Tag Archives: Todd Pletcher

Belmont Stakes 2023 Report: Early Preview

By Jarrod Horak The 2023 Belmont Stakes is shaping up as a very good betting race. Kentucky Derby winner Mage will not be running at Belmont Park after a show finish in the Preakness crushed his Triple Crown dreams, but National Treasure, the wire-to-wire winner of that race, is eyeing the final jewel of the […]

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: It’s Derby week!

By Jarrod Horak Kentucky Derby 2023 post positions will be drawn on Monday, May 1. We are getting close now, and I will be back on Derby week with more reports. Forte is expected to be the morning line favorite. The 2-year-old champion has a strong resume with four Grade 1 wins. He has earned […]

Kentucky Derby 2023 Report: Final Countdown

By Jarrod Horak We have reached the end of the Kentucky Derby 2023 points race series, and Todd Pletcher still holds three aces. He has juvenile champ Forte and young upstart Kingsbarns, and Tapit Trice followed up his late running win in the Tampa Bay Derby with a smart stalking score in the Blue Grass […]

Kentucky Derby 2023 Report: Forte still on top

By Jarrod Horak As mentioned in my previous Kentucky Derby 2023 report, Todd Pletcher dominated the points races in March with Forte, Tapit Trice, and Kingsbarns. Fast forward to April, and the more things change the more they stay the same. Forte cemented his status as the Kentucky Derby favorite by winning the Florida Derby […]

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 […]

Tampa Bay Derby winner Tapit Trice

Kentucky Derby 2023 Report: Tapit Trice Triumphs

By Jarrod Horak The road to Kentucky Derby 2023 is suddenly Todd Pletcher’s playground. His talented juvenile champion Forte was excellent in his seasonal bow in the Fountain of Youth, and he is the solid Derby favorite after that easy victory on March 4. Fast forward one week, and his $1.3 million Tapit colt Tapit […]

Kentucky Oaks 2023 Report: Florida shocker

By Jarrod Horak We saw the biggest shocker yet on the road to Kentucky Oaks 2023. That stunning result was in the Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park on March 4. Dorth Vader pressed the pace and kicked clear to score as a 46-1 outsider. She is probably not a top Oaks contender but that sure […]

Kentucky Derby 2023 Report: Forte is back

By Jarrod Horak The road to Kentucky Derby 2023 is picking up serious momentum. Two-year-old champion Forte made his much anticipated return in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 4, and he did not disappoint. He solidified his position as the early Kentucky Derby favorite with another strong stalk and pounce victory at 1 […]