Horse named after Kentucky Wildcat eyes Churchill Downs after Keeneland debut
LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — When you think of Kentucky, three things tend to pop into your mind: bourbon, basketball, and horse racing. Two of those worlds collided in a local two-year-old colt named 'Brea From Three.'
'Koby has been my favorite player all year long,' owner Kelly Colliver said. 'He really shows what it means to wear that Kentucky jersey, and I wanted to honor him in some sort of way and named the horse because of him.'
Horse named after Kentucky Wildcat eyes Churchill Downs after Keeneland debut
Road to the Kentucky Derby: Female jockeys challenge odds, fight for right to ride
Born to race: The Ortiz brothers reflect on their careers ahead of 151st Kentucky Derby
Colliver is a lifelong horse racing and UK basketball fan who is one of the owners of Brea From Three. She first got into the business two decades ago with Brea's granddam, and now she's overseeing the next generation.
'You know, there's a lot of ups and downs in the business, but it's the love of the horse that brings me back every time,' Colliver said. 'Whether they're running in a stakes race or claiming race, I still get very attached to the horses themselves. And Brea is no different. He's my baby'.
Brea From Three debuted last month in a Keeneland maiden race, finishing 5th. Despite the result, trainer John Ennis, there's still plenty to like from the thoroughbred sired by Classic Empire.
Woman killed after Clinton County crash; 4 injured
What horses are running in the Kentucky Oaks? Here's the latest on post positions, odds
Honoring the forgotten fillies: Derby mint juleps support retired mares at Our Mims Haven
'He has a good attitude, he's super athletic, and hopefully we can't look into his heart, but hopefully he has a big one.' Ennis said. 'We'll get him back, put him back on the training program, and we'll shoot for Churchill in the summer.'
Koby Brea isn't the first Kentucky Wildcat to find his name in a horse racing program. There was 'Snell Yeah,' named after former UK running back Benny Snell, back in 2019, and 'Tshiebwe,' named after the Naismith trophy winner, Oscar Tshiebwe, in 2022.
Koby Brea has been busy training for the 2025 NBA Draft, but the prolific shooter says he's honored, appreciative and will be watching the career of Brea From Three with a keen eye.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
14 minutes ago
- USA Today
Nets' Cam Johnson reacts to Knicks firing HC Tom Thibodeau
Nets' Cam Johnson reacts to Knicks firing HC Tom Thibodeau Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson has been on vacation for awhile with the Nets not making the postseason in any capacity following a 26-56 record in the 2024-25 regular-season. While Johnson is no doubt working on his game to be a better player for Brooklyn next season, he is also lending his voice on important NBA topics, including the New York Knicks firing head coach Tom Thibodeau. "It's kind of crazy to say this, but the initial thought now is not really shock," Johnson said during his recent appearance on "The Young Man and The Three" when asked by host Tommy Alter about the Knicks firing Thibodeau. ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that the Knicks fired Thibodeau despite leading the team to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. "I guess he kind of adds to complete that every coach of the year, from '18 to '23 has kind of found degrees of success," Johnson continued. "Kind of in the midst of it, being let go, but you kind of got to look at it from a team-building perspective. That team is a really good roster, and they're really close. So, I guess maybe ownership, front-office is just looking at it like, What can get us over the hump? I guess that's the best solution they had." As Johnson alluded to in his reaction, Thibodeau continues a line of coaches that have been fired recently despite either having good track records in their career or with their team having a good record. Since the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign, Thibodeau joins Mike Brown, Taylor Jenkins, Mike Malone, and Mike Budenholzer as the coaches that were shown the door. While Thibodeau had his flaws when it came to distributing minutes amongst his rotation and adapting to adjustments made by opposing teams in real-time, he still took the Knicks farther than they had been in a quarter-century. Johnson, who is paying attention to the NBA outside of his involvement with the Nets, understands that Thibodeau may have needed to go, but also sees that the Knicks may be close enough that a coaching change could be all that is needed for New York to get to the Finals eventually.
