Horse Racing News on April 26, 2010

Perhaps the only thing worse than rain on Derby Day is rain the week of the race, when the majority of the contenders stabled at Churchill Downs get in their final works.

Azeri, the 2002 Horse of the Year and three-time champion older female, heads a list of six horses, two trainers, and two jockeys who have been nominated to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame.

When Eskendereya was withdrawn from consideration for Saturday's Kentucky Derby because of a leg injury, it marked the second consecutive year Velazquez lost a top-ranked contender less than a week before the race.

A day after announcing that Kentucky Derby favorite Eskendereya is out of the race, trainer Todd Pletcher said star filly Devil May Care is likely to run for the roses Saturday instead of contesting the fillies-only Kentucky Oaks on Friday.