Blood-Horse

While it would be inaccurate to say the clouds have parted for Kentucky Derby day 148, an overnight rain in Louisville, Ky. has ceased and no rain is forecast throughout May 7.

Mandy Pope has been immersed more than most owner/breeders in the development of Kentucky Derby (G1) contender Charge It. The Tapit homebred was raised at Pope's Whisper Hill Farm and then got his early training at her training center.

Even as trainers prepared their 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) runners, the absence of a trainer who has arguably been the face of the Derby since the mid-1990s, has won two Triple Crowns, and has enthusiastically promoted racing, certainly was noticed.

Awesome Strong became a winner at first asking and the first winner for freshman sire Awesome Slew in a maiden special weight race May 6 at Gulfstream Park.

Exline-Border Racing, SAF Racing, Stonestreet Stables, and Richard Hausman's Dream Shake headlines a field of a dozen 4-year-olds and up for the inaugural running of the $160,000 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes May 7 at Churchill Downs.

In early wagering for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) May 6, Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Epicenter was a slight 5-1 favorite over Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Taiba, also 5-1, as of about 7:30 p.m.

A return to a normal at Churchill Downs after two years of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions helped spur wagering records for Kentucky Oaks Day May 6.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas started out his weekend May 6 with a low. Believing Ethereal Road was flat in his recent training after an active racing schedule last month, Lukas scratched Ethereal Road, his sole hopeful for the May 7 Kentucky Derby (G1).

The 7-2 favorite stopped the clock in the 5 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up in 1:04.18, winning by 1 3/4 lengths over 40-1 longshot Bran.

William Pascrell III became the first person at Monmouth Park to make a fixed-odds wager, plunking down $50 on Glider to win the Long Branch Stakes May 7.

​Seven fillies and mares, including multiple stakes winner Lorena, are set to race in the CA$150,000 Whimsical Stakes (G3) at Woodbine May 8. The Whimsical is a six-furlong dash over the track's synthetic Tapeta surface.

First Matareya called her shot with a quick bounce back out of her previous race; then she delivered May 6 with a 2 1/4-length victory in the $500,000 Eight Belles Stakes Presented by TwinSpires (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Back with females after a third-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (G1), Briland Farm's Secret Oath swooped past the field with a second-turn rally for a two-length win in the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 6 at Churchill Downs.

Marc Detampel's New Year's Eve picked up the first graded win of her career May 6 at Churchill Downs when she turned in an explosive late run in the Edgewood Stakes Presented by Forcht Bank (G2T).

Dual group 1 winner Shout The Bar, sold for an Inglis Chairman's Sale record price of AU$2.7 million (US$1,909,341) May 6, will be among a star studded cohort of elite mares bound for Coolmore's prized first season sire Home Affairs later this year.

In the first of a two-part interview that aired May 6, Baffert contested the notion that betamethasone, the drug Medina Spirit tested positive for via a corticosteroid ointment called Otomax, had any impact on the race.

When owner LNJ Foxwoods and trainer Bill Mott team up beneath the Twin Spires, particularly before a packed house, the highlights just keep coming.

Cassie Dempsey will make history May 7 when the Ohio native becomes what is believed to be the first woman to participate on the Churchill Downs starting crew for the Kentucky Derby (G1).

The jury of eight men and four women in U.S. District Court in New York returned the verdict after less than two hours of deliberations spanning two days. As part of their verdict, the jury agreed that Giannelli's intent was to defraud and mislead.

Stonestreet Stables' homebred Pauline's Pearl made the second grade 1 start of her career a winning one when she edged past 2020 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Shedaresthedevil late to take the La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs.