Arkansas Derby Results

Papa Clem was the victor in here! He beat out the favorite, Old Fashioned, who wouldn't settle during the race for his jockey. Summer Bird was third. Win Willy managed to get up into fourth.

Toyota Blue Grass Results

A nice rebound for General Quarters after running a poor 5th place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby.

Hold Me Back was second and Massone was third.

According to the NTRA website, The Toyota Bluegrass and The Arkansas Derby will be aired on ESPN2 at 6:00.

Toyota Blue Grass

Keeneland - April 11th, 2009 - Race 9
Toyota Blue Grass S. - Grade: 1
Estimated Local Post Time:     5:15 PMRace Type: Stakes
Breed: Thoroughbred 
Age Restriction: Three Year Old 
Purse: $750,000 
Distance: One And One Eighth Miles 
Surface: All Weather Track

Patena (KY)

10/1

Join in the Dance (KY)

10/1

Theregoesjojo (KY)

7/2

Cliffy's Future (KY)

20/1

Mafaaz (GB)

12/1

Terrain (KY)

6/1

Loch Dubh (KY)

50/1

General Quarters (KY)

15/1

Charitable Man (VA)

4/1

Hold Me Back (KY)

3/1

Massone (KY)

12/1

Arkansas Derby

Oaklawn Park - April 11th, 2009 - Race 11
Arkansas Derby - Grade: 2
Estimated Local Post Time:     5:41 PMRace Type: Stakes
Breed: Thoroughbred 
Age Restriction: Three Year Old 
Purse: $1,000,000 
Distance: One And One Eighth Miles 
Surface: Dirt

Captain Cherokee (KY)

20/1

Papa Clem (KY)

6/1

Flat Out (FL)

10/1

Poltergeist (TX)

20/1

Ziegfeld (VA)

12/1

Flying Private (KY)

6/1

Summer Bird (KY)

30/1

Old Fashioned (KY)

9/5

Win Willy (KY)

7/2

Danger to Society (KY)

6/1

Wood Memorial Results

This race will go down as the most exciting Derby Prep race of the year!

I Want Revenge could not be stopped despite the horrible trip that he had. He was left at the gate, trailed the field by 5-6 lengths, and had to vie for running room in the stretch, but despite all of that he easily won by 1 1/2 lengths. West Side Bernie was second and Just A Coincidence was third.

Santa Anita Derby Results

The Santa Anita Derby was won by the impressive Pioneerof The Nile. Chocolate Candy was second and Mr. Hot Stuff (full brother to Colonel John) was third.

The much anticipated showdown of the three West Coast big horses wasn't to be because of the scratch of The Pamplemousse.

* Great handicapping job, Kara!

Illinois Derby Results

Musket Man was much the best, winning the Illinois Derby by 2 lengths. Giant Oak was second and His Greatness was third.

Musket Man is trained by Irishman, Derek Ryan and was a $15,000 yearling purchase.

Major Derby Preps For This Weekend

The Santa Anita Derby (Santa Anita Park)- A much anticipated showdown between Pioneeerofthe Nile, The Pamplemousse, and Chocolate Candy.

The Pamplemousse
Take the Points
Mr. Hot Stuff
Gallant Son
Pioneerof the Nile
Feisty Suances
Cape Truth
Chocolate Candy
Unbridled Roman
Z Day

The Wood Memorial (Aqueduct)-

I Want Revenge
Lord Justice
Cellar Dweller
Atomic Rain
West Side Bernie
Imperial Council
Just A Coincidence
Lime Rickey

The Illinois Derby (Hawthorne Race Course)-

Nowhere To Hide
Giant Oak
Lord Justice
Toccet Rocket
His Greatness
Perfect Song
Free Country
Musket Man
Al Khali
Il Postino
Knight Shot

*The tv schedule for these races and other Derby Preps are available at the NTRA website. Both the Santa Anita and the Illinois Derby will be on NBC at 5:00 PM and the Wood Memorial is available on TVG and HRTV at 5:19 PM.

Florida Derby Results

and the winner is.....

Quality Road!

Dunkirk was second and Theregoesjojo was third.

The Lane's End Results

There was no stopping Hold Me Back from winning by 1 3/4 lengths. Trained by Bill Mott, Hold Me Back entered the race after a four month layoff. Second place went to Flying Private and Proceed Bee was third.

Equibase Chart

Let's Start Talking Derby, People!

First, a few Derby preps have run so far so lets recap...

1. The Louisianna Derby - won by Freisan Fire

2. The Rebel Stakes - won by longshot Win Willy over heavily favored Old Fashioned

3. The San Felipe - won by Pioneer of the Nile

4. The Tampa Bay Derby - won by Musket Man

This Saturday will be the $500,000 Lane's End at Turfway Park. Be sure to watch it LIVE on ESPN2 at 5 p.m. (Turfway is also running the Rushaway Stakes but I'm unsure if this will be aired on tv.)

A full field of 12 was drawn for the Grade 2 Lane's End yesterday, including A P Cardinal, Bittel Road, Flying Private, Hold Me Back, Jack Spratt, Loch Dubh, Orthodox, Parade Clown, and West Side Bernie. The likely favorites for the 1 1/8-mile race are Bittel Road, a Todd Pletcher-trained colt who most recently was fourth in the Feb. 7 Robert Lewis Memorial at Santa Anita, and West Side Bernie, third in the Jan. 31 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park for trainer Kelly Breen.

Last but not least, don't you think this years Kentucky Derby logo will look pretty on a pair of Derby glasses? Stay tuned for the upcoming Horse Circle Derby Contest where the lucky winner will get a set of Derby glasses as the winning prize!

Down To The Nitty Gritty

The Final Derby Preps Are As Follows:

Saturday, April 12th (Live on ESPN):

Toyota Blue Grass (Keeneland)

Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn)

Holy Bull Stakes (Gulfstream)

Saturday, April 19th:

Coolmore Lexington Keeneland)

Federico Tesio (Pimlico)

Saturday, April 26th:

The Withers (Aqueduct)

The Derby Trial (Churchill)

Entries and TV Schedule will be posted when available. Also, we need some ideas for this years Derby Contest (i.e. format, prizes, etc.)

Lane's End Results

Adriano was the clear winner in the Lane's End. He was ridden by Edgar Prado and is trained by Graham Motion. Adriano had previously shown potential on the turf and entered this race after an unplaced finish in the Fountain of Youth, which was his first ever dirt start. Halo Najib was second and Medjool was third.

Story Here

War Pass Follows Street Sense's Footsteps To The Derby

Tampa Bay Derby (G3) 

March 15, $300,000, 3yo, 11⁄16m, Tampa Bay Downs, 5:50 PM ET 

P Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer 

1. Cigar Man DrewmaniSD Ronald Dale Allen Jr. 116 Kathleen O’Connell 

2. Gentleman James Yankee GentlemaniSD David D. Amiss 116 Myra Mora 

3. War Pass Cherokee RuniSD Cornelio H. Velasquez 122 Nicholas P. Zito 

4. Make Me Zach First Tour Jose Alberto Rivera II 116 Barry R. Rose 

5. Dynamic Wayne Eltish Pablo Morales 116 Dale Bennett 

6. Big Truck Hook and LadderiSD Eibar Coa 116 Barclay Tagg 

7. Atoned RepentiSD John R. Velazquez 116 Todd A. Pletcher 

www.kentuckyderby.com

Are You People AT ALL Excited About The Derby Prep Races Starting???

JEESH!!!

(you've been a tad bit lethargic about commenting on the recent horse racing posts)