Horse Racing News

If a swift pace may be the undoing of front-runners in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, the same could happen to 3-year-old grass horses in the Grade 2, $175,000 American Turf Stakes on Friday.

Turned out Steve Asmussen had little impact on the Kentucky Derby trail in 2010, which is not to say that Asmussen won't have a say in the proceedings on Kentucky Derby Day.

Rachel Alexandra was the undisputed star of the 2009 Kentucky Oaks. On Friday, the reigning Horse of the Year may overshadow even the tradition-rich Oaks itself.

The California Horse Racing Board has suspended trainer Jeff Mullins for 30 days and fined him $2,500 for a drug violation that occurred in 2008.

Jerry Hollendorfer knows the feeling of saddling a Kentucky Oaks winner, having already done it twice. "It's very nice," he said in knowing understatement.

Lookin At Lucky was far from lucky at the Kentucky Derby post position draw Wednesday at Churchill Downs, drawing the inside post, considered a highly disadvantageous starting position against a full field of 20 horses.

The trainer of Endorsement says her colt has an ankle injury and will not run in Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

While the highlight of Friday's 12-race Churchill Downs card is supposed to be the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, it is a race run 4 1/2 hours earlier that will likely steal the spotlight.

Millionaire Blind Luck drew post 5 for Friday's 136th running of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning, and was installed as the prohibitive 6-5 favorite by oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.

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.