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The Triple Crown Game 2024
 ↬ JADE - TTCG is back! April 29th, 2024 6:45:55pm 3,801 Posts |
 The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, commonly known as the Triple Crown, is a series of US-based horse races for three-year-old thoroughbreds. It consists of the Kentucky Derby (held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY), Preakness Stakes (held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD), and Belmont Stakes (held at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY). The three Triple Crown races have attracted over 4,200 entrants since they were established. Justify was the last horse to win all three races and achieve the Triple Crown in 2018. Secretariat holds the fastest speed records for each of the Triple Crown races, the Kentucky Derby (1:59 2/5), the Preakness Stakes (1:53), and the Belmont Stakes (2:24).  Welcome back for another year of TTCG! This event has been hosted by me almost every year since it was established in 2012. I genuinely look forward to running this event for the community. PREAKNESS STAKES: 5/13 THROUGH 5/18 6:00 PM EST BELMONT STAKES: 6/3 THROUGH 6/8 6:00 PM EST  To participate in TTCG, you will need to purchase draws for each race. Each draw will assign one horse to you at random using a generator. You can have a total of three draws per race. Draws can only be purchased once their respective race is imminent, typically a week before the race will run (see the tentative dates listed above). I.E. When I post a reply to this thread stating that the Kentucky Derby draws are open, you can send the HPD to #113 for 1-3 draws for the Derby, depending on how many you would like. You can repeat this process when draws open for the next race. There are three races in total. DRAW 2: 15 MIL DRAW 3: 20 MIL If you are a newer player (joined in the past twelve months), you are eligible for a 75% discount on your draws! You can view your join date on your home page. ALL FUNDS RECEIVED ARE ADDED TO THE JACKPOT FOR THE RESPECTIVE RACE. THE JACKPOT IS AWARDED AS PART OF MANY PRIZES FOR THE WINNERS. Every jackpot will automatically begin at 300mil (provided by me). 1. Blitz sends 20mil to #113 for a Draw 3 for the Kentucky Derby.  IF YOUR HORSE WINS FIRST PLACE:
PLEASE GIVE THEM ALL THE LOVE IN THE WORLD FOR HELPING MAKE TTCG A SUPER REWARDING EVENT!  |
↬ JADE - TTCG is back! April 29th, 2024 6:46:09pm 3,801 Posts |
 DRAWS CAN BE PURCHASED UNTIL 5/18/2022 6:00 PM EST. DONATORS (3X PARTICIPATION RAFFLE ENTRIES): PARTICIPANT RAFFLE ENTRY LIST: |
↬ JADE - TTCG is back! April 29th, 2024 6:47:26pm 3,801 Posts |
 DRAWS CAN BE PURCHASED UNTIL 5/4/2024 6:00 PM EST.  Post positions were drawn for the Kentucky Derby on Satuday 4/27. Traditionally this draw takes place the Monday before, but the draw was held a full week ahead of the race this year. If you would like to watch this process take place, you can view the video here on Youtube. This draw finalizes who will be participating and determines which position each horse will start from. This can be very important in determining how well a horse will run the race. For more information on the importantance of post position, click here! Morning-line (starting) odds for the race are announced shortly after the draw. Here are the positions and morning-line odds as of Saturday.  Post time for the race is set for approximately 5/4/2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:57 PM EST. This is when the horses will begin making their way to the gate to start the race. You can watch the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4th from 12:00 to 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Full coverage is also available on NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports app and Pea.  WHAT IS THE LENGTH OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY? The Derby is 1¼ miles or 10 furlongs. A furlong is a racing term that refers to an eighth of a mile. WHAT DAY IS THE KENTUCKY DERBY HELD EACH YEAR? The Kentucky Derby has been held every year since 1875 and has been staged on the first Saturday in May every year since 1946, with two exceptions. The 1945 Derby was held June 9 because of World War II and the 2020 Kentucky Derby was held Sept. 5 after it was moved over fears of the coronavirus pandemic. WHO CAN RUN IN THE KENTUCKY DERBY? Only 3-year-old Thoroughbreds can qualify for the Kentucky Derby. Eligible horses compete in the "Road to the Kentucky Derby", a series of 35 races around the world. Horses win points for finishing in the top four spots, and the 20 horses with the most points at the end of the series gain the right to enter into the Derby. The point system was first implemented for the 2013 running. WHAT IS THE KENTUCKY OAKS RACE? The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for 3-year-old Thoroughbred fillies that takes place on the Friday that precedes the Derby. CAN A FILLY RUN IN THE KENTUCKY DERBY? In the past 20 years, only two fillies have competed in the Kentucky Derby: Eight Belles, who finished second in 2008, and Devil May Care, who was 10th in 2010. In 2013, the Derby unveiled a new qualifying system, in which horses earned points with top-four performances in stakes races. As fillies are not typically run with colts, none have qualified for the Derby since the current points system came into effect in 2013. Among the 40 fillies to run, Regret (1915), Genuine Risk (1980) and Winning Colors (1988) were Derby winners. HOW MUCH DOES THE KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER GET? The total purse for the Kentucky Derby is up to $5 million for the 2024 race, representing a $2 million raise from the 2023 purse. The winner will take home $3.1 million, up from $1.86 million in 2023. Second place will earn $1 million, third will earn $500,000, fourth will earn $250,000 and fifth will earn $150,000.  