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Derby Week. Doug O’Neill returns for another Derby. Shug McGaughey aims for his first. Bob Baffert sits one out. Todd Pletcher unfurls a handful. Gary Stevens is back. John Velazquez is back. Lines Of Battle landed. Verrazano is undefeated in four starts. Revolutionary has won three in a row. Normandy Invasion is brewing. No horse has trained better than Orb.
It’s down to days for the Kentucky Derby, as 20 horses aim at flat racing’s greatest prize. And it was certainly down to years in the Maryland Hunt Cup, as 14-year-old Professor Maxwell won the timber classic. Black Quartz upset Alajmal and Mr. Hot Stuff at Queen’s Cup. Dave Carroll raided Pimlico with Abstraction, who showed moxie to win the Federico Tesio (nice to see the name restored). Here’s your here and There for Monday, April 29.
Hall of Famers Mike Smith, Bob Baffert – and Joe Torre – plundered Charles Town, taking the Charles Town Classic with Game On Dude. Al Stall continued his detour of the Derby with Departing, taking the Illinois Derby. In steeplechasing, perennial leading owner Irv Naylor returned to the top of the standings with stellar days at Middleburg and the Grand National. Here’s your Here and There for Tuesday, April 23.
It was another wild week in Thoroughbred racing. Horse of the Year Wise Dan returned energetically and victoriously, Todd Pletcher bolstered his Derby roster, Ken McPeek created his, Maya Charli upset the Atlanta feature and Moonsox upset the Manor. Here’s your Here & There for Monday, April 15. Pay your taxes because you have to, read this because you want to…
Big week in Thoroughbred racing. Here’s your Here and There, from Keeneland to Aqueduct, Camden to Monkton.
