Strategic Risk Leads the Charge into Oaklawn Park The road to the 152nd Run for the Roses reaches a fever pitch this Friday as the $1 million Southwest Stakes finally takes center stage. Originally scheduled for late January, Mother Nature forced a tactical retreat for the top three-year-olds in the...
Two years ago, Mystik Dan and Brian Hernandez, Jr. stayed on the rail throughout an eight-length runaway in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. Three months later, they used the same tactics, saving every inch of ground to take the Kentucky Derby (G1) at odds of 18-1 in a three-horse photo wi...
As usual, Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher leads all trainers with 31 nominees eligible to compete in the Triple Crown series, the Kentucky Derby (G1), Preakness Stakes (G1), and Belmont Stakes (G1). A total of 367 3-year-old thoroughbreds became eligible during the early nomination phase, which closed o...
This week, horse racing could produce some of the most promising Kentucky Derby contenders yet as we move within 90 days of the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. Four, yes four, Derby prep races are set for Friday and Saturday – two each day – as last week’s winter freeze forced tracks to ...
Analyzing the New 98 Beyer Speed Figure Leader The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby just found its lightning bolt. While winter usually produces steady improvers, Todd Pletcher just unveiled a monster that threatens to rewrite the speed maps for the entire three-year-old crop. “Nearly”, a son of ...
Market Chaos as the Champion Departs the Trail The horse racing world stands in shock as the definitive leader of the three-year-old division, Ted Noffey, officially exits the Road to the Kentucky Derby. A diagnosed bone bruise sidelined the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, instantly vaporizing mill...
The $200,000 Withers Stakes for 3-year-olds tops an unusually robust stakes-laden card on Friday at Aqueduct. We don’t normally see five stakes stacked up on a weekday Big A card at this time of year. But then, there has been nothing normal about this brutally frigid winter in New York City. Four ...
If you have ever tried to handicap the Road to the Kentucky Derby, you already know the truth: New Orleans can make smart people look dumb in public. The Fair Grounds prep series (Lecomte, Risen Star, Louisiana Derby) is one of the most reliable pipelines to Churchill Downs, but it is also a place w...
Every Kentucky Derby prep race produces at least one horse that forces bettors to stop, zoom out, and ask the uncomfortable question: Is this real, or am I being baited by early-season dominance? In the 2026 Holy Bull Stakes, that horse is Nearly. On paper, the angle is simple. Nearly has won his la...
The Gateway to the Kentucky Derby: Understanding the 2026 Holy Bull Stakes Importance The 2026 Holy Bull Stakes represents the first serious proving ground on the Florida road to the Kentucky Derby. Run at Gulfstream Park, this Grade 3 contest gives three-year-olds their first opportunity to earn me...
US Racing is not a racebook or ADW, and does not accept or place wagers of any type. This website does not endorse or encourage illegal gambling. All information provided by this website is for entertainment purposes only. This website assumes no responsibility for the actions by and makes no representation or endorsement of any activities offered by any reviewed racebook or ADW. Please confirm the wagering regulations in your jurisdiction as they vary from state to state, province to province and country to country. Any use of this information in violation of federal, state, provincial or local laws is strictly prohibited.