01. Nineteen past winners have had names beginning with the letter "S," including Secretariat, the fastest horse in Kentucky Derby history, who completed the 1973 race in just under two minutes. 02. Only three horses raced in the 1892 Kentucky Derby. 03. The traditional drink of the Derby is the mint julep, and over 120,000 are said to be consumed at the race each year. 04. The youngest jockey to win the esteemed race, Alonzo "Lonnie" Clayton, was just 15 come derby day in 1892. Bill Shoemaker continues to hold the title as the oldest winner; he was 54 when he took home the 1986 title. 05. The Derby is also referred to as 'The Run for the Roses' because the winner is awarded a blanket sewn with over 400 roses post-race. This blanket weighs about 40 lbs. 06. Diane Crump was the first woman jockey to ever ride in the Derby; there has yet to be a female winner, but Shelley Riley came the closest in 1992 when she came in second.. 07. The Derby has never been cancelled or postponed due to inclement weather. 08. The Kentucky Derby was started by Lewis Clark Jr.—grandson of William Clark, half of the famous explorer duo Lewis and Clark—after he saw England's Epsom Derby. 09. The race was first televised in 1952. 10. No horse has ever won from post position 17, and the last time gate 17 produced a horse that even finished in the top five was 2005. 11. The Kentucky Derby has used a starting gate since 1930; and traditionally, two of them, actually. One held 14 horses and the other, called the auxiliary gate, was attached to the outside of the main gate to allow for six more horses. That changed in 2020 when Churchill Downs secured a single gate that holds all 20 horses.  THE HORSERACING INTEGRITY AND SAFETY ACT |
 Jaya • There's a wide world out there, for those willing to brave the dark April 29th, 2024 7:44:34pm 24,660 Posts |
yay!!!  |
 N.adhima 🏖 14 more days of school!!! April 29th, 2024 7:48:51pm 2,075 Posts |
Money sent!  |
 mangobi-wan ✨ my 10 year HP anniversary! April 29th, 2024 8:47:35pm 2,910 Posts |
*aggressively vibrates with excitement* |
  🐈~BV~Keep Staring At The Stars⭐🎵April 29th, 2024 10:28:13pm 8,120 Posts |
Love having this event!!! < 3    |
 benz - [vyatka] April 30th, 2024 12:07:20pm 54 Posts |
sent! |
 lostcause 🌻🌸🌷🌿 April 30th, 2024 3:25:21pm 185 Posts |
sent! |
 Tragedy [genre : sadboy] April 30th, 2024 3:37:47pm 890 Posts |
sent money :) |
↬ JADE - TTCG is back! May 1st, 2024 5:08:16am 3,801 Posts |
  Lexington Stakes winner Encino, trained by Louisville's Brad Cox, has been scratched from Saturday’s Kentucky Derby due to a soft-tissue strain in his right front leg. Encino was vanned to Rood and Riddle Hospital in Lexington, where X-rays were negative.  |
 Saturniaᛉ traveling to NC! (MIA for a week) May 1st, 2024 10:26:45am 3,549 Posts |
Ahh I always love when you host this! It's so fun! I'll be donating money and joining in ◡̈ sending money now  |
 Eyre - be cool, soda pop May 1st, 2024 2:58:54pm 9,806 Posts |
Money sent -- does one have to participate in all 3 events in order to play? Like if I can't afford the fee for one of the draws, does that disqualify me from participating in the other two?  |
↬ JADE - TTCG is back! May 1st, 2024 9:22:09pm 3,801 Posts |
Nope! You can participate in one race or all three! The prizes are set to be rewarded per race, and there are no overarching rewards for participating in all three, etc. |
↬ JADE - TTCG is back! May 1st, 2024 11:48:37pm 3,801 Posts |
As post time approaches for Saturday’s 150th Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs, casual fans and hard-core handicappers will be crunching the numbers before making their bets. Florida Derby winner Fierceness is the morning-line favorite at 5-2 odds, and Blue Grass Stakes winner Sierra Leone is the second choice at 3-1. But as Rich Strike showed in 2022 — winning at 80-1 odds — anything can happen on the first Saturday in May. Enjoy this deep dive into each of the runners to see how your draws measure up to the competition!  Color: Bay Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Good Magic Dam: Puca, by Big Brown Price tag: $325,000 at 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale Trainer: Danny Gargan, 0 for 1 in Derby. Finished 14th with Tax in 2019. Jockey: Luis Saez, 0 for 10 in Derby. Best finish was third with Essential Quality in 2021. Record: 3-2-0 in six starts Career earnings: $552,275 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 75 (No. 8) Last race: Fourth in Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 6 at Keeneland Running style: At or near the front early Notes: Dornoch had won three straight races — including the Grade 2 Remsen and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth — before his fourth-place finish in the Blue Grass. Dornoch was named for the Royal Dornoch Golf Club in Scotland. The proper pronunciation is “DOOR-nick.” Dornoch is a full brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage. What they’re saying: “I may have shipped him in here a little too close to the race,” Gargan said of the Blue Grass, referring to Dornoch’s arrival at Keeneland two days before the race. “He ran good but got a little tired. He’ll run better next time.” Why he can win: He has early speed, and jockey Luis Saez will be forced to go early from the 1 hole. Maybe he takes the lead entering the first turn and never gives it up. Why he can’t win: Based on his Beyer Speed Figures, he hasn’t been as good this year as he was as a 2-year-old. He may have to use too much at the start to avoid getting crushed out of the gate.  Color: Dark bay/brown Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Gun Runner Dam: Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon Price tag: $2.3 million at 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale Trainer: Chad Brown, 0 for 7 in Derby. Best finish was second with Good Magic (2018). Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione, 0 for 6 in Derby. Best finish was seventh with War of Will (2019). Record: 3-1-0 in four starts Career earnings: $918,000 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 155 (No. 1) Last race: Won the Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 6 at Keeneland by 1 ½ lengths over Just a Touch Running style: Closer Notes: Sierra Leone won his debut Nov. 4 at Aqueduct before suffering his lone defeat — by a nose to Dornoch — in the Grade 2 Remsen on Dec. 2 at Aqueduct. He opened his 3-year-old campaign with a half-length victory over Track Phantom in the Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds. Of the 346 horses nominated to the Triple Crown, Sierra Leone is the highest-priced at $2.3 million. Gun Runner, Sierra Leone’s sire, was third in the 2016 Kentucky Derby and went on to earn Horse of the Year honors as a 4-year-old in 2017. What they’re saying: “He’s been a star since he was born,” Brown said. “He’s just an unbelievable physical specimen. You can’t fault him anywhere.” Why he can win: This $2.3 million horse is a nose away from being undefeated in four career starts. If anyone can navigate the traffic he’s likely to face as a deep closer, it’s jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Why he can’t win: There are so many variables that have to go Sierra Leone’s way, as he’ll likely have to pass 17 or 18 horses to win. Do you trust he’ll be able to do that?  Color: Bay Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Goldencents Dam: Ma’am, by Colonel John Price tag: Homebred Trainer: Kenny McPeek, 0 for 9 in Derby. Best finish was second with Tejano Run in 1995. Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr., 0 for 4 in Derby. Best finish was eighth with McCraken in 2017. Record: 2-1-1 in six starts Career earnings: $641,360 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 46 (No. 17) Last race: Third in Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 30 at Oaklawn Running style: Has displayed a mix of early speed and closing Notes: Mystik Dan broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in November. He won the Grade 3 Southwest on Feb. 3 at Oaklawn Park before his third-place finish in the Arkansas Derby. Ma’am, the dam owned by the Gasaways and Hamby, was 4-3-5 in 23 starts from 2016-18. She won a claiming race at Churchill Downs in 2017. What they’re saying: “We went around the first turn and got knocked pretty good by (Liberal Arts),” Hernandez said after the Arkansas Derby. "It was pretty hard and kind of cost us some position. But our horse, you’ve got to be proud of him. He ran on nicely, and picking up third was big.” Why he can win: Maybe it rains and he can repeat his stellar performance from the Southwest, when he romped by 8 lengths over a muddy track and posted a career-best 101 Beyer. Why he can’t win: His performances on fast tracks don’t indicate he can match up with the best in this field.  Color: Bay Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Constitution Dam: Catch My Drift, by Pioneerof the Nile Price tag: $575,000 at 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale Trainer: Brad Cox. He is 1 for 9 in the Derby, winning via disqualification with Mandaloun in 2021. Jockey: Flavien Prat. He is 1 for 6 in the Derby, winning via disqualification with Country House in 2019. Record: 3-0-1 in five starts Career earnings: $877,350 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 125 (No. 3) Last race: Won Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 23 at Fair Grounds by a length over Honor Marie. Running style: Closer Notes: Catching Freedom won his maiden race Oct. 1 at Churchill Downs and opened his 3-year-old season Jan. 1 with a victory in