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Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Amante Bianco
When Amante Bianco rallied to victory in the Cattleya at Tokyo Racecourse, the flashy white colt picked up 10 qualification points on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and emerged as a possible contender for the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1).
Analysis
Lucrative exactas reiterate the power of Grade 1-to-maiden class drop
Horses dropping in class from a Grade 1 stakes to a maiden race can generate surprisingly nice payoffs.
Analysis
Meet the Contenders: 2024 Louisiana Derby
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Locked
After overcoming a wide trip to win the Breeders’ Futurity (G1), Locked ranks among the early favorites for the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1).
Analysis
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Cornishman, Quiet Wisdom strike
Could a Road to the Kentucky Derby foray be in the cards for Cornishman? It’s not inconceivable.
Features
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Timberlake
Can Timberlake become the third son of Into Mischief to win the Kentucky Derby (G1)? Only time will tell, but the bay colt is trending in the right direction.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Drum Roll Please
Drum Roll Please joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a third-place finish in the Remsen (G2), and a subsequent 3 3/4-length win in the Jerome S. at Aqueduct reiterates his emergence as a Kentucky Derby (G1) contender.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Ramjet
When Ramjet stormed home victorious by three lengths in the Hyacinth S. on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, he delivered on a pedigree geared top and bottom toward high-level success running long on dirt.
Pedigree
The Power Hour for Friday, March 15, 2024
Join TwinSpires as we combine our trusted talent in a new LIVE video and LIVE commentary format! Didn't catch us live? Watch what our experts have to say.
Analysis
Catching My Eye: Prices at Fair Grounds March 6 - March 10
Prices were coming home last week at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Here’s a look at some of the top performers who outran their odds.
Analysis
Racing Roundtable: Kentucky Derby and Oaks leaderboard roundup and other notable performances
With a break in the action along the Road to the Kentucky Derby this upcoming weekend, the Racing Roundtable gives their top Kentucky Derby (G1) and Oaks (G1) picks at the moment and discusses some stakes action that caught their eye over the weekend.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Society Man wins on class drop
A trio of Triple Crown nominees broke their maidens last week, emerging as possible Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders eight weeks out from the first Saturday in May.
Features
Meet the Contenders: 2024 Tampa Bay Derby
Meet the horses running in the Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, FL.
Analysis
Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf illustrates the power of pace
Sometimes a race will unfold in a manner that places certain runners at a distinct disadvantage. Betting these horses when they encounter more favorable circumstances in the future can be a sound strategy.
Analysis
Racing Roundtable: Deterministic makes splash in stakes debut, Dornoch scores again, and more
This week, the Racing Roundtable rates Dornoch's win in a scratch-laden Fountain of Youth (G2), Deterministic's win in his stakes debut in the Gotham (G3), and the Kentucky Oaks (G1) picture.
Analysis
Pedigree profile: Imagination
A tenacious victory in the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita has stamped Imagination as a talented three-year-old worth following.
Features
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Be You breaks through
You might assume March is too late for a Kentucky Derby (G1) winner to break his maiden. That might be true for some horses, but it shouldn’t be an issue for Be You.
Features
Tipsheet: 2024 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes
An overflow field of 14 sophomores will run 1 1/16 miles on the Turfway Park All-Weather oval in Saturday’s $150,000 John Battaglia Memorial S.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby
Meet the Contenders: 2024 San Felipe S.
Meet the horses running in the 2024 San Felipe S. (G2) at Santa Anita.
Kentucky Derby
Catching My Eye: La-bred Stakes and Turf Winners from Fair Grounds
FInd out more on Kevin Kilroy's thoughts surrounding turf winners from Fair Grounds.
Analysis
Meet the Contenders: 2024 Fountain of Youth S.
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park.
Kentucky Derby
Meet the Contenders: 2024 John Battaglia Memorial
Meet the horses running in the 2024 John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfland Park.
