Posted on 04/11/2009 6:20:04 AM PDT by ETL
TODAY'S MAJOR KENTUCKY DERBY PREP RACES...
Toyota Blue Grass Stakes
Grade: I, Purse: $750,000, Distance: 1-1/8 miles
Track: Keeneland Saturday, April 11, 2009 @6:00 PM ET
Blue Grass packed with questions
By Marty McGee, Daily Racing Form, April 09, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The multitude of questions that surround the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes might well be answered with even more questions. Such is the nature of the Polytrack surface at Keeneland, which two years ago produced the Kentucky Derby winner in Blue Grass runner-up Street Sense but last year gave the Derby its last-place finisher in Blue Grass winner Monba.
No doubt the 85th running of the $750,000 Blue Grass - which shares the national racing spotlight Saturday with the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in what shapes up as the final round of major Kentucky Derby preps - will have a tepid favorite, most likely Hold Me Back, a WinStar Farm colt whose terrific run three weeks ago in the Lane's End Stakes suddenly thrust him into the fray for the May 2 Derby. ..."
More on the Bluegrass Stakes at link:
http://www.ntra.com/races.aspx?id=37684§ion=races
FREE RACING FORM FOR BLUEGRASS STAKES HERE:
(on PDF File: small, only 678 KBs)
http://ntra.equibase.com/eqbNTRAGetFreeFF.cfm?trk=KEE&rd=04/11/2009&cty=USA&de=D&rn=9
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Arkansas Derby
Grade: II, Purse: $1 million, Distance: 1-1/8 miles
Track: Oaklawn Park, Saturday, April 11, 2009 @ 6:00 PM ET
Arkansas Derby cast seeking credibility
By Mary Rampellini Daily Racing Form, April 09, 2009
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The Grade 2 Arkansas Derby on Saturday will give the race's top three choices an opportunity to answer important questions with the big dance, the Kentucky Derby, just three weeks away.
Old Fashioned is out to prove he is a better horse than his last race, when he suffered the first defeat of his career in the Grade 2 Rebel. Win Willy must show his 56-1 upset of that race was no fluke. And invader Papa Clem needs to win a major Derby prep to back up the potential he has shown by running second to Pioneerof the Nile and Friesan Fire in separate Grade 2 stakes. ..."
More on the Arkansas Derby at link:
http://www.ntra.com/races.aspx?id=37012§ion=races
FREE RACING FORM FOR THE ARKANSAS DERBY HERE:
(on PDF File: small, only 920 KBs)
http://ntra.equibase.com/eqbNTRAGetFreeFF.cfm?trk=OP&rd=04/11/2009&cty=USA&de=D&rn=11
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Click here for a full list (and analysis) of the 2009 Derby contenders:
http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/racing-information/contenders
*** Free (individual) Past Performances for all major KD contenders:
"Brisnet's weekly updated PDF past performance file of Kentucky Derby hopefuls"
(includes video for many prior races):
http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/racing-information/contender-pps
For more info at the site (http://www.kentuckyderby.com/), hover your mouse pointer/cursor over "Racing Information" and select from the drop-down menu.
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Prep race schedule from mid-March to Derby Day, May 2nd
March:
Mar 14 2009: Louisiana Derby - Fair Grounds, Grade II, 1 1/16 miles, $600,000
Mar 14 2009: San Felipe - Santa Anita, Grade II, 1 1/16 miles, $200,000
Mar 14 2009: Rebel - Oaklawn, Grade II, 1 1/16 miles, $300,000
Mar 14 2009: Tampa Bay Derby - Tampa Bay Downs, Grade III, 1 1/16 miles, $300,000
Mar 18 2009: Kempton Challenge - Kempton, GB 1 1/8 miles $150,000
Mar 21 2009: Lane’s End - Turfway Park, Grade II, 1 1/8 miles, $500,000
Mar 21 2009: Rushaway - Turfway Park 1, 1/16 miles $100,000
Mar 28 2009: Florida Derby - Gulfstream, Grade I, 1 1/8 miles, $750,000
Mar 28 2009: Swale - Gulfstream, Grade II, 7 furlongs, $200,000
Mar 28 2009: UAE Derby - Nad Al Sheba, Grade II, 1 1/8 miles, purse: 2 million
Mar 28 2009: San Miguel - Santa Anita, 6 furlongs, $70,000
Mar 29 2009: Sunland Derby - Sunland Park 1 1/8 miles $800,000
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April:
Apr 4 2009: Santa Anita Derby - Santa Anita, Grade I, 1 1/8 miles, $750,000
TELEVISED LIVE ON NBC BEGINNING AT 2PM PDT, 5PM EDT
Apr 4 2009: Wood Memorial - Aqueduct, Grade I, 1 1/8 miles, $750,000
Apr 4 2009: Illinois Derby - Hawthorne, Grade II, 1 1/8 miles, $500,000
Apr 4 2009: Bay Shore - Aqueduct, Grade III, 7 furlongs, $200,000
Apr 11 2009: Blue Grass - Keeneland, Grade I, 1 1/8 miles, $750,000
Apr 11 2009: Arkansas Derby - Oaklawn, Grade II, 1 1/8 miles, purse: 1 million
Apr 18 2009: Lexington - Keeneland, Grade II, 1 1/16 miles, $325,000
Apr 25 2009: Derby Trial - Churchill Downs, Grade III, 1 mile, $100,000
Apr 25 2009: Withers - Aqueduct, Grade III, 1 mile, $150,000
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May:
May 2 2009: Kentucky Derby - Churchill Downs, Grade I, 1 1/4 miles, purse: 2 million
_________________________________________________________________
2009 Derby Prep Schedule:
http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/racing-information/preps-schedule
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Also see...
Countdown to the Crown (ESPN):
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown09/index
National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA):
(Free official Past Performances for many of the big stake races)
http://www.ntra.com/
Complete stakes race schedule for entire year, all classes of races:
http://www.ntra.com/races_index.aspx
Ping!
Thanks for posting, ETL.
ping
Thanks for the link to the form. Just for speculation I’ll take Mafaaz (longshot) front and backwheeled with $20 perfectas with anyone who is going off as more of a favorite than him. I’ve gotta work today until 7 and can’t get to a simulcasting track. I’ll check back later to see how I did and collect my mythical big gains :) Good luck racing fans.
Ark. Derby looks like a 3 horse race. Papa Clem, Old Fashioned and Win Willy. I think Willy’s last was a fluke, set up by an off track and fast pace. I’ll still toss him in for less.
Strong Papa Clem over Old Fashioned.
“Strong Papa Clem over Old Fashioned.”
“Over” should read “with”.
These races are interesting. OTOH, the Kentucky Derby is a rodeo with 20 horses. Hopefully, it doesn’t turn into a demolition derby. I hold my breath every year now, for a big spill would damage the sport irreparably.
I haven’t bet a dime on the KD for the last 8 years.
ML/NJ
General Quarters eh? I picked the wrong longshot, Mafaaz. I’m glad I was not near a track. I would’ve lost big.
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/horse-racing/story/995600.html
Ark. Derby looks like a 3 horse race. Papa Clem, Old Fashioned and Win Willy. I think Willy’s last was a fluke, set up by an off track and fast pace. I’ll still toss him in for less.
Strong Papa Clem over Old Fashioned.
6 posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 9:49:02 AM by gate2wire
“Over” should read “with”.
Just the exacta.
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