the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park. After a third-place finish Feb. 17 in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds — behind Sierra Leone and Track Phantom — Catching Freedom bounced back to win the Louisiana Derby. In five races, Catching Freedom has used four different jockeys — Florent Geroux (two), Cristian Torres, Luis Saez and Prat, who got the victory in the Louisiana Derby. What they’re saying: “He needed pretty much the entire stretch to get there, and I am very proud of the effort,” Cox said after Catching Freedom’s rally from last to first in the Louisiana Derby. “We’ll make sure he is happy and healthy. … He broke his maiden (at Churchill Downs), so he knows the place. Hopefully he can have a great six weeks and a big run the first Saturday in May.” Why he can win: That Louisiana Derby victory was sneaky good, and this colt has improved his Beyer figures in every race. If that trend continues, look out. Why he can’t win: Much like Sierra Leone, he’s a late runner who will need a near-perfect setup. Is there reason to believe he can handle the late-closer role better than Sierra Leone?  Color: Bay Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Catalina Cruiser Dam: One Show Only, by Distorted Humor Price tag: $125,000 at 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr., 0 for 2 in Derby. Best finish was eighth with Ny Traffic in 2020. Jockey: Jose Ortiz. 0 for 8 in Derby. Best finish was second with Good Magic in 2018. Record: 1-2-0 in three starts Career earnings: $216,825 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 50 (No. 15) Last race: Second in Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30 at Gulfstream Park, 13 ½ lengths behind Fierceness. Running style: Has some early speed Notes: Catalytic won his debut Oct. 7 at Gulfstream Park and opened his 3-year-old campaign with a runner-up finish in an allowance optional claiming race March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs. In both of his races as a 3-year-old, Catalytic has bumped the starting gate leaving it. What they’re saying: “Normally when you get beat 13 lengths, you won’t be too happy, but we were beaten, obviously, by a special horse,” Joseph said after the Florida Derby. “I thought there were some good horses that finished behind him, so that’s what makes me feel like he ran well. … He was in a different race, and he beat the other horses. (Fierceness) is in a different class when he’s on his ‘A’ game.” Why he can win: Lightly raced colt was “best of the rest” in Florida Derby, 13 ½ lengths behind Fierceness. The No. 5 post has produced the most Derby winners (10) since 1930. Why he can’t win: Finishing 13 ½ lengths behind the winner in his last race is a dubious distinction, at best. Hard to see him making up that much ground this time.  Color: Bay Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Justify Dam: Irish Lights, by Fastnet Rock Price tag:$500,000 at 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas, 4 for 49 in Derby. Won with Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (1995), Grindstone (1996) and Charismatic (1999). Jockey: Keith Asmussen, first Derby Record: 2-4-1 in 11 starts Career earnings: $724,545 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 65 (No. 12) Last race: Second in Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 30 at Oaklawn Park, 2 lengths behind Muth Running style: Stalker Notes: Just Steel opened his racing career last June at Ellis Park and owns a victory at Churchill Downs, winning the $225,000 Ed Brown Stakes on Nov. 25 at 12-1 odds. Jockey is the son of trainer Steve Asmussen, who will saddle Track Phantom in the Kentucky Derby. Trainer will have his first Derby starter since 2018, when Bravazo finished sixth. What they’re saying: “I was confident about my horse,” Lukas said after the Arkansas Derby. “I was telling someone else, ‘When there’s a little bit of brilliance in there, when you see it, you can dig in there and get it.’ If they don’t have that brilliance, then you’re just in la la land bringing these horses over and hoping. But he’s got some in him, and now we just have to see if we can get it out of him.” Why he can win: He’s always in the mix, finishing among the top three in five of his last six races. Posted a career-best 95 Beyer in the Arkansas Derby and could be moving forward. Why he can’t win: He’s raced 11 times in his career, most of any horse in the current starting gate. Is it possible he’s out of gas?  