Analysis
28-1 longshot reiterates the power of changing distances
Everyone knows some horses are better sprinting and others are better running long. Rare is the horse who enjoys equal success in both sprints and routes.
Analysis
Racing Roundtable: Senor Buscador's Saudi Cup upset, Timberlake's Rebel win, and Lemon Muffin's potential
This week, the Racing Roundtable convenes to discuss Senor Buscador's upset of the Saudi Cup, Timberlake's win in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn, and Lemon Muffin's potential for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Four winners running long
Reasoned Analysis failed to factor in two starts as a juvenile, but the Chad Brown trainee broke through in his three-year-old debut, emerging as a possible Kentucky Derby (G1) contender.
Analysis
2024 Saudi Cup: Seven trends to watch
Although the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) is still a relatively recent edition to the racing calendar, several trends have already emerged from its first four runnings at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
Trends
Catching My Eye: What Did We Learn from The Risen Star?
Billed as the most-stacked Kentucky Derby Prep race to date, what did we learn from Saturday’s Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds?
Analysis
Why forgiving a disappointing second start can reap rewards
When a horse wins impressively on debut, but follows up with a disappointing defeat second-time out, it can be tempting to dismiss them as a flash in the pan.
Education
Racing Roundtable: Risen Star, Rachel Alexandra Stakes and other eye-catching performances
This week, the Racing Roundtable weighs in on Sierra Leone's win in the Risen Star S. (G2), Tarifa's stakes debut in the Rachel Alexandra (G2), and notable performances from the weekend.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Antiquarian scores for Pletcher
On Feb. 18, 2018, Justify won his debut in eye-catching fashion. Less than four months later he was a Triple Crown winner, proving late February isn’t too late for a Kentucky Derby (G1) winner to break his maiden.
Features
Trackside: 2024 Risen Star Week at Fair Grounds [VIDEO]
TwinSpires is trackside all week from Fair Grounds as we talk with trainers, visit with horses and host barn tours. Our team of Abbey Huffman, Ashley Anderson and Blaise Bollman give you exclusive access to one of the main staging grounds of winter racing and Kentucky Derby hopefuls.
Triple Crown
The Jury: Expert Picks, Bets and Fades for Feb. 17 [Video]
Racing analysts Ashley Anderson, James Scully, and Darin Zoccali examine the Risen Star (G2) and Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds, along with other stakes action around the country. Ashley and James provide their thoughts in the written portion below. Be sure to check out Darin's opinions in our on-camera portion as well!
Analysis
Meet the Contenders: 2024 Sunland Park Derby
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Sunland Park Derby at Sunland Park. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential.
Analysis
Longstanding track biases must be considered in handicapping
Not every Thoroughbred racetrack is equally kind to all types of racehorses. For various reasons—the type and composition of the racing surface, the configuration of a specific course layout, etc.—some tracks are more or less kind to horses with certain running styles, or those breaking from particular post positions.
Analysis
Racing Roundtable: Sam F. Davis, Suncoast, and Las Virgenes insights
This week, the Racing Roundtable discusses Kentucky Derby and Oaks prep action at Tampa Bay Downs and Santa Anita, including No More Time's win in the Sam F. Davis (G3).
Analysis
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Winners in Florida and New York
Two-time Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning trainer Todd Pletcher continues to add to his roster of contenders for the 2024 Run for the Roses.
Features
Stakes histories can identify strong or vulnerable favorites
Not all stakes races are equally kind to favorites. Some regularly churn out short-priced winners, while others toss up longshots more often than not.
Analysis
Racing Roundtable: Fierceness upset in Holy Bull, other shocking Kentucky Derby prep results
This week, the Racing Roundtable examines a number of upset winners during a jam-packed weekend of Kentucky Derby and Oaks prep action, including Hades' victory in the Holy Bull (G3), where Fierceness finished a disappointing third as the 1-5 favorite.
Analysis
Catching My Eye: Front-running monster Pink Polkadots and three others from Fair Grounds Feb. 1 - 4
We have seen several impressive up-and-coming turf routers so far this meet. St. Armands Key and Ocean Victory come to mind quickly, but two others as well--Pink Polkadots and Le Gris.
