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By Ed McNamara The gates opened for the Kentucky Oaks, and within seconds John Velazquez had to abandon Plan A. “The strategy was to break well and get a good position,” he said. “When that didn’t happen, we had to change it right away.” Velazquez didn’t panic when 5-2 favorite Malathaat came out a step slow and got jostled around three strides into the race. “I was concerned,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I thought Johnny made a key decision to quickly get her in position after that. He had to lose some ground and go wide to do it, but

By Mike Farrell Oh no, Bob. Say it ain’t so. Unfortunately, we’ve already heard you say it again, and again and again. The last thing racing needed was another Bob Baffert medication infraction. That’s exactly what we got, casting another unsavory shadow over the biggest event: the Kentucky Derby (G1). Medina Spirit, the front-running winner of the Derby trained by Baffert, was positive in the post-race testing for betamethasone, a regulated anti-inflammatory. Baffert offered a full-throated defense of himself and his operation, calling it “an injustice to the horse” on Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. And it’s also a black

By Ed McNamara Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit faces possible disqualification because of a drug positive. Bob Baffert, America’s most prominent trainer, could be denied his record-breaking seventh win in our national race. A Churchill Downs statement said, “given the seriousness of the alleged offense, it will immediately suspend Bob Baffert from entering any horses.” Which calls to mind a line from the Derby’s beloved anthem: “Then my old Kentucky home, good night.” Baffert announced Sunday morning that Medina Spirit’s postrace sample from the May 1 Derby showed traces of the regulated anti-inflammatory betamethasone, a corticosteroid. Betamethasone is a commonly

In the days leading up to the 146th running of the $1 million Preakness Stakes (G1), usracing.com is profiling the contenders. The 1 3/16-mile second leg of the Triple Crown is May 15. Profiles will be updated with post positions and odds following the draw on Monday, May 10. By Ed McNamara For the second straight year, Bob Baffert won the Kentucky Derby (G1) with a horse who early on wasn’t considered his best 3-year-old. John Velazquez replicated his ride on 8-1 shot Authentic last fall with 12-1 Medina Spirit, who also led throughout 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs.

In the days leading up to the 146th running of the $1 million Preakness Stakes (G1), usracing.com is profiling the contenders. The 1 3/16-mile second leg of the Triple Crown is May 15. Profiles will be updated with post positions and odds following the draw on Monday, May 10. By Richard Rosenblatt Trainer Chad Brown’s one and only victory in a Triple Crown race came in the 2017 Preakness (G1), when Cloud Computing won by a head over Classic Empire at 13-1 odds. The four-time Eclipse Award winning conditioner is back for another shot with Crowded Trade (and Risk Taking),

In the days leading up to the 146th running of the $1 million Preakness Stakes (G1), usracing.com is profiling the contenders. The 1 3/16-mile second leg of the Triple Crown is May 15. Profiles will be updated with post positions and odds following the draw early next week. By Ed McNamara This Japan-based colt has one of the most unusual names in Triple Crown history, so he’ll draw attention for that. To get to Pimlico he took two flights covering about 7,900 miles (Japan to Los Angeles to Newark) before a four-hour van ride. He hasn’t run since racing sixth