Color: Bay Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Honor Code Dam: Dame Marie, by Smart Strike Price tag: $40,000 at 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale Trainer: Whit Beckman, first Derby. Jockey: Ben Curtis, first Derby. Record: 2-2-0 in five starts Career earnings: $526,175 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 65 (No. 13) Last race: Second in Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 23 at Fair Grounds, 1 length behind Catching Freedom Running style: Deep closer Notes: All three of Honor Marie’s races as a 2-year-old came at Churchill Downs, where he broke his maiden Sept. 29 and won the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov. 25. Honor Marie opened his 3-year-old campaign with a fifth-place showing in the Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds. Trainer is a Louisville native who worked as an assistant for Todd Pletcher, Eoin Harty and Chad Brown before going out on his own in 2021. Honor Marie was Beckman’s first stakes winner. What they’re saying: “We know he’s more comfortable closing,” Beckman said. “Hopefully we don’t end up too deep of a closer and we adjust according to what happens when the gates open. For the most part, I know he’s going to be doing his best running late. We just hope everything sets up to give him the best chance possible.” Why he can win: He’s bred to run all day and took a big step forward in the Louisiana Derby. He won twice at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old. Why he can’t win: He appears to be entering “wise-guy pick” status, and the “wise-guy pick” never wins.  Color: Bay Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Justify Dam: Touching Beauty, by Tapit Price tag: $300,000 at 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Trainer: Brad Cox, 1 for 9 in Derby. Won via disqualification with Mandaloun in 2021. Jockey: Florent Geroux, 1 for 7 in Derby. Won via disqualification with Mandaloun in 2021. Record: 1-2-0 in three starts Career earnings: $281,700 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 75 (No. 9) Last race: Second in Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 6 at Keeneland, 1 ½ lengths behind Sierra Leone Running style: Stalker Notes: Just a Touch did not race as a 2-year-old and won his debut Jan. 27 at Fair Grounds. His sire, Justify, did not race as a 2-year-old and went on to win the Triple Crown in 2018. Just a Touch went through the sales ring three times. Just a Touch is one of two sons of Justify who could run in this year’s Kentucky Derby, joining Arkansas Derby runner-up Just Steel. What they’re saying: “It actually gives me confidence that he has another step forward left,” Cox said of Just a Touch having only three career starts. “He’s going to have to get better in the next four weeks, and oftentimes these colts can do that.” Why he can win: Maybe he’s the next Mage — unraced as a 2-year-old, runner-up in final prep race and wins the Derby in his fourth career start. Could be sitting on a huge race. Why he can’t win: That lack of experience could cost him. Had the lead turning for home in the Blue Grass before Sierra Leone blitzed by.  Color: Bay Bred in: Japan Sire: Copano Rickey Dam: T O Rachel, by King Kamehameha Price tag: N/A Trainer: Daisuke Takayanagi, first Derby Jockey: Kazushi Kimura, 0 for 1 in Derby. Finished 12th on Mandarin Hero in 2023. Record: 2-0-0 in two starts Career earnings: $163,339 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: N/A (earned berth through Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby) Last race: Won Fukuryu Stakes on March 23 at Nakayama Running style: Won Fukuryu in front-running fashion Notes: T O Password looks to join Forever Young as the fifth and sixth Japan-breds to run in the Kentucky Derby in recent years, starting with Master Fencer (sixth) in 2019. Two competed in last year’s Run for the Roses, with Derma Sotogake finishing sixth and Mandarin Hero 12th. Katsuma Sameshima rode T O Password to victory in the Fukuryu Stakes, but Kimura has been selected to ride in the Kentucky Derby. Kimura has been the top jockey at Woodbine in Toronto the past three years. What they’re saying: “I am very excited to be riding in the Derby again,” Kimura said “I’d like to thank the connections of T O Password for this great opportunity. Hopefully, we can make this a memorable day for the entire team.” Why he can win: Well, in two lifetime starts, he’s never lost. Figures to vie for the lead early and see how far he can go. Why he can’t win: Leonatus (1883) is the only horse to win the Kentucky Derby with just two career starts before the race.  Color: Bay Bred in: Japan Sire: Real Steel Dam: Forever Darling, by Congrats Price tag: $720,603 at 2022 Japan Horse Racing Association Select Yearling and Foal Sale Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi, first Derby. Jockey: Ryusei Sakai, first Derby. Record: 5-0-0 in five starts Career earnings: $2,049,451 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 100 (No. 6) Last race: Won Group 2 UAE Derby on March 30 at Meydan by 2 lengths over Auto Bahn Running style: Stalker Notes: Forever Young would be the fifth Japan-bred to run in the Kentucky Derby in recent years, starting with Master Fencer (sixth) in 2019. Two competed in last year’s Run for the Roses, with Derma Sotogake finishing sixth and Mandarin Hero 12th. It was an emotional UAE Derby victory for the trainer, whose father died in Japan just hours before the race. “My teacher, mentor and father passed away this morning, and I want to dedicate this win to him,” Yahagi said. What they’re saying: “Of course it will be very difficult to manage the horse’s condition (traveling) from Dubai to Kentucky, but I really believe my team will be able to get him in good order,” Yahagi said after the UAE Derby victory. Why he can win: He’s 5 for 5, and many believe he’s the best colt Japan has sent to the Kentucky Derby. Maybe this is the year Japan gets its first Derby victory. Why he can’t win: UAE Derby winners are 0 for 19 all time in the Kentucky Derby and never have finished better than fifth. That’s quite a bit of history to overcome.  