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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
George Weaver Eyes Woody Stephens For Promising Lafayette Winner Colloquial
Harrell Ventures and Starlight Racing's promising stakes winner Colloquial worked five furlongs in 1:03.25 on Thursday over Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma dirt training track in preparation for the $500,000 Woody Stephens (G1) on June 7 at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Trained by George Weaver, the son of his dual Grade 1 winner Vekoma was last seen winning the seven-furlong Lafayette (L) on April 7 at Keeneland. There, he showed a new dimension when setting the pace after two solid efforts from off-the-pace, including an eye-catching local seven-length graduation sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at second asking that garnered a 106 Beyer Speed Figure. Advertisement The 2 1/4-length Lafayette saw him earn an 88 Beyer, the same number he earned on debut last June when a nose second to subsequent graded stakes winner Mentee in a track record-setting performance. 'We've been happy with him,' Weaver said. 'We've been waiting for this race for a long time, and now we're getting close.' Weaver said the chestnut's versatility is the mark of a top-level horse. 'Good horses are [versatile], and they can adjust to situations,' Weaver said. 'He's talented, so luckily he's good enough to have that versatility. I don't think he's tied to any one way of running. I'm sure this will be a competitive race, but I wouldn't trade places with anybody.' Advertisement Colloquial is one of several candidates for Weaver at this year's Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The veteran conditioner also has Dorth Vader, Sacred Wish, and Soontobeking nominated to races during the five-day Festival. John Ropes' Grade 2 winner Dorth Vader was a troubled fourth last out in the La Troienne (G1) on May 2 at Churchill Downs, enduring a bumpy trip into the first turn while running in third position under John Velazquez. She went on to finish just 1 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Raging Sea with just a head and three-quarter-lengths separating the minor awards between Taxed, Randomized and Dorth Vader. Weaver said Dorth Vader is likely being pointed to the $500,000 Ogden Phipps (G1) on June 6, which offers a 'Win and You're In' berth into the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) in November at Del Mar. 'She had horse and was running the whole way, and it was pretty tight in the first turn,' Weaver said. 'She was on the rail and [Randomized] stopped her progress. We're just hoping for a good, clean trip [in the Phipps].' Advertisement Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher Dunn and Anthony Spinazzola's Grade 1 winner Sacred Wish was a last-out seventh – defeated just 2 1/2-lengths – in the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on May 3 at Churchill Downs. The 5-year-old Not This Time mare has been a model of consistency, currently holding a 14-for-20 in-the-money record that includes a Grade 1 triumph in last year's Matriarch at Del Mar, and over $1.1 million in earnings. Weaver said the dark bay, who worked a half-mile in 51.25 seconds yesterday over the Oklahoma dirt, has been nominated to the Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game on June 5 at the Festival, but he is unsure if that will be her next start. 'We'll see how her next work goes,' Weaver said. 'We're kind of up in the air about her next start.' Advertisement Our Blue Streaks Stable and SGV Thoroughbreds' consistent New York homebred Soontobeking is targeting the $200,000 Mike Lee for state-bred sophomores on the June 4 Opening Day of the Festival. Co-owned by Weaver, the son of King for a Day has put together a respectable 12-3-3-4 record with $363,428 in earnings, led by a stakes triumph in the state-bred Gander on March 8 at Aqueduct Racetrack. 'We're looking forward to seeing him again,' Weaver said of the colt whose last effort was a runner-up finish in the NYSSS Times Square on April 13 at Aqueduct. 'You appreciate the horses that always show up, and he does. He just overcomes with try.' Beyond the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, Weaver is eyeing a return next month to Royal Ascot, where he won the Group 2 Queen Mary in 2023 with Crimson Advocate. This year, Weaver is hopeful he'll be represented by two juveniles for owner Dew Sweepers in stakes winner Sandal's Song and maiden-winning New York-bred Tough Critic. Advertisement 'It's a hard thing to get done,' Weaver said of winning at the prestigious meeting. 'It's hard to win over there, even when you have the right horse – they run big fields, and you have to ship a long ways. It makes it exciting to do it, and hopefully everything goes smoothly and they run their race.' Sandal's Song looks to follow the path of Crimson Advocate after a stylish debut graduation in the five-furlong Royal Palm Juvenile by 1 1/2 lengths with a stalk-and-pounce trip engineered by Luca Panici. The Mendelssohn chestnut, who was a $75,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, overcame a hop at the start to sit off the pace down the backstretch and responded kindly into the lane to draw off to the victory in a final time of 56.30 seconds. Weaver said Sandal's Song is likely pointing towards the Norfolk (G2) for juveniles sprinting five furlongs on June 19. 'They've only had that race [the Royal Palm Juvenile] for the last couple of years, and we've been fortunate enough to get horses that have a chance to compete in it,' Weaver said of the race that awarded Sandal's Song a $25,000 equine travel stipend for Royal Ascot. Advertisement The New York-bred Tough Critic was also impressive in his debut, taking a 5 1/2-furlong maiden on April 24 at Keeneland by 1 1/4 lengths with a deep-closing trip under Eclipse Award-winning rider Flavien Prat. The $350,000 Keeneland April Horses of Racing Age Sale purchase is by Caravaggio and is out of is out of the Invincible Spirit mare Thatchit, a half-sister to 2009 Norfolk winner Radiohead. Weaver said Tough Critic is being considered for the six-furlong Coventry (G2) on June 17 or the five-furlong Windsor Castle (L) on June 18.
