Horse Racing News

This year's Kentucky Derby is fast approaching, but rain could also be on the way for the May 4 event at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Orb has been made the early 7-2 favorite for the Kentucky Derby, with undefeated Verrazano the second choice in a full field of 20 horses.

Giant Finish, third in the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes on March 23, will enter the May 4 Kentucky Derby, trainer Anthony Dutrow confirmed April 30.

Stonestreet Stables' homebred filly Dreaming of Julia was installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Every morning this Kentucky Derby week, as owners and jockeys fly into town and trainers oversee final preparations for the chance of a lifetime, unheralded men and women quietly swing astride the runners they have guided to the first Saturday in May.

Florida Derby winner Orb completed his preparations for the Kentucky Derby with an eye-popping four furlong move Monday, April 29, at Churchill Downs that was clocked in :47 4/5.

Three-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert said April 29 he will not have a starter in this year's May 4 classic, noting that none of the contenders he had early in the season would be competitive in the 1 1/4-mile race.

In what he surely hopes is an omen for the Kentucky Derby a week hence, trainer Todd Pletcher's colts Forty Tales and Capo Bastone ran first and second, respectively, in the $201,425 Derby Trial Stakes on the night of April 27 at rainy Churchill Downs.

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said the steroid injections given to 15 Godolphin horses was part of a regimen that now-sullied trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni followed while he was in Dubai.

Vyjack, third behind Verrazano and Normandy Invasion in the Wood Memorial last time out, led a small group of workers for the upcoming Kentucky Derby on the morning of April 26 at Churchill Downs. Also on the tab were Falling Sky and Golden Soul.