Analysis
Pedigree profile: Nysos
After two blowout victories sprinting, it was no surprise to see Nysos dominate his two-turn debut, winning the one-mile Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) at Santa Anita by 7 1/2 lengths.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Well-bred Tuscan Gold romps
Only time will tell if Tuscan Gold has the talent to win the Kentucky Derby (G1). But there’s no doubt the bay colt has the pedigree to shine on the first Saturday in May.
Features
Meet the Contenders: 2024 Robert B. Lewis Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) at Santa Anita. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your Stable Alerts.
Kentucky Derby
Meet the Contenders: 2024 Withers Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Withers S. (G3) at Aqueduct. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your Stable Alerts.
Kentucky Derby
When a meet starts, top trainers can win races in bunches
At the start of a race meet, it can be useful to look back at previous meets and find out which trainers won the most races. If one name consistently ranks at or near the top of the rankings, you can usually assume that trainer will enjoy success at the upcoming meet as well.
Analysis
Meet the Contenders: 2024 Southwest Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Southwest S. Saturday at Oaklawn Park.
Analysis
Racing Roundtable: Pegasus World Cup Day recap
This week, the Racing Roundtable reflects on Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream, including National Treasure's win in the marquee race as well as Warm Heart and Francesco Clemente's turf scores.
Racing
Meet the Contenders: 2024 Holy Bull
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park this Saturday.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Speak Easy is the talk of the town
One year after Kentucky Derby winner Mage won a Pegasus World Cup Day maiden race at Gulfstream Park, Speak Easy impressed in an identical maiden contest.
Features
2023 TwinSpires Best Bets and Quick Picks ROI report
With 2023 in the books, it’s time to recap the performance of my daily “Best Bets and Quick Plays” and carryover analysis columns for TwinSpires Edge.
Wagering
Nuanced trainer stats strike again with 9-1 winner
In the past, we’ve explored how digging into the granular details of trainer stats can reveal nuances not apparent at first glance. These nuances can lead to lucrative payoffs, as was apparent at Fair Grounds last week.
Analysis
Racing Roundtable: Risen Star, Saudi Cup, and Pegasus World Cup Day
This week, the Racing Roundtable examines the top contenders in February's Risen Star (G2) and Saudi Cup (G1) as well as this weekend's Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Hall of Fame is very fast
The equine Hall of Fame took a solid first step toward a place in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame when he smashed a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on Saturday at Fair Grounds.
Analysis
How class drops can trigger big form turnarounds
Bettors aren’t always keen to support young horses who have shown little to no ability. But sometimes these horses win.
Analysis
Racing Roundtable: Gin Gin's win in the Busanda, Book'em Danno's dominance, and Lecomte Day
This week, the Racing Roundtable discusses Gin Gin's win in the Busanda S. and Book'em Danno's dominance in the Pasco before looking ahead to Lecomte Day at Fair Grounds.
Analysis
Meet the Contenders: 2024 Lecomte Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Lecomte S. (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your Stable Alerts.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Pletcher saddles three winners
Two-time Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning trainer Todd Pletcher sent out a trio of possible 2024 Kentucky Derby contenders to break their maidens during the second week of January.
Features
Catching My Eye: Fair Grounds Top Performers Week of Jan. 4 - Jan. 7
Top honors this week go to Maycocks Bay. The Godolphin homebred trained by Mike Stidham put his name on the map in a big way beating home two quality colts trained by Brad Cox and Keith Desormeaux in Blown Cover and Hawkes Creek.
Analysis
Following a track bias to logical and lucrative payoffs
The power of track biases to deliver compelling pari-mutuel payoffs has been readily apparent over the last couple of weeks.
