In the March 2019 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Improbable overcame a wide trip, took command at the top of the stretch – then was run down by Long Range Toddy. A month later at the Arkansas Derby, Improbable overcame a wide trip, drew even with Omaha Beach, but couldn’t […]
Bob Baffert and Doug O’Neill built a rivalry among the Santa Anita Park training colony, fueled by the fact that they’ve trained a combined four Kentucky Derby winners since 2012. But the two training mainstays put aside their rivalry on Tuesday to lead a demonstration outside the Los Angeles County […]
It’s the only Kentucky Derby prep currently on the calendar, which explains why the Arkansas Derby is popular these days. But 99 nominations popular? To paraphrase Roy Scheider’s character from “Jaws†– “Someone’s gonna need a bigger race.†Oaklawn Park published the Arkansas Derby nominations list over the weekend, a […]
Ignore for the moment that there are no Kentucky Derby qualifying points up for grabs at Saturday’s $200,000 Oaklawn Stakes. Instead, follow the lead of Hall of Fame trainers Bob Baffert and Steve Asmussen and pay attention to the opportunity. In Baffert’s case, it’s an opportunity to see how Thousand […]
The Arkansas Derby for Charlatan and Nadal, the Oaklawn Stakes for Thousand Words, and time off for Authentic. That’s Bob Baffert’s solution for the “problem†of where he next sends his murderer’s row of talented 3-year-olds. In an interview with Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey of NBC Sports on Wednesday, […]
Like its Santa Anita counterpart, last weekend’s San Felipe, the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas is a Grade 2 Kentucky Derby prep race that boasts predictability, a blueblood pedigree of winners, and the ever-present Bob Baffert. The Rebel, a 1 1/16-mile, two-turn test, is Saturday’s lone Derby prep […]
He is the offspring of Into Mischief, which probably explains why San Felipe Stakes favorite Authentic found himself causing trouble in his last Kentucky Derby prep race. It was in January’s Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita — the same track Authentic will tackle Saturday as the 8/5 favorite […]
As horse races go, the San Felipe Stakes is as predictable as the second ring of a phone. Santa Anita horseplayers and Bob Baffertologists – those who follow the Hall-of-Fame trainer and his endless barn of 3-year-old Kentucky Derby contenders – lie in wait for this race every year. And […]
With five victories, the name “Bob Baffert†is synonymous with Kentucky Derby success. Accordingly, the Hall-of-Fame trainer rarely has a Charlatan in his endless barn of 3-year-old Derby hopefuls. Until now. Say hello to Charlatan, the newest top-10 member on the Kentucky Derby Futures Odds board. In his racing debut, […]
For Barclay Tagg, it’s been 17 years since he and the ownership group he trains for has been in this position. For Bob Baffert, it’s been a year. And for Linda Rice? Well, there’s a first time for everything. Your three winning trainers from Saturday’s Grade 3 Kentucky Derby prep […]
Rumblings out of Southern California – not the earthquake variety – indicate Triple Crown winning trainer Bob Baffert may be rolling out his three-year-old star Game Winner Saturday at Los Alamitos. Baffert has yet to confirm his exact plans. Entries for the race are taken Wednesday. If he runs, expect […]
Thoroughbred racing purists may be bristling at the prospect that next Saturday’s Metropolitan Handicap could take the limelight away from the 151st running of the Belmont Stakes. The possibility exists because the race on June 8, more commonly known as the Met Mile, boasts what may be its best field […]
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