Color: Bay Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Quality Road Dam: Miss Sunset, by Into Mischief Price tag: $500,000 at 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale Trainer: Steve Asmussen, 0 for 25 in Derby. Three second-place finishes with Nehro (2011), Lookin At Lee (2017) and Epicenter (2022). Jockey: Joel Rosario, 1 for 12 in Derby. Won with Orb in 2013. Record: 3-2-1 in seven starts Career earnings: $405,000 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 70 (No. 10) Last race: Fourth in Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 23 at Fair Grounds Running style: Front-runner Notes: Track Phantom never had finished out of the money in his first six starts — going 3-2-1 — before his fourth-place finish in the Louisiana Derby. He led with a furlong to go before fading. Track Phantom broke his maiden last November in his third race at Churchill Downs. Trainer ranks sixth all-time with 25 Derby starters but is the only one in the group without a victory. What they’re saying: “He ran very nice out there,” Rosario said after the Louisiana Derby. “I don’t know if it was the distance. It looked like it was a comfortable pace. He was relaxed and he gave me a kick, but the others came strong at the end. Sometimes it’s hard to tell, but maybe he got tired at the end.” Why he can win: He’ll be near the front early, and trainer Steve Asmussen is adding blinkers with hopes that will help Track Phantom take a step forward. Why he can’t win: Had the lead turning for home in his last two races and couldn’t hang on. Looks to have distance limitations.  Color: Gray/roan Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Exaggerator Dam: Mo Wicked, by Uncle Mo Price tag: $11,000 at 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale Trainer: Larry Demeritte, first Derby Jockey: Jesus Castanon, 0 for 1 in Derby. Finished fourth with Shackleford in 2011. Record: 2-5-1 in 10 starts Career earnings: $460,140 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 67 (No. 11) Last race: Second in Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 23 at Turfway Park, 4 lengths behind Endlessly. Running style: Stalker Notes: Demeritte would become just the second African-American trainer since 1951 to compete in the Kentucky Derby. The last was Hank Allen, who finished sixth with Northern Wolf in 1989. With 10 career races, West Saratoga is well-seasoned. The first five of those were maiden special weights as he chased his first victory, which finally came Aug. 5 at Ellis Park. The next month at Churchill Downs, West Saratoga won the Grade 3 Iroquois, which is the first race to award points on the Kentucky Derby trail. West Saratoga was one of the last 20 horses sold on the final day of the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. What they’re saying: “I have champagne tastes with a beer budget,” said Demeritte, a Bahamas native who took out his trainer’s license in the United States in 1991. Why he can win: There’s not a better story in this Derby than trainer Larry Demeritte, the Bahamas native who’s battling cancer. Maybe the “Derby gods” will shine down on him. Why he can’t win: His best Beyer speed figure (85) came on a synthetic track and is the slowest of any horse in the race.  Color: Bay Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Oscar Performance Dam: Dream Fuhrever, by Langfuhr Price tag: Homebred Trainer: Michael McCarthy, first Derby Jockey: Umberto Rispoli, 0 for 1 in Derby. Finished 14th on Brooklyn Strong in 2021. Record: 5-0-0 in six starts Career earnings: $707,200 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 100 (No. 7) Last race: Won Grade 3 Jeff Ruby on March 23 at Turfway by 4 lengths over West Saratoga Running style: Closer Notes: Endlessly never has raced on the dirt, his first four starts coming on turf and his last two on all-weather surfaces. McCarthy expressed a preference for going back to turf after the Jeff Ruby victory, but the horse’s owners want to keep the option of running in the Kentucky Derby. Endlessly’s lone loss came in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last November at Santa Anita Park, an eighth-place finish. “Didn’t get the type of trip we were looking for, and he still hung around and ran very well that day,” McCarthy said. Animal Kingdom was the last winner of the Jeff Ruby — then called the Spiral Stakes — to win the Kentucky Derby, accomplishing the feat in 2011. What they’re saying: “If I thought he was a dirt horse, I may have tried him on it a while ago,” McCarthy said before the Jeff Ruby. “He’s just been very consistent on the grass. He moves like a grass horse. The style in which he’s most comfortable running — tucking in behind the speed — is conducive to the grass. Obviously, it would be a big thrill to run in the Kentucky Derby. But it takes the right type of horse.” Why he can win: Throw out last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and this horse is undefeated in five career starts. He clearly knows how to win, and his Beyer figures are on an uptick. Why he can’t win: When a trainer tells you he preferred to run in another race on Derby Day, listen to him. He’s never raced on a dirt track.  