Analysis
Racing Roundtable: Drum Roll Please, Kopion shine in Derby, Oaks preps, and more
This week, the Racing Roundtable grades the win by Drum Roll Please in the Jerome S., a one-mile Kentucky Derby (G1) prep held at Aqueduct, Kopion's potential for Richard Mandella following her win in the Santa Ynez (G3), and then looks back at other notable performances from the weekend.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Ari’s Magic sparkles on debut
The first week of January produced a handful of noteworthy three-year-old maiden winners with possible Kentucky Derby (G1) aspirations.
Features
Catching My Eye: Fair Grounds winners who look ready for stakes company
The racing last week at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots was excellent, and a handful of winners look primed to try stakes company next out. Here’s who caught my eye.
Analysis
First-crop sires: Maximus Mischief ends 2023 in second place
The final racing results from 2023 are in, and Maximus Mischief ended the year as the second-leading first-crop sire in multiple categories.
Analysis
Tipsheet: 2024 Jerome Stakes
A compact field of five will travel one mile on the Aqueduct main surface in Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome S. A total of 21 qualifying points towards the 2024 Kentucky Derby are on the line in the challenge series tilt.
Analysis
Meet the Contenders: 2024 Jerome Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Jerome at Aqueduct. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your stable alerts.
Analysis
Ghostzapper shows first-crop sire rankings can be misleading
Ranking first-crop sires by progeny earnings is useful for identifying up-and-coming stallions with potential, but the numbers can be misleading.
Analysis
Racing Roundtable: Smarty Jones, Pegasus World Cup preview and more!
This week, the Racing Roundtable reviews the first Kentucky Derby qualifier of the New Year, Monday’s Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park, Pegasus World Cup preview day at Gulfstream Park, and betting resolutions for 2024.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Flashy winners close out 2023
During the closing days of 2023, a bevy of potential Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders posted flashy maiden victories from coast to coast.
Analysis
Catching My Eye: How the Gun Runner Pace Unfolded
In order to get a clear handle on what happened in the Gun Runner last Saturday at Fair Grounds, we need to keep in mind the old adage: it's not how fast they run but how they run fast.
Analysis
Hot jockey-trainer duos can generate lofty win percentages
When a hot trainer teams up with a hot jockey, their win percentage together can rise to impressive heights.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Cox colts shine at Fair Grounds
A pair of 1 1/16-mile maiden special weights contested at Fair Grounds on Saturday could have 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) implications.
Features
Meet the Contenders: 2023 Gun Runner Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2023 Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential.
Analysis
Catching My Eye: Week 5 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
With Road to the Derby Kickoff Day on Saturday, Dec. 23, and all the two-year-old/soon-to-be three frenzy about to take hold, let’s first take a look back at some strong efforts from week five at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Analysis
Catch lucrative payoffs betting up-and-coming trainers
If you pay close attention to which trainers are rising to new heights percentage-wise, you can land enticing payoffs before the majority of bettors catch on.
Analysis
First-crop sires: Stakes horses shine for Maximus Mischief
With two weeks left in 2023, Maximus Mischief is holding his own among the year’s leading first-crop sires.
Features
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Winners from coast to coast
All around the country, promising 2-year-olds posted sharp maiden victories last week, throwing their names in the ring as potential 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders.
Features
Pedigree profile: Wynstock
Stretching out in distance has worked wonders for Wynstock. After failing to factor in his first two starts sprinting, the chestnut colt has been unstoppable in two-turn races, dominating a one-mile maiden special weight before battling to victory in the 1 1/16-mile Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at Los Alamitos.
Analysis
The Springboard Mile Stakes Tipsheet
A very good group of nine two-year-old prospects will travel one mile on the Remington Park dirt in Friday’s $300,000 Springboard Mile S. The 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby contest will give the top-five finishers qualifying points towards Churchill Downs on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis.
Analysis
How to bet With, and Against, Strong Quality in the Tinsel Stakes
A total of seven talented runners will take aim at the $200,000 Tinsel S. at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.
