Tag Archives: Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs paddock

Road to Kentucky Derby 2024: Iroquois Stakes 

By Jarrod Horak The Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes will be run Churchill Downs on Saturday, Sept. 16. Nine juvenile males entered this flat mile contest, and this is the first road to Kentucky Derby 2024 points race. I will look at pace ratings and best final time ratings, rank the contenders first to last, and […]

Barbaro statue at Churchill Downs

Road to Kentucky Oaks 2024: Pocahontas Stakes 

By Jarrod Horak The Grade 3 Pocahontas Stakes will be run at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Sept. 16. Nine juvenile fillies entered this flat mile contest and this is the first road to Kentucky Oaks 2024 points race. I will look at pace ratings and final time ratings, rank the contenders first to last, and […]

Kentucky Oaks Day 2014 photo at Churchill Downs

Kentucky Derby 2024 News: Points Race Changes

By Jarrod Horak The road to Kentucky Derby 2024 kicks off the with Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Sept. 16, and Risk It looks like the one to beat in the paper race. I will cover that event in an article and video later this week, and I will also debut […]

Saratoga News and Views: Belmont at the Spa?

By Jarrod Horak The Saratoga summer meet wrapped up earlier today and the stakes schedule ended with a shocking result. Nutella Fella stunned his rivals and paid $111 in the Grade 1 Hopeful. Irad Ortiz Jr. was the leading rider, and the trainer title came down to the final race of the meet. Linda Rice […]

Was the 2023 Kentucky Derby a Strong Race?

By Jarrod Horak The early pace was swift and Mage rolled home from off the pace to capture the 2023 Kentucky Derby. Five horses scratched and the Florida shipper ended up defeating 17 runners on the first Saturday in May, and the strong early pace really helped the late runners.  Ten horses have run back. […]

Kentucky Derby 2023 Report: A final look

By Jarrod Horak After Kentucky Derby 2023 post positions were drawn on Monday, we had a 20-horse field with a trio of also-eligibles. As I reported yesterday, Practical Move, Lord Miles, and Continuar dropped out of the race, and Cyclone Mischief, Mandarin Hero, and King Russell drew in.  On Friday, word came down that Skinner […]

Kentucky Oaks 2023 Report: Top Pick

By Jarrod Horak The Kentucky Oaks 2023 field is set and there have been no changes since post positions were drawn earlier this week. Wet Paint is the deserving morning line favorite. She won the Martha Washington, Honeybee, and Fantasy Stakes from off the pace in her last three starts at Oaklawn. She is fine […]

Kentucky Derby 2023 Report: Kingsbarns Rules

By Jarrod Horak Todd Pletcher trainees dominated the Kentucky Derby 2023 points races in March. First it was Forte in the Fountain of Youth on March 4, and Tapit Trice made his case in the Tampa Bay Derby a week later. On March 25, it was Kingsbarns and Flavien Prat wiring the field in the […]

Kentucky Oaks 2023 Report: Southlawn Shines

By Jarrod Horak Southlawn seemingly came out of nowhere and is suddenly prominent player on the road to Kentucky Oaks 2023. The daughter of Pioneerof the Nile was just 1-for-5 last year. She romped in her optional claiming return at Fair Grounds on Feb. 17, and stormed home from off the pace in a strong […]

Kentucky Oaks 2023 Report: February Surprises

By Jarrod Horak There were plenty of surprises in recent Kentucky Oaks 2023 prep races. Champion juvenile filly Wonder Wheel lost her first start of the year by a neck in the Suncoast Stakes, and Todd Pletcher’s well-bred filly Julia Shining landed the show in that same race. Highly regarded Tom Amoss trainee Hoosier Philly […]