Color: Dark bay/brown Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Practical Joke Dam: Goods and Services, by Paynter Price tag: Homebred Trainer: Chad Brown, 0 for 7 in Derby. Best finish was second with Good Magic in 2018. Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr., 0 for 7 in Derby. Best finish was fourth with Improbable in 2019. Record: 2-1-0 in five starts Career earnings: $314,200 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 60 (No. 14) Last race: Won Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby on March 9 Running style: Stalker Notes: Domestic Product broke his maiden at Aqueduct last October and has progressed in three stakes since then, finishing seventh in the Grade 2 Remsen and second in the Grade 3 Holy Bull before the Tampa Bay Derby score. Trainer had considered one more prep race after the Tampa Bay Derby but ultimately decided his horse had enough seasoning to enter the Kentucky Derby after what will be an eight-week layoff. No horse since 1922 has won the Kentucky Derby after more than a seven-week layoff. What they’re saying: “He showed a lot of heart after getting bumped by, and he showed a lot of perseverance,” Brown said after the Tampa Bay Derby. “He got good seasoning today. He had to rate and he was pulling a little bit off a slow pace, and I was really impressed with his heart and the fact he got his nose down on the wire. I think this race will serve him well moving forward. That’s why I wanted to run him here because he needed a race like this for a little more experience and a little more seasoning.” Why he can win: Well-rested since winning the Tampa Bay Derby on March 9. Adds a top-notch jockey in Irad Ortiz Jr. Why he can’t win: Rest or rust? That eight-week layoff since the Tampa Bay Derby raises some questions. He’ll need to take a big step forward to contend with the best here.  Color: Dark bay/brown Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Uncle Mo Dam: Lilies So Fair, by Giant’s Causeway Price tag: $135,000 at 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale Trainer: Victor Barboza Jr., first Derby Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo, 0 for 1 in Derby. Finished 18th on Majesto in 2016. Record: 2-0-4 in six starts Career earnings: $214,650 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 40 (No. 19) Last race:Third in Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30 at Gulfstream Park Running style: Stalker Notes: After opening his career with back-to-back victories at Gulfstream Park last summer, Grand Mo the First has finished third in four straight races, including the Grade 3 Zuma Beach last October at Santa Anita and the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby on March 9. Jockey rode Grand Mo the First in his first three races and also in the Florida Derby. Sire Uncle Mo was the 2-year-old champion in 2010 but missed the 2011 Kentucky Derby because of a liver disease. He returned to racing later in 2011 and won the Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont. What they’re saying: “It’s been a dream since I was a child in Venezuela,” Barboza said of running in the Kentucky Derby. “Every year, I watched the Kentucky Derby.” Why he can win: Perhaps he can earn some redemption for his sire, Uncle Mo, who would have been the Derby favorite in 2011 but had to scratch because of an illness. Why he can’t win: Four straight third-place finishes don’t inspire confidence.  Color: Bay Bred in: Kentucky Sire: City of Light Dam: Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty Price tag: Homebred Trainer: Todd Pletcher. He has a record 64 starters in the Derby, winning with Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (2017). Jockey: John Velazquez. He’s 3 for 25 in the Derby, winning with Animal Kingdom (2011), Always Dreaming (2017) and Authentic (2020). Record: 3-0-1 in five starts Career earnings: $1,703,850 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 136 (No. 2) Last race: Won Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30 at Gulfstream by 13 ½ lengths over Catalytic Running style: Near the front early Notes: For the second straight year, trainer has a Florida Derby winner who could be the morning-line favorite for the Kentucky Derby. Last year, Florida Derby winner Forte was scratched 10 hours before the Kentucky Derby because of a veterinarian’s concerns about a bruised right front foot. Fierceness is looking to become just the third Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner to go on and win the Kentucky Derby, joining Street Sense (2006-07) and Nyquist (2015-16). What they’re saying: “That was a pretty awesome performance,” Pletcher said after the Florida Derby romp. “That’s what we see in the mornings when we breeze him, a special talent. That’s why it was so perplexing his two races that he didn't run brilliantly. He’s three times brilliant and two times has had off days.” Why he can win: He’s the fastest horse, and if he runs back anywhere close to his Florida Derby form no one is going to beat him. Owner Mike Repole is due some Derby luck. Why he can’t win: Good race, bad race, good race, bad race, good race. He’s due a bad race. Also, the favorite hasn't won the Kentucky Derby since 2018. It will likely be on Fierceness to break that trend.  