Expert picks

Saturday’s $400,000 Risen Star S. (G2) at Fair Grounds is the first 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1) scoring race worth 50 points to the winner. Midnight Bourbon, who opened the New Orleans road to the Derby by wiring the Jan. 16 Lecomte (G3), will renew...

Frank Fletcher Racing’s Candy Man Rocket picked up 10 points on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series following his one-length triumph in the $200,000 Sam F. Davis S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 6. Piloted by Junior Alvarado,...

Klaravich Stables’ Risk Taking earned 10 points on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series following his 3 3/4-length victory in the $250,000 Withers S. (G3) at Aqueduct on Feb. 6. The winner clocked 1 1/8 miles on the fast main...

While Godolphin has several prominent American-based contenders for the Triple Crown, including champion Essential Quality and sharp debut winner Prevalence, the international operation also has hopes stationed further afield.
The Charlie Appleby-trained...

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott brought two improving colts to Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday for the $200,000 Sam F. Davis S. (G3) on Saturday and was rewarded when Candy Man Rocket and Nova Rags ran one-two in the Road to the Kentucky Derby prep.
Exiting...

Last-out maiden winners Moonlight d’Oro and Curlin’s Catch joined the Kentucky Oaks picture on Feb. 6, posting respective victories in the $200,000 Las Virgenes S. (G2) at Santa Anita and $100,000 Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs.
Both...

Risk Taking utilized a big late kick to earn his first points toward a Kentucky Derby berth, closing boldly to take Saturday’s $250,000 at Withers S. (G3) at Aqueduct. After recording a maiden victory over the track in mid-December, the Medaglia...

When Medina Spirit dug in gamely to withstand all comers in the Jan. 30 Robert B. Lewis (G3), he was expressing tenacity reminiscent of grandsire Giant’s Causeway – and a more distant ancestor, Wild Again.
Medina Spirit’s pedigree isn’t...

Kalypso picked up 10 points toward a Kentucky Oaks berth with an easy win in the Jan. 3 Santa Ynez S. (G2), and the Bob Baffert-trained filly will seek her second straight qualifier in the $200,000 Las Virgenes S. (G3) at Santa Anita.
The $150,000 Suncoast...

Led by 2-year-old champion and two-time Grade I winner Essential Quality, a total of 326 3-year-old Thoroughbreds were made eligible to compete in this year’s Triple Crown during the early nomination phase, which closed Jan. 23.
Each of the 326...