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Aaron Judge shares update on home run derby participation
Aaron Judge shares update on home run derby participation originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It's been the same story for years now. Aaron Judge may be the most prolific home run hitter we've seen in decades, but the New York Yankees slugger is not interested in participating in the Home Run Derby -- unless the event comes to Yankee Stadium. Advertisement Newsday beat writer Erik Boland confirmed Judge's stance on Thursday as All-Star voting began. New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge takes batting practice. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images 'Same answer,' Judge told Boland when asked if he'd participate in the 2025 Derby. Judge's reluctance isn't new, and it's based on a selfless reason. He won the 2017 Home Run Derby in Miami, but since then, he's chosen to skip the event to focus on staying fresh for the regular season. Following that 2017 Home Run Derby win, Judge acknowledged it exacerbated a shoulder injury he suffered crashing into the wall a few weeks earlier. He needed surgery on the shoulder after the season. Participating in the Derby can add extra wear and tear in the middle of a grueling schedule. For Judge, it's about protecting his body and prioritizing the team's success over personal accolades. Advertisement This decision feeds into his reputation as a no-nonsense player who puts the Yankees first. Remember, in 2023, Judge declined an invite to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic because it was the first year of his new contract with the Yankees, and he didn't think it would be fair to take away from the team. This year, however, Judge has announced he will captain Team USA in 2026. While fans may wish to see him swing for the fences in the Derby, Judge has not changed his mind. Related: A Red Sox Hall of Famer Calls Aaron Judge a Model for Baseball's Future Related: Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton Update Lowers Fan Expectations This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
36 minutes ago
- USA Today
NBA analyst projects Tre Johnson as top-five pick in 2025 NBA draft
NBA analyst projects Tre Johnson as top-five pick in 2025 NBA draft Texas Longhorns standout Tre Johnson is expected to be among the first names called at Barclays Center on June 25. As the NBA calendar turns to June, the league's spotlight shifts to the NBA Finals and the upcoming NBA Draft, where former Texas Longhorns standout Tre Johnson is expected to be among the first names called at Barclays Center on June 25. NBA analyst Kevin O'Connor, in his latest mock draft for Yahoo Sports, projects Johnson to be selected fifth overall by the Utah Jazz, describing him as a 'clutch shot-maker who can catch fire from all over the floor, drilling step-backs and off-screen jumpers with ease." O'Connor noted that Utah's league-worst 17-win season makes Johnson, a proven scoring guard, a logical fit regardless of the Jazz's current roster construction. Johnson, 19, capped his freshman season at Texas by averaging 19.9 points per game on 42.7% shooting from the field and 39.7% from three-point range, earning Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year honors. He accounted for nearly a quarter of Texas' total points and more than a third of the team's made three-pointers, showcasing both volume and efficiency as a scorer1. Johnson also broke Kevin Durant's Texas freshman scoring record with a 39-point performance against Arkansas. Measuring 6-foot-4.75 with a 6-foot-10.25 wingspan at the NBA Draft Combine, Johnson is seen as a versatile guard capable of fitting into a variety of NBA lineups. His draft range is projected between the fourth and eighth picks, with teams such as the Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, New Orleans Pelicans, and Brooklyn Nets also in play. In a recent interview on 'The KOC Show,' Johnson expressed his willingness to adapt to any role his future team requires, whether as a primary ball-handler or a versatile shooter. 'I feel like it could go either way… whatever the team needs to win. It could also change night to night,' Johnson said. While Johnson's outside shooting is widely regarded as NBA-ready, he acknowledged that feedback from the NBA Combine emphasized finishing stronger at the rim. 'They want me to dunk more,' Johnson told O'Connor, adding that his athleticism was on display in Chicago and that he's focused on translating it into more aggressive finishes in games. Johnson's combination of scoring ability, adaptability, and work ethic has made him one of the most attractive prospects in this year's draft. He is expected to make his professional debut at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas next month, with Utah currently forecast as his likely landing spot.
