Horse Racing News

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.

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When Eskendereya was withdrawn from consideration for Saturday's Kentucky Derby because of a leg injury, it marked the second consecutive year Velazquez lost a top-ranked contender less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

Zenyatta will make her next start in the Grade 1, $250,000 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park on June 13, trainer John Shirreffs said Sunday.

Mambo Meister returned to his favorite track and the winner's circle Sunday, when he rallied to a head victory over Pinckney Hill in the Grade 3, $100,000 Miami Mile Handicap at Calder.

Gallant Son may have found a permanent home on turf after his emphatic win in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Inglewood Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Two-time Derby winner Nick Zito moved a step closer to getting two horses into this year's race, with Eskendereya's defection bumping Jackson Bend one spot closer to the Derby starting gate.