The question has become increasingly difficult to answer. With horses often appearing on the scene suddenly, like so many firetrucks, and, in some cases, from nowhere, identifying Kentucky Derby contenders early in the season has become a job for Nostrad

While it is true that the winning payouts in Pool 1 for the "all others" horses have ranged from a low payoff of $5.80 (Mine That Bird, 2009) to a high of $10.20 (Charismatic, 1999), six of

By Don Jensen, Times Correspondent Don Jensen Tampa Bay Times In Print: Saturday, February 4, 2012 OLDSMAR — Trainer Derek Ryan has navigated the Triple Crown trail before. He is trying to do it with Holy Highway this time. Three years after saddling his

Tampa Bay Downs, Santa Anita Park and Aqueduct Racetrack may be where the next winner of the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. 1) may be found Saturday as the three tracks each feature prep races for the American classic. Although the May 5 De

Eight years ago this month, John Servis left his year-round Pennsylvania base to take an unbeaten but untested colt to Oaklawn Park in Arkansas. His goal was to see how far his precocious colt named Smarty Jones could go on the road to the Kentucky Der

A couple of things about the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) from an historical point of view may help put this weekend’s early Derby prep into perspective. The $400,000 Holy Bull will be run Sunday at Gulfstream Park with a field of six going the one-turn mi