May 3-4

LET'S GO TO THE RACES - May 3-4

A quick reference tool meant to help the newer fan (like me!)

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Kentucky Derby: Orb storms home to win as the 5-1 favorite

By Jay Privman

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There are times when horse racing can produce maddening, inexplicable results, waved away with a shrug and a common refrain, “That’s horse racing.”  Then there are times when everything comes together as if pre-ordained. The best jockey, on the best horse, prepared by the best trainer, bred by a family that has been competing at the top of racing for generations, wins the Kentucky Derby.  That, too, is horse racing.  So it was Saturday at Churchill Downs, at the 139th Kentucky Derby, when Orb brought trainer Shug McGaughey, the nation’s leading rider, Joel Rosario; and the families of Ogden Phipps and Stuart Janney III their first Derby victory with a convincing, 2 1/2-length win.  Read more at source

OAKS AND DERBY DAY WRAP UP, TRIP NOTES, RACE REPLAYS 

The National Racing Report - May 8, 2013 from NYRA on Vimeo.

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The KENTUCKY DERBY and KENTUCKY OAKS capture worldwide attention this weekend.

Details and resource materials on these two marquee races follow below, so let's take a look at the undercard action taking place Friday and Saturday.

The reigning U.S. Horse of the Year, WISE DAN, is back in action at Churchill Downs on Derby Day. Bob Baffert is focused on Hollywood Park rather than Churchill Downs.

Undercard action, Churchill Downs on Oaks Day
ON FIRE BABY and BELIEVE YOU CAN are the heavy favorites in a field of seven entered for the $300,000, Grade II LA TROIENNE for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.  MIDNIGHT LUCKY has won both her starts for trainer Bob Baffert, including the Sunland Park Oaks in her last trip. CLOSE HATCHES is 3-for-3, including the Grade II Gazelle at Aqueduct.
 

The $300,000, Grade II ALYSHEBA STAKES at 1 1/16 miles on the main track drew nine, with three longshots on the inside and the remainder all contenders. Among the likelies: RICHARD'S KID, HYMN BOOK, TAKE CHARGE INDY, MACHO MACHO, BOURBON COURAGE and CYBER SECRET.
 

Thirteen 3-year-olds were drawn for the $200,000, Grade II AMERICAN TURF at 1 1/16 miles on the lawn. NOBLE TUNE and ADMIRAL KITTEN are the morning-line favorites.
 

A well-balanced field of 14 is set for the $150,000, Grade III EIGHT BELLES STAKES for fillies and mares at 7 furlongs on the dirt.

Also on the Oaks Day card is the $150,000 EDGEWOOD STAKES for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

Undercard action at Churchill Downs on Derby Day
MARKETING MIX makes her first start since the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in Saturday's $250,000, Grade II DISTAFF TURF MILE and likely will have to chase down DAISY DEVINE if she wants to win this one. The latter, a confirmed frontrunner, hasn't been out of the exacta in her last six starts, including a second in the Grade I Jenny Wiley at Keeneland. STEPHANIE'S KITTEN is making her first start since last October at Keeneland but usually is in the mix. At total of 10 are set to go.

The $400,000, Grade II CHURCHILL DOWNS Stakes, a 7-furlongs affair, attracted nine, including morning-line favorites TRINNIBERG and DELAUNAY. Delaunay has won five straight -- four in Louisiana sandwiching the Bet On Sunshine Stakes at Churchill Downs almost exactly six months ago. UNBRIDLED'S NOTE is almost always around at the finish. HANDSOME MIKE could be a big overlay after showing some life with a win when finally shortened up from routing in his last start.  

The reigning Horse of the Year, WISE DAN, is the obvious pick in the $500,000, Grade I TURF CLASSIC at 9 furlongs on the grass. The 6-year-old Wiseman's Ferry gelding has won eight of his last nine races and hasn't lost since returning to the turf five races back. This is no walkover, though, especially with POINT OF ENTRY drawn right to the outside of Wise Dan. Point of Entry has won seven straight races and eight of his last nine and comes off a win in the Grade I Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap. The other seven have something to prove against this level of competition.

Belmont Park
DREAM PEACE is the morning-line favorite among nine in Saturday's $150,000, Grade III BEAUGAY for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the grass. Dream Peace has yet to win in the United States after racing as far afield as France and Singapore. The 5-year-old Dansili mare makes her first start since last October. Centring is entered only in the event the race is moved to the main track.

Only six signed on for the $150,000 FORT MARCY at 1 1/16 miles on the turf and SPEAKING OF WHICH and REAL SOLUTION are the early picks in a well-matched field.

Hollywood Park
With no runners in this year's Kentucky Derby, trainer Bob Baffert can concentrate on one of his 2012 starters, LIAISON, in Saturday's $150,000, Grade II MERVYN LEROY HANDICAP at 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather surface. The second- and third-place finishers from the Santana Mile are back -- MIDNIGHT TRANSFER and TRES BORRACHOS. But with no shippers in the field, Liaison has every chance to show he can make his mark in the depleted ranks of California handicap horses.

