John Velazquez

Alda Gives Velazquez Friday Stakes Triple in Hilltop

BALTIMORE – Alda got to the lead at the top of the stretch and outran the field to the wire to capture Friday’s $100,000 Hilltop Stakes by a neck at Pimlico Race Course. After winning his…

Race Recaps

Red Ghost Rises to Occasion in Miss Preakness

BALTIMORE – Red Ghost lost the lead in mid-stretch but surged up the rail in the final strides to get her nose down on the wire to win Friday’s $150,000 Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Race Course. Winning Jockey John Velazquez said “She got passed, almost a length. She was looking… Read More

Race Recaps

Spice Is Nice Becomes Stakes Winner in Allaire du Pont

BALTIMORE – Spice Is Nice racing for just the second time in nine months edged clear in the stretch to earn her first career stakes win in Friday’s $150,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff Match Series Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Race Course. After the race winning jockey John Velazquez said “We… Read More

Race Recaps

Johnny V Gives Channel Cat ‘Purrfect’ Ride in Man o’ War

ELMONT, NY – Providing an encore for a Kentucky Oaks-Kentucky Derby sweep is a tall order, but Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez was up to the challenge, piloting Channel Cat to the lead at every point of call to hang on for a gate-to-wire victory by a nose in… Read More

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Kentucky Derby

Medina Spirit Gives Baffert 7th Kentucky Derby Win

LOUISVILLE, KY – Medina Spirit fought back after briefly relinquishing the lead to Mandaloun in the stretch to post a half-length to win the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1) presented by Woodford Reserve before a crowd of 51,838. This was Bob Baffert’s record setting 7th Kentucky Derby win and 4th… Read More

Race Recaps

Gamine Becomes a Millionaire with Derby City Distaff Victory

LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, May 1, 2021)– Champion sprinter Gamine went to the front and then repulsed a challenge from Sconsin to win the 35th running of the $500,000 Derby City Distaff (G1) presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery for fillies and mares to give trainer Bob Baffert a record 220th Grade I victory and to become racings newest millionaire.… Read More

Race Recaps

Malathaat Marvelous in Kentucky Oaks

LOUISVILLE, KY – Shadwell Stable’s marvelous Malathaat overtook Search Results in mid-stretch and kept that game rival at bay to win Friday’s $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. Malathaat got bumped several times from either side after she broke from post 10 under John Velazquez as the 5/2… Read More

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Kentucky Oaks

Beautiful Gift Nails Moraz In Santa Ysabel

ARCADIA, CA – Baoma Corporation homebred Beautiful Gift flew late in the stretch to nail Moraz in the shadow of the wire and win Sunday’s $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park. Moraz, the only runner not trained by Bob Baffert, tracked the 3/5 favorite Kalypso early in… Read More

Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Derby Contenders Pedigree Analysis: Proxy

With the Kentucky Derby (G1) less than 6 weeks away, I’m back for my second year of analyzing some of the top contenders’ pedigrees. This week’s subject: Proxy A Godolphin homebred with a career record of 5-2-3-0 and $187,700 earned so far, he’s yet to win a Kentucky Derby (G1) prep… Read More

Race Recaps

Favored Counterparty Risk Wins Endeavour

OLDSMAR, FL – Klaravich Stables’ Counterparty Risk won as the 4/5 favorite in Saturday’s $175,000 Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. Counterparty Risk broke from post 5 under John Velazquez and raced in fourth with a ground-saving trip that she used to drive through an opening that pacesetter No… Read More