Big Brown is a breeze closer the Kentucky Derby after a five-furlong move Friday in 1:00.60 at Palm Meadows training center, his second work since a win in the Florida Derby. “It was just what I was looking for. It was basic…nothing special,” said trainer Rick Dutrow. “We don’t need to squeeze the lemon...

HEY BYRN (Put It Back), an impressive two-time allowance winner at Gulfstream Park prior to a fourth in the Florida Derby (G1), is clearly the one to beat in Saturday's $150,000 Holy Bull S. (G3). Trained by Ed Plesa Jr., Hey Byrn will stretch out to 1 3/16 miles while wheeling back off a two-week...

Grade 2 hero SMOOTH AIR (Smooth Jazz) couldn't gain ground on favored Big Brown (Boundary) in the stretch of Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park, but the bay colt performed well enough to stamp his ticket to the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 3. read more

We now know this much about Big Brown. :22.76, 45.83, 1:10.08, 1:35:18, 1:48.16 A horse capable of running nine furlongs on the lead at this pace in his third career start while leaving those who chased early reeling and widening his lead to five lengths in the last furlong is by any measure a serious...

IEAH Stables et al's BIG BROWN (Boundary) came into the Florida Derby (G1) inexperienced and untested from two career outings, but left as one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby (G1) after posting a superb, five-length tour-de-force at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. read more

There is more going on at Gulfstream Park on Saturday than the Florida Derby. Backseat Rhythm has her trainer very confident ahead of her first stakes engagement of 2008 as the daughter of El Corredor heads into the $150,000 Bonnie Miss Stakes – the Kentucky Oaks prep on the undercard of Saturday’s Florida...

Beat the favorite? This may be the spot Big Brown, officially anointed horse-of-the moment after two starts, both lengthy victories six months apart on different surfaces and in soft spots, is the overnight favorite to win the Grade I Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream despite having drawn the outside...

Is anyone out there looking forward to the much Florida Derby as much as I am? The way I see it, it is the most intriguing and important Kentucky Derby prep of the year. I love the fact that there are so many plot lines: Will Elysium Fields improve upon his terrific runner-up performance in the Fountain...

While nothing has been accomplished in Albany since news of the Hookergate scandal that resulted in Wednesday’s widely applauded resignation of soon-to-be ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer broke on Monday, New York Racing Association president Charles Hayward said he expects the changing of the guard to have no...

Hutcheson S. (G2) winner SMOOTH AIR (Smooth Jazz) will make his next start in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on March 29, according to trainer Bennie Stutts Jr. The bay colt most recently finished a close third in the Sam F. Davis S. on February 16 at Tampa Bay Downs. Smooth Air worked one mile in...