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Preakness Stakes 2025: Updated odds Friday before the race
Preakness Stakes 2025: Updated odds Friday before the race We are just one day away from the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore and the only constant amid the preparations appears to be the rain soaking the track. That'll likely be the case up until post time for Saturday's second leg of the Triple Crown. Unfortunately, Kentucky Derby champion Sovereignty is skipping this weekend's festivities, taking some of the intrigue out of the race. The good news is there is still a ton of star power in the nine-horse field. WHAT'S IN A NAME? Every wacky and whimsical 2025 Preakness horse name, ranked Infamous trainer Bob Baffert has found himself on the rail again with Goal Oriented while Kentucky Derby favorite — and now Preakness favorite — Journalism slots into gate No. 2. A third of the Preakness field ran the Kentucky Derby. We'll see how much that quick turnaround impacts Saturday's main event. Post time at Pimlico is set for 6:50 p.m. ET. 1. Goal Oriented Friday Odds: 6-1 Morning Line Odds: 6-1 Trainer: Bob Baffert Jockey: Flavien Prat Owner(s): SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables 2. Journalism Friday Odds: 8-5 Morning Line Odds: 8-5 Trainer: Michael W. McCarthy Jockey: Umberto Rispoli Owner(s): Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, Robert LaPenta 3. American Promise Friday Odds: 15-1 Morning Line Odds: 15-1 Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas Jockey: Nik Juarez Owner(s): BC Stables LLC 4. Heart Of Honor Friday Odds: 12-1 Morning Line Odds: 12-1 Trainer: Jamie Osborne Jockey: Saffie Osborne Owner(s): Jim and Claire Limited 5. Pay Billy Friday Odds: 20-1 Morning Line Odds: 20-1 Trainer: Michael Gorham Jockey: Raul Mena Owner(s): RKTN Racing LLC 6. River Thames Friday Odds: 9-2 Morning Line Odds: 9-2 Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Owner(s): Winstar Farm LLC, CHC Inc., Pantofeel Stable LLC, Wachtel Stable 7. Sandman Friday Odds: 4-1 Morning Line Odds: 4-1 Trainer: Mark E. Casse Jockey: John Velazquez Owner(s): D.J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, CJ Stables 8. Clever Again Friday Odds: 4-1 Morning Line Odds: 4-1 Trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Jose Ortiz Owner(s): Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith 9. Gosger Friday Odds: 20-1 Morning Line Odds: 20-1 Trainer: Brendan Walsh Jockey: Luis Saez Owner(s): Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables, LLC
Associated Press
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
2025 Preakness Odds
At Pimlico Race Course Baltimore Field for Saturday's 150th Preakness, with post position, horse's name, jockey's name and current odds: Trainers (by post position): 1. Bob Baffert; 2. Michael McCarthy; 3. D. Wayne Lukas; 4. Jamie Osborne; 5. Michael Gorham; 6. Todd Pletcher, 7. Mark Casse, 8. Steve Asmussen; 9. Brendan Walsh. Owners (by post position): 1. SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC; 2. Eclipse Thoroughbred Parterns, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable; Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith; 3. BC Stables LLC; 4. Jim and Claire Limited; 5. RKTN Racing LLC; 6. Winstar Farm LLC, CHC INC, Pantofel Stable LLC, Wachtel Stable; 7. D.J. Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, CJ Stable; 8. Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith; 9. Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables LLC. Weights: 126 pounds. Distance: 1 3/16 miles. Purse: $2,000,000. First place: $1,200,000. Second place: $400,000. Third place: $220,000. Fourth place: $120,000. Fifth place: $60,000. Post time: 7:01 p.m. EDT Field for Saturday's 150th Preakness, with post position, horse's name, jockey's name and current odds:
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Citizen Bull trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse
Citizen Bull trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse Show Caption Hide Caption Watch 2025 Kentucky Derby contender Citizen Bull train at Churchill Downs 2025 Kentucky Derby contender Citizen Bull is trained by Bob Baffert. The horse is 4-0-1 in six career starts with $1,451,000 in earnings. Citizen Bull will enter the Kentucky Derby off a fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby Citizen Bull was the 2-year-old champion after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in November at 15-1 odds Citizen Bull is one of 20 horses expected to enter the 2025 Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs. Spots for the Run for the Roses are earned by gaining points through a series of Kentucky Derby prep races that began last September. The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, April 26. Post time for the Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. Citizen Bull will enter the Kentucky Derby off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5. He currently ranks 10th on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 71.25. Color: Bay. Bred in: Kentucky. Sire: Into Mischief. Dam: No Joke, by Distorted Humor. Price tag: $675,000 at 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Owners: SF Racing (Gavin Murphy); Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf); Madaket Stables (Sol Kumin); Stonestreet Stables (Barbara Banke); Dianne Bashor; Determined Stables (Matt Dorman); Robert Masterson; Tom Ryan; Waves Edge Capital (Gregg Slager); Catherine Donovan. Madaket and Starlight were co-owners of 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. The majority of this group teamed on Messier (15th in 2022) and Reincarnate (13th in 2023). Kumin and Wolf were co-owners of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. Trainer: Bob Baffert. He's 6 for 34 in the Derby, tied with Ben Jones for the most victories by any trainer. His last win came with Authentic in 2020. Jockey: Martin Garcia. He's 0 for 4 in the Derby, best finish coming with Dortmund (third) in 2015. Record: 4-0-1 in six starts. Career earnings: $1,451,000. Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 71.25 (No. 10). Last race: Fourth in Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5. Running style: Front-runner. Notes: Citizen Bull was the 2-year-old champion after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last November at Del Mar at 15-1 odds. The last Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner to capture the Run for the Roses was Nyquist (2015-16). … Citizen Bull won his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes on Feb. 1 at Santa Anita before his fourth-place showing in the Santa Anita Derby. … Baffert is set to return to the Kentucky Derby for the first time since 2021. He was suspended three years following the disqualification of Medina Spirit from the 2021 Kentucky Derby. What they're saying: 'I was discouraged (Citizen Bull) didn't get the win today,' Baffert said after the Santa Anita Derby. 'He got tired. He's a heavy horse. The track was deep today. We will figure this out.' Last May, NBC Sports announced a partnership with Churchill Downs to present the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock through 2032. The extension includes multiplatform rights to the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Derby and Oaks Day programming, which will be presented on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and additional NBCU platforms. You can stream the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Fubo and Peacock. Post time for the 151st Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. More Kentucky Derby: Five things to know about 2025 field as draw approaches April 26 Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@ Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kentucky Derby 2025: Updated odds Friday before the race
