloos and Anthony Geruso/20-1
- Red Route One/Joel Rosario/Steven M. Asmussen/Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC./10-1
- Perform/Feargal Lynch/Claude R. McGaughey III/Woodford Racing LLC., Lanes End Farm, Phipps Stable, Ken Langone and Edward J. Hudson, Jr./15-1
- Blazing Sevens/Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad C. Brown/Rodeo Creek Racing, LLC./6-1
- First Mission/Luis Saez/Brad H. Cox/Godolphin, LLC./5-2
I hope the Preakness brings the sweetness. Thanks you for visiting Thoroughbred U and please invite your friends.
Share This:Bullet Points On The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
To compliment the second jewel of The Triple Crown, Pimlico Race Course, in Baltimore, MD, will host The George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. This classic G II stakes is for 3 year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1919, this edition is lucky race 13 on a card of 14. The $300,000, 1 and 1/8 mile, dirt race will post at 5:44 PM ET on Friday, 5/19/23. Watch the 98th Black-Eyed Susan on the Peacock channel, streaming from 4:30 PM to 6 PM ET.
The field of 12 is as follows by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/and morning-line odds:
- Sacred Wish/John R. Velazquez/George Weaver/Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher T. Dunn and Anthony Spinazzola/10-1
- Pate/Jeiron Barbosa/Michael J. Maker/Agave Racing Stable and Living The Dream Stables, LLC./20-1
- Hoosier Philly/Edgar Morales/Thomas M. Amoss/Gold Standard Racing Stable, LLC./10-1
- Merlazza/Florent Geroux/Brad H.Cox/Don Alberto Stable/6-1
- Frosty O Toole/Joel Rosario/Todd A/ Pletcher/Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners/15-1
- Miracle/Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd A. Pletcher/Siena Farm, LLC. and WinStar Farm, LLC./10-1
- Comparative/Luis Saez/Brad H. Cox/Godolphin, LLC./12-1
- Balpool/Manuel Franco/Rob Atras/Madaket Stables, LLC./8-1
- Faiza/Flavien Prat/Bob Baffert/Michael Lund Peterson/7-5
- Taxed/Rafael Bejarano/Randy L. Morse/Richard Bahde/15-1
- Cats In The Timber/Jevian Toledo/Brittany T. Russell/Haymarket Farm, LLC./30-1
- Towhead/Tyler Gaffalione/Micheal J. Maker/Pura Vida Investments, LLC., Cindy M Hutson and Brett Setzer/20-1
May you enjoy your Black-Eyed Susan day in every way and thank you from Thoroughbred U!
Share This:Kentucky Derby Depictions
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
- Mage/Javier Castellano/Gustavo Delgado/OGMA Investments, LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, and CMNWLTH/15-1
- Skinner/Juan J. Hernandez/John A. Shirreffs/C R K Stable, LLC/20-1
- Practical Move/Ramon A. Vazquez/Tim Yakteen/Pierre Jean Amestoy, Jr., Leslie A. Amestoy and Roger K. Beasley/10-1
- Disarm/Joel Rosario/Steven M. Asmussen/Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC/30-1
- Jace’s Road/Florent Geroux/Brad H. Cox/Albaugh Family Stables, LLC and West Point Thoroughbreds, LLC/50-1
- Sun Thunder/Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr./Kenneth G McPeek/R.T. Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine/50-1
- Angel Of Empire/Flavien Prat/Brad H. Cox/Albaugh Family Stables, LLC/8-1
- Forte/Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd A. Pletcher/Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable/3-1
- Raise Cain/Gerardo Corrales/Ben Colebrook/Andrew N. Warren and Rania Warren/50-1
- Derma Sotogake (JPN)/Christophe Lemaire/Hidetaka Otonashi/Hiroyuki Asanuma/10-1
- Rocket Can/Junior Alvarado/William I. Mott/Frank Fletcher Operations/30-1
- Lord Miles/Paco Lopez/Saffie A. Joseph, Jr./Vegso Racing Stables/30-1
- Continuar (JPN)/Ryusei Sakai/Yoshito Yahagi/Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd./50-1
- Cyclone Mischief/Joel Rosario/Dale L. Romans/Albaugh Family Stables, LLC and Castleton Lyons/30-1
- Mandarin Hero (JPN)/Kazushi Kimura/Terunobu Fujita/Hiroaki Arai/20-1
- King Russell/Rafael Bejarano/Ron Moquett/Brereton C. Jones and Naber Racing, LLC/50-1
As promised, here are my photos of many of the 149th Kentucky Derby contenders. Please, share this story and thank you for following Thoroughbred U!
Featured image caption: Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY is home to the Kentucky Derby!
Share This:Save The Lex For Last
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 Larry and Mo has raced at Keeneland in Lexington, KY twice before. He is entered in the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes.
Share This:Back At My Hometrack : Keeneland Stakes Schedule
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.
Share This:Double Derby!
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!
Share This:A Pentagonal of Points: Kentucky Derby Prep Races
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!
Share This:The Tampa Twelve
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.
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