Vanderbilt has lost 14 straight games to Kentucky, but much like the Cats, the Commodores are playing their best basketball right now. A quick start could spell trouble for Zandon, who would need to work hard to stay close to the pack and could lack burst at the end. Trainer Kenny McPeek, still chasing his first Derby win after six tries, watched his favored Smile Happy overtaken in the stretch in the Blue Grass Stakes Saturday. April 2 Taiba and Messier, two of the prospects Baffert entrusted to former assistant Tim Yakteen prior to the start of his suspension, finished 1-2 in Saturdays Santa Anita Derby, over Yakteens objections. First came Oats wrong time, wrong spot comments after it was revealed his star player had allegedly delivered the gun used in a Tuscaloosa murder. Its a big weekend on the Kentucky Derby prep race trail with the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream, the Gotham at Aqueduct, the San Felipe at Santa Anita and the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway all running Saturday. And were just getting started. He is coming off a 2 3/4-length victory in the UAE Derby. And which enormous double-digit long shot is a must-back? Epicenter is trained by Steve Asmussen, who won last years Lecomte with Midnight Bourbon. In advance of the 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1), eight top-tier prep races were contested, each awarding 100 qualification points to the winner.. There is speculation that if Bally Sports does fail, Major League Baseball would take over the broadcasts. Starting July 1, a long-awaited change is coming to horse racing. March 1, 2023. The next level of Kentucky Derby prep races begins Saturday at Fair Grounds, and this years edition of the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes is looking like an epic showdown of top contenders. The Dale Romans-trained Giant Game finished third in the Breeders Cup Juvenile. Last year, he was on fire. Use our name generator to find out! 2022/23 Kentucky Derby Prep Races The 149th running of the $3 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) will be run Saturday, May 6th, 2023. Another curveball: Weir is high on UAE Derby winner Crown Pride, even though he's a 17-1 long shot. The prep race schedule for the 2022 Kentucky Derby will have a different look. He has produced multiple five-figure days at the track over the years, including a $60,000 Pick 6 at Del Mar in 2014. A native of Central Kentucky and a 1981 graduate of the University of Kentucky, John Clay is an award-winning blogger who covered UK football for 13 seasons before being promoted to columnist in 2000. Less than four months from the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby, we are in for an interesting and confusing prep race campaign. Ben Roberts is the University of Kentucky mens basketball beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. With the final Kentucky Derby prep race now in the books, the field for the 2022 edition of the Run For the Roses has finally taken shape, though it can always change with late defections. And Bob Baffert won the Santa Anita Derby from Parts Unknown, albeit by proxy. The fifth-year "European Road to the Kentucky Derby" again showcases seven races: the Juddmonte Royal Lodge (10-4-2-1 at Newmarket), Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford (10-4-2-1 at Curragh), Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardre (10-4-2-1 at Longchamp), Vertem Futurity Trophy (10-4-2-1 at Doncaster), Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes (20-8-4-2 at So even though the Baffert-trained Corniche has won both the Grade 1 American Pharoah at Santa Anita and the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile at Del Mar, he has zero Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Subscribe to the podcast by looking for the "Inside the Kentucky Derby" on your favorite podcast app. Three takeaways from Kentucky basketballs impressive win over Auburn. Zandon (21-1 in last weeks Derby Future Wager) returns to the track after a tough-luck loss to Mo Donegal, who beat him by a nose in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes in New York on Dec. 4 following a stretch battle that included some bumping, and, eventually, a failed appeal by the connections of Zandon to overturn the official race finish. "Considering how Japanese horses have been running during recent international competitions, he's hard to ignore," Weir told SportsLine. (Eclipse Sportswire) The upcoming weekend marks the high point of prep season for the 2022 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, with three major races scheduled that each offer a total of 170 qualifying points to the top four finishers. The favorites lost all three of the races worth 100 qualifying points to the winner, further muddling the forecast for the first Saturday in May just five days after Baffert began serving the 90-day suspension that has removed racings preeminent personality from its biggest stage. One for the better. Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Hejazi finally broke his maiden in his fourth try last time out. Take this quiz to find out, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Thats what hes in the game for. Given the twists, both normal and otherwise, expect another crazy prep campaign. UK is playing its best basketball of the season. Formerly trained by Bob Baffert, hes now in Tim Yakteens barn. This week on HorseCenter, your hosts Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman will take an early look at the top contenders for the six big 2022 Kentucky Derby preps that will be coming up in the next month. Name game:What's your Kentucky Derby horse name? Trained by Todd Pletcher, Forte will face nine challengers, including Blazing Sevens, who won the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes last year. With a talented 20-horse 2022 Kentucky Derby field expected to enter the starting gate, you'll want to see what racing insider and Beyer Speed Figure maker Bob Weir has to say before making any 2022 Kentucky Derby picks. . Howd he do? Kentucky Derby Prep Races at the Kentucky Derby. Ben Roberts is the University of Kentucky mens basketball beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. 3:46 pm ET, see what racing insider and Beyer Speed Figure maker Bob Weir has to say before making any 2022 Kentucky Derby picks, He's only sharing his 2022 Kentucky Derby cheat sheet and picks here, visit SportsLine to see Weir's picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who has nailed this year's prep races, H.S. The Southwest Stakes is Jan. 29 at Oaklawn. . That was a huge gamble and the horse paid off.. Mo Donegal favored in Fountain of Youth Stakes, but will he run? Thats a 2 p.m. start on ESPN2. In fact, MLB added to speculation by creating a Local Media Department to improve its capabilities in local media production, operations and distribution. The final prep races double the reward with an offering of 100-40-30-20-10. All five of those horses Epicenter, Pappacap, Slow Down Andy, Smile Happy and Zandon were also among the top 13 betting choices in last weeks Derby Future Wager pool. On Saturday, he will ride in his first Kentucky Derby aboard UAE Derby winner Crown Pride, a 17-1 long shot in the live 2022 Kentucky Derby odds. Diamond Sports Group, which owns Bally Sports regional networks, is reportedly nearing bankruptcy. But not all 100-point prep races are created equal. McPeek has kept Dash Attack in Arkansas to prep for the Southwest Stakes. Mo Donegal should have every chance to prevail in the Kentucky Derby. But were ranking the Wood Memorial as the second-best prep because it was a terrific race on paper. I can sugarcoat it for you but its not acceptable.. About CDI | Medina Spirit leads the 2021 Kentucky Derby field toward the finish line. Februarys first Saturday brings the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park, the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs and the Withers at Aqueduct. A colt named Calipari made his horse racing debut Saturday. A Japanese-bred son of Reach the Crown, Crown Pride has won three of his four career starts. Post time for the Kentucky Derby 2022 is 6:57 p.m. The exception is the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland with a split of 20-8-6-4-2. Early Derby Full Field, Odds & Analysis Derby Latest News Derby Prep Replays Fastest Speed Figures Kentucky Derby Expert Picks He has had an eventful 4-race career. Each year, some come up stronger than others and exert a greater influence on the Run for the Roses. Fountain of Youth Stakes offers 50 qualifying points to the winner. Both will start in the Kentucky Derby, but the UAE Derby has yet to produce a Run for the Roses superfecta finisher from 16 starters, and the 2022 UAE Derby wasnt the fastest race on paper. Risen Star S. (G2) winner Epicenter was much the best in the Louisiana Derby, showing a new dimension rating off the lead before taking charge to win by 2 1/2 lengths over Zozos and Pioneer of Medina. Santa Anita race track opened in 1934 and features a one mile dirt track and 7/8 mile turf course. NFL combine offers chance to back up hype. The 2022 Kentucky Derby has a post time of 6:57 p.m. EDT. He hit the exacta in the Sam F. Davis Stakes, Tampa Bay Derby and Peter Pan Stakes, the trifecta in the Risen Star Stakes, Blue Grass Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby and the superfecta in the Belmont Stakes. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has yet to decide whether to strip Medina Spirit of the May 1 win. The colt currently atop the points leaderboard is Pappacap, who ran second to Corniche in both the American Pharoah and the Breeders Cup Juvenile. He is expected to receive a strong challenge from Epicenter, who won the inaugural running of the Gun Runner Stakes by 6 1/2 lengths at the Fair Grounds on Dec. 26. The Robert B. Lewis is Sunday, Feb. 6, at Santa Anita. Whether much the best or barely, qualifying for the Derby is cause for celebration. HorseCenter will have detailed previews of all these major races over the next few weeks once the fields are drawn, so stay tuned. Responsible Gaming | The son of sprint champion Runhappy was bred in Kentucky and is owned by Louisville-based Lucky Seven Stable, trained by Lexington native Kenny McPeek, and ridden by Louisville resident Corey Lanerie, who has won 19 meet titles at Churchill Downs. 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Races - BloodHorse Home Triple Crown Derby Preps Kentucky Derby Prep Races Winners of the 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby races. Asmussens Chasing Time earned plenty of buzz off an impressive win at Oaklawn on Jan. 14. All four losses have been by double digits 49 to Alabama, 32 to Arkansas, 22 to Missouri and 11 to Florida. French-born and Japan-based jockey Christophe Lemaire will try to transfer his international success to the United States when he leaves the starting gate aboard Crown Pride in the 2022 Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Santa Anita will host the 2019 Breeders' Cup. Kentucky Derby 2023 Contenders - Road to the Derby - Derby Prep Replays Triple Crown Races - Kentucky Derby - Preakness Stakes - Belmont Stakes Kentucky Derby News Preakness Stakes News Belmont Stakes News History (1875-2022 Derby Results & Videos) Triple Crown Winners & Misses The 42-year-old Lemaire has led all Japan Racing Association jockeys in wins for five straight years. Santa Anita's biggest stakes: Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita Handicap, Shoemaker Mile . Saturdays preps separated some of the contenders from pretenders, and left only next Saturdays Lexington Stakes as an untapped source of qualifying points. The Rebel was the only points-paying prep race on the weekend schedule, but things will pick up later this week. McPeek told the BloodHorse he is pointing the Runhappy colt toward the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 19. Count Wood Memorial winner Mo Donegal among the contenders and Donegal Racing CEO Jerry Crawford among the dreamers. John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. teammates mimicked a pat down of Miller. Derby Watch:Chad Brown-trained Zandon takes Blue Grass, clinches spot in Kentucky Derby. Well see where he takes us and if he doesnt make (the Derby) we have several other races wed love to target with him.. Matt and Brian will preview the key horses that are expected to run in the upcoming Derby prep races that offer 100 qualifying points to the winners. Storms arrive late. The horses that ran second and third to Smile Happy in the Kentucky Jockey Club Classic Causeway and White Abarrio have come back over the past two weeks to win the Sam F. Davis Stakes and Holy Bull, respectively, two major early Derby preps in Florida. Check out the contenders for Kentucky Derby 2022! There are three separate paths for horses to take to qualify for the Derby: the main Road consisting of races in North . Meanwhile, the 2022 Derby trail heats up right about now. The road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby will kick into gear this weekend with the first major prep race in New Orleans.. Several low-point prep races already have taken place this year, but the first . The trainer sued Churchill Downs on Tuesday, Mo Donegal favored in Fountain of Youth Stakes, Slow Down Andy will run in the Blue Grass Stakes, starters in this weeks San Felipe Stakes, Support my work with a digital subscription, How, where to buy Woodford Reserves Secretariat Kentucky Derby bourbon bottle, New faces joining WKYT, The CW Lexington at anchor, weather desks, Lexington police officer arrested, charged with abusing a child, Man charged in murders of Kentucky police officers kills himself in jail, officials say, Whiskey fungus suit: Court orders county to halt Jack Daniels barrel warehouse, Kentucky Derby Watch 2023: A look at the top 10 contenders, including Baffert horses, Saturdays Kentucky Derby preps: Points on line in Holy Bull but not in Baffert Stakes. Ben Roberts 859-429 . Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Slow Down Andy (23-1 in the Future Wager) is trained by Doug ONeill, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner. five days after Baffert began serving the 90-day suspension, Chad Brown-trained Zandon takes Blue Grass, clinches spot in Kentucky Derby, two of the prospects Baffert entrusted to former assistant Tim Yakteen. UK is playing its best basketball of the season. Call Me Midnight, who was seventh in the Kentucky Jockey Club, bounced back last month to win the Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds, another Derby prep on the winter calendar. All of those races are Saturday. Do we owe John Calipari an apology? He has two wins, a second-place and a third in his four races, finishing behind Epicenter and Smile Happy in the Risen Star and Mo Donegal in the Remsen Stakes. The Lecomte Stakes is Saturday at New Orleans Fair Grounds. Bob Bafferts 90-day suspension is ending. That could include lifting blackouts from MLB TVs streaming package. The Risen Star will be the first race on the 2022 Derby trail that allocates 50 qualifying points to the winner, basically making it a win-and-youre-in event. March 03, 2022 7:00 AM. This was a solid race all the way around. Hosts Darren Rogers and Kevin Kerstein provide in-depth analysis of the most recent derby prep races from around the globe. . Trained by Mark Casse, hes entered in the Lecomte this weekend. Derby Experiences, Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes, Join Now To Receive Your $25 Risk Free Bet. About the Road to the Kentucky Derby America Japan Note: Scheduled dates subject to change. This year, he has been red-hot in the 2022 Kentucky Derby prep races, hitting the superfecta in the Blue Grass Stakes, the trifecta in the Louisiana Derby and the exacta in the Fountain. Where is the Kentucky Derby held? The points system has only been around since . But the competition was arguably a bit lighter than in some of the other final-tier preps, and Epicenters 101 Brisnet Speed ratingwhile solidis lower than the winning figures from the Blue Grass, Wood Memorial, and Santa Anita Derby. Yes, but the Kentucky Derby is still the race. Its January, so there are plenty of others on the radar. Keeneland shakes things up for record-setting 2022 Spring Meet, Billy Turner, trainer of Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, dies, Support my work with a digital subscription, Random notes: The Kentucky Derby prep trail heats up this weekend. 13-ranked Virginia. A native of Central Kentucky and a 1981 graduate of the University of Kentucky, John Clay is an award-winning blogger who covered UK football for 13 seasons before being promoted to columnist in 2000. 2022 Kentucky Derby - Saturday, May 7; 2022 Preakness - Saturday, May 21; 2022 Belmont Stakes - Saturday, June 11; Major KY Derby Prep Races Schedule. Support my work with a digital subscription, Alabama basketball leads the SEC, but Nate Oats flunked a public relations test, Spoiled by success, Florida basketball has found it tough to replace Billy Donovan, If you can figure out this 2022-23 Kentucky Wildcats basketball team, please let know, Trainer of Alydar in thrilling 1978 Triple Crown, Hall of Famer John Veitch dies, In need of more offense, Kentucky basketball faces Mississippi States tough defense. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. 2023 www.courier-journal.com. The Risen Star Stakes is set to go off at 6:58 p.m. and will be shown live on TVG. He is a Franklin County native and first joined the Herald-Leader in 2006. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Two weeks since his record run in the Louisiana Derby, the Steve Asmussen-trained Epicenter remains the Derbys qualifying points leader and the presumed favorite for the May 7 race. 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