El Areeb Works Sharp Half-Mile at Laurel

Coady Photography The promising Kentucky Derby contender El Areeb, whose next start is currently up in the air, signaled that he is continuing to thrive when he breezed a half-mile in a rapid :47.80 on February 18th at Laurel Park. The son of … Continued

Which Derby Prep Races Are the Most Successful?

© Benoit Photo Although there are many major prep races on the road to the Kentucky Derby, there’s no question that some have had more success than others in producing Derby winners, particularly in recent years. Races like the Santa Anita Derby (gr. … Continued

Handicapping the “Big Apple/Bluegrass” Pick 4

Wavell Avenue winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) at Keeneland – Breeders’ Cup Photo © On April 9th, Aqueduct and Keeneland will host a special “Big Apple/Bluegrass” Pick 4 featuring top-notch graded stakes races at both tracks. The Aqueduct … Continued

Linda Rice Discusses Matt King Coal and the Wood Memorial

The up-and-coming three-year-old Matt King Coal, who is one of the fastest colts on the Derby trail in terms of Beyer speed figures, completed his preparations for the April 9th Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct when he breezed seven furlong … Continued

Adventist Ready for a Rematch in the Wood Memorial

Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand The promising three-year-old Adventist hasn’t had the best luck in his two previous Kentucky Derby prep races, finishing third with troubled trips in both the Withers Stakes (gr. III) and the Gotham Stakes (gr. III), but the … Continued

Shagaf, Flexibility Complete Wood Memorial Preparations

Flexibility (background) finished second to Mohaymen in the Remsen Stakes – Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand One week before the $1 million Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct, trainer Chad Brown sent out his talented three-year-olds Shagaf and Flexibility to breeze a half-mile together … Continued

Which Derby Preps Have Been the Most Successful?

Although there are many major prep races on the road to the Kentucky Derby, there’s no question that some have had more success than others in producing Derby winners, particularly in recent years. Races like the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), Wood … Continued