Racing
The Los Alamitos Futurity Tipsheet
A compact field of six will travel 1 1/16 miles in Saturday’s $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity S. (G2). Conditioner Bob Baffert has half of the contenders in the 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series event.
Analysis
Meet the Contenders: 2023 Los Alamitos Futurity
Meet the horses running in the 2023 Los Alamitos Futurity at Los Alamitos, CA.
Analysis
Meet the Contenders: 2023 Remington Springboard Mile
Meet the horses running in the 2023 Springboard Mile at Remington Park.
Analysis
Breeders’ Cup to ungraded stakes is a big class drop
The drop in class from a Breeders’ Cup race into an ungraded stakes can be monumental.
Analysis
Will new program boost international competition at Churchill, Epsom, and Ascot?
Fans of international horse racing have cause to celebrate. American horses have been competing abroad with increasing frequency over the last dozen years, and the trend may expand in 2024.
Analysis
Racing Roundtable: Oaklawn Park opening weekend, a look ahead to 2024, and more
This week, the Racing Roundtable looks back at Oaklawn Park's opening weekend plus other notable performances across the country and then looks ahead to horses to watch in 2024.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Speed Runner runs to his name
Two-time Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning trainer Todd Pletcher already conditions Fierceness, the early favorite for the 2024 Run for the Roses. But Pletcher’s contingent of possible Derby contenders keeps getting deeper.
Features
Catching My Eye: Big Weekend for Dallas Stewart/Dream Team Racing and James Graham
What a weekend for trainer Dallas Stewart and breeder/owner Dream Team Racing. Sure, Hoist the Gold won the Cigar Mile, earning a 106, his top Brisnet Speed figure to date, but how about the way his sister turned heads on Sunday at Fair Grounds?
Analysis
When juveniles finish slowly in sprints, be careful betting them in routes
How can you predict whether a lightly raced juvenile will thrive or struggle while tackling route distances of one mile or longer? Pedigrees, coupled with how fast they finish in sprints, can provide clues.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Dornoch
It’s safe to say that Dornoch has the pedigree of a Kentucky Derby (G1) winner. Because… he literally has the pedigree of a Kentucky Derby winner.
Features
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: How talented is El Capi?
How talented is El Capi? It’s hard to say for certain. He was spectacular when debuting in a seven-furlong maiden special weight last Saturday at Aqueduct, but his performance was not without a caveat.
Analysis
Meet the Contenders: 2023 Remsen Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2023 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential.
Analysis
First-crop sires: Winners keep coming for Maximus Mischief
Maximus Mischief picked up his third black-type stakes winner on Nov. 22 when Carmelina stormed to a runaway victory in the $100,000 Shamrock Rose S. at Penn National.
Features
Racing Roundtable: Kentucky Jockey Club, Golden Rod, and other Thanksgiving weekend results
This week the Roundtable discusses the winners of the Kentucky Derby and Oaks prep races at Churchill and other notable performances from the Thanksgiving weekend.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Five graduate at Churchill
Possible contenders for the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) were out in abundance during Thanksgiving week at Churchill Downs.
Analysis
Catching My Eye: Opening Weekend at Fair Grounds
As racing wraps up at Churchill Downs, many non-Kentucky connections will try to snag the purses and several of Fair Grounds’ stakes days are L.A.-bred delights.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Carbone finishes fast in debut
The week before Thanksgiving is typically a quiet one as far as stakes racing goes. But Carbone made enough noise for five stakes horses when he smashed his debut on Sunday at Churchill Downs.
Analysis
Racing Roundtable: Pool 1 of KDFW, first-crop sires, and top turf female
This week the Roundtable looks back at the results of Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW), explores first-crop sires with promising progeny, and debates the winner of the Eclipse Award for top turf female, potentially the most contentious award of the season.
Analysis
First-crop sires: Maximus Mischief is riding a hot streak
After siring only two winners between the middle of September and the middle of October, first-crop sire Maximus Mischief is on fire again, regaining the momentum that made him the leading sire by progeny earnings through much of summer and early fall.
Analysis