Kentucky Derby 2025: Updated odds Friday before the race The 2025 Kentucky Derby will no longer feature a full field. On Thursday afternoon, the Bob Baffert trained Rodriguez was scratched out of the No. 4 position. On Friday morning, Todd Pletcher's Grande was scratched out of the No. 10 spot. While Baeza drew into the starting gate after Rodriguez withdrew, we're still down to 19 horses competing in the Run for the Roses. Still, Journalism remains the strong favorite despite all the movement this this week. Here's a look at the updated odds one day before Churchill Downs' biggest event of the year. Post time for the 151st Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. 1. Citizen Bull Friday Odds: 14-1 Thursday Odds: 17-1 Morning Line Odds: 20-1 Trainer: Bob Baffert Jockey: Martin Garcia Owner(s): SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables 2. Neoequos Friday Odds: 48-1 Thursday Odds: 56-1 Morning Line Odds: 30-1 Trainer: Joseph Saffie Jr. Jockey: Edgard Zayas Owner(s): C2 Racing Stable, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables, Stefania Farms LLC 3. Final Gambit Friday Odds: 15-1 Thursday Odds: 18-1 Morning Line Odds: 30-1 Trainer: Brad H. Cox Jockey: Luan Machado Owner(s): Juddmonte 4. Rodriguez (SCRATCHED) Thursday Odds: 9-1 Morning Line Odds: 12-1 Trainer: Bob Baffert Jockey: Mike Smith Owner(s): SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Determined Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital 5. American Promise Friday Odds: 12-1 Thursday Odds: 13-1 Morning Line Odds: 30-1 Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas Jockey: Nik Juarez Owner(s): BC Stables LLC 6. Admire Daytona (JPN) Friday Odds: 38-1 Thursday Odds: 40-1 Morning Line Odds: 30-1 Trainer: Yukihiro Kat Jockey: TBD Owner(s): Junko Kondo 7. Luxor Cafe Friday Odds: 12-1 Thursday Odds: 14-1 Morning Line Odds: 15-1 Trainer: Noriyuki Hori Jockey: TBD Owner(s): Koichi Nishikawa 8. Journalism Friday Odds: 7-2 Thursday Odds: 4-1 Morning Line Odds: 3-1 Trainer: Michael W. McCarthy Jockey: Umberto Rispoli Owner(s): Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, Robert LaPenta 9. Burnham Square Friday Odds: 16-1 Thursday Odds: 19-1 Morning Line Odds: 12-1 Trainer: Ian R. Wilkes Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr. Owner(s): Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC. 10. Grande (SCRATCHED) Thursday Odds: 18-1 Morning Line Odds: 20-1 Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Dylan Davis Owner(s): Repole Stable 11. Flying Mohawk Friday Odds: 33-1 Thursday Odds: 35-1 Morning Line Odds: 30-1 Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman Jockey: Joseph Ramos Owner(s): Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing, Kaleta Racing 12. East Avenue Friday Odds: 33-1 Thursday Odds: 33-1 Morning Line Odds: 20-1 Trainer: Brendan P. Walsh Jockey: Luan Machado Owner(s): Godolphin LLC 13. Publisher Friday Odds: 28-1 Thursday Odds: 29-1 Morning Line Odds: 20-1 Trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Flavien Prat Owner(s): Gus King and Estate of Jones C. Brereton 14. Tiztastic Friday Odds: 17-1 Thursday Odds: 20-1 Morning Line Odds: 20-1 Trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Joel Rosario Owner(s): Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC. 15. Render Judgment Friday Odds: 12-1 Thursday Odds: 13-1 Morning Line Odds: 30-1 Trainer: Kenneth McPeek Jockey: Sheldon Russell Owner(s): Baccari Racing Stable, Dream Walkin Farms, MJM Racing, Rocket Ship Racing 16. Coal Battle Friday Odds: 27-1 Thursday Odds: 29-1 Morning Line Odds: 30-1 Trainer: Lonnie Briley Jockey: Juan Vargas Owner(s): Norman Stables LLC. 17. Sandman Friday Odds: 9-2 Thursday Odds: 5-1 Morning Line Odds: 6-1 Trainer: Mark E. Casse Jockey: Jose Ortiz Owner(s): D.J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, CJ Stables 18. Sovereignty Friday Odds: 9-1 Thursday Odds: 10-1 Morning Line Odds: 5-1 Trainer: William Mott Jockey: Manuel Franco Owner(s): Godolphin 19. Chunk Of Gold Friday Odds: 29-1 Thursday Odds: 35-1 Morning Line Odds: 30-1 Trainer: Ethan West Jockey: Jareth Loveberry Owner(s): Terry Stephens 20. Owen Almighty Friday Odds: 38-1 Thursday Odds: 43-1 Morning Line Odds: 30-1 Trainer: Brian Lynch Jockey: Jose Ortiz Owner(s): Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing 21. Baeza Friday Odds: 21-1 Thursday Odds: 43-1 Morning Line Odds: 12-1 Trainer: John A. Shirreffs Jockey: Hector Berrios Owner(s): C R K Stable LLC and Grandview Equine