Kentucky Derby resource material - Profiles of each horse, links to view each horse's past races, past performance sheets, pedigree information all arranged for you to be able to get up to speed on each entry quickly and effortlessly. 

  

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KENTUCKY OAKS PRESENTS THE DEEPEST FIELD EVER ASSEMBLED! 

A fantastic collection of sophomore fillies is ready to converge on this year's Kentucky Oaks, possibly the deepest field we've ever seen assembled for the race. Read more at source
 

Here is a link to review each entry in the Oaks:  OAKS CONTENDERS - PROFILES

Also, don't miss visiting Mary Cage's "Past The Grandstand" Derby and Oaks analysis of each horse:   Derby Field Analysis   Oaks Field Analysis

And: DRF's Dan Illman and Mike Beer handicap each Derby entrant
Joe Kristufek with HorsePlayer.Now talks Derby field - Video
From May 3 TDN, Brian DiDonato and Steve Sherack provide insight
TDN's May 3 "Cheat Sheet" - a must-read
DRF: Wet track could affect outcome
Steve Haskin weighs in on which horses likely to handle wet track

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Races listed below in time ordered format with cards. Come back after the race is run, click on the Card link and watch the replay at BloodHorse's results and video page.

FEATURED RACES
Time Ordered ENTRIES
Time Ordered LIST of races

FRIDAY

TDN provides the Past Performances charts for Oaks Day
DRF's Free PPs for KY Oaks day - Formulator

1:26 ET La Troienne S G2, CD, $300,000a, 4&up, f/m, 8.5f, R6 CARD
2:08 ET Edgewood S CD, $150,000a, 3yo f, 8.5f (turf), R7 CARD
3:02 ET Eight Belles S G3, CD, $150,000a, 3yo f, 7f, R8 CARD
3:52 ET  Alysheba S G2, CD, $300,000a, 4&up, 8.5f, R9 CARD
4:44 ET  American Turf G2, CD, $200,000a, 3yo, 8.5f (turf), R10  CARD
5:45 ET Kentucky Oaks G1, CD, $1,000,000g, 3yo f, 9f, R11 CARD

More on today's races:
Dreaming of Julia headlines star studded Oaks

SATURDAY

Free PPs for KY Derby - From DRF's Formulator: Contains live links to review race charts, jockey and trainer stats. Be sure to check this out....you will love it!

 1:19 ET Twin Spires Turf Sprint G3, CD, $125,000a, 4&up, 5f (turf), R6 CARD
2:08 ET Humana Distaff G1, CD, $300,000a, 4&up, f/m, 7f, R7 CARD
2:59 ET Churchill Distaff Turf Mile G2, CD, $250,000a, 4&up, f/m, 8fT, R8 CARD
3:49 ET Churchill Downs SG2, CD, $400,000a, 4&up, 7f, R9 CARD
4:13 ET  Fort Marcy S G3, Belmont, $150,000g, 3&up, 8.5f (turf), R7 CARD
4:44 ET Woodford Reserve Turf Classic G1, CD, $500,000a, 4+, 9f T, R10 CARD
5:17 ET Beaugay SG3, Belmont, $150,000g, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f (turf), R9 CARD
6:24 ET  Kentucky Derby G1, CD, $2,000,000g, 3yo, 1 1/4m, R11  CARD
8:30 ET Mervyn LeRoy H, G2, HP, G2, $150,000g, 3&up, 8.5f, R10 CARD
Bold = Grade 1 races   Italics = Filly/Mare races


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RACING ON TV
All times eastern

FRIDAY MAY 3

Kentucky Derby Classics
4 - 5 p.m. NBC Sports

Kentucky Oaks (G1)
5 p.m. NBC Sports

SATURDAY MAY 4

Kentucky Derby undercard
11 a.m. NBC Sports

Kentucky Derby Access & Red Carpet Special
4 - 5 p.m. NBC

Kentucky Derby (G1)

5 p.m. NBC

Kentucky Derby Post-Race Show

7 p.m. NBC Sports
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BloodHorse
DRF - Daily Racing Form
 

Handicapping tools
Brian DeDonato analysis of Oaks Day - TDN Blog
Jay Hovdey: O'Neill waving golden state flag for KY Derby
Haskin: Normandy Invasion revisited
Haskin: Oh, Happy Day!
Haskin on which horses would fare better on a muddy track
Brisnet's Kellie Riley: Tales from the Crib
Jeremy Plonk's COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN - Week 18
Jeremy Plonk's Horseplayer Now
Haskin's Derby Dozen April 30
The Downey Profile     
Downey Profile: KY Derby by the speed numbers
Brisnet's James Scully's Derby Report - April 25
Brisnet's Dick Powell Handicapping Insights
Even 50-1 shots have some hope
John Mucciolo of Brisnet tries to bring the Oaks out of the shadows

NEWS 

 Derby Draw "They said it"!