Color: Bay Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Ghostzapper Dam: Spectator, by Jimmy Creed Price tag:Homebred Trainer: Philip D’Amato, first Derby Jockey: Antonio Fresu, first Derby Record: 3-3-0 in six starts Career earnings: $827,200 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 125 (No. 4) Last race: Won Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6 by a neck over Imagination Running style: Stalker Notes: Stronghold got his racing start in Kentucky before heading west. He was second in his debut at Ellis Park on Aug. 27 before breaking his maiden Oct. 1 at Churchill Downs. He’s 2 for 2 as a 3-year-old, having won the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby on Feb. 18. Partially a result of the suspension of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, Stronghold is the only California-based horse expected to enter the Kentucky Derby. Spectator, Stronghold’s dam, was 3-1-1 in nine career starts from 2017-19. What they’re saying: “We were definitely hoping to get on the winning end here,” D’Amato said after the Santa Anita Derby. “I think this was a great education for him and a nice test that he’s going to need to win a race like the Kentucky Derby.” Why he can win: Might be getting overlooked here. He’s never been worse than second in six career starts and beat a top Bob Baffert horse (Imagination) to win the Santa Anita Derby. Why he can’t win: His speed numbers just don’t match up with the best, and that No. 17 post won’t do him any favors.  Color: Bay Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Into Mischief Dam: Meadowsweet, by Smart Strike Price tag: N/A Trainer: Bill Mott, 1 for 12 in Derby. Won via disqualification with Country House in 2019. Jockey: Junior Alvarado, 0 for 4 in Derby. Best finish was fourth with Mohaymen in 2016. Record: 2-1-1 in six starts Career earnings: $494,630 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 110 (No. 5) Last race: Won Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 6 at Aqueduct by 2 ¼ lengths over Society Man Running style: Stalker Notes: Resilience raced twice at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old — finishing second and third — but didn’t break his maiden until his 3-year-old debut Jan. 1 at Gulfstream Park. He finished fourth in the Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds before his Wood Memorial score. John Velazquez rode Resilience to victory in the Wood Memorial but is expected to take the mount on Florida Derby winner Fierceness in the Kentucky Derby. What they’re saying: “I remember back when he was a foal, he would come out and look you in the eye like, ‘What’s up?’” Bushnell said. “He’s just a confident dude and has just done everything right every step of the way. He’s very sure of himself, and I wish I had his confidence.” Why he can win: Distance doesn’t appear to be an issue, and he’s improved in every start of his career. Could surprise with another step forward. Why he can’t win: The Wood Memorial hasn’t produced a Kentucky Derby winner since Funny Cide in 2003. Losing jockey John Velazquez to Fierceness doesn’t help.  Color: Chestnut Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Good Magic Dam: You Cheated, by Colonel John Price tag: $85,000 at 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale Trainer: Danny Gargan, 0 for 1 in Derby. Finished 14th with Tax in 2019. Jockey: Frankie Dettori, 0 for 1 in Derby. Finished sixth with China Visit in 2000. Record: 1-1-1 in five starts Career earnings: $196,705 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 50 (No. 16) Last race: Second in Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 6 at Aqueduct, 2 ¼ lengths behind Resilience Running style: Stalker Notes: Society Man broke his maiden in his fourth career start March 9 at Aqueduct and then entered the Kentucky Derby mix with a runner-up finish in the Wood at 106-1 odds. Society Man is looking to become the first gelding to win the Kentucky Derby since Mine That Bird in 2009. Trainer is a Louisville native and the son of the late jockey with the same name. The elder Danny Gargan won the Kentucky Oaks on Bag of Tunes in 1973. What they’re saying: “He ran a really game effort and is getting better with every race,” said Gargan, who also trains Kentucky Derby contender Dornoch. “It’s going to be fun to have two horses (in the Derby). We don’t get a lot of babies, and to have the kind of horses where two have qualified for the Derby is a miracle. We feel blessed, and everyone is so excited.” Why he can win: He’s continued to move forward and shockingly finished second in the Wood Memorial at 106-1 odds. Maybe jockey Frankie Dettori can work some magic? Why he can’t win: There’s a reason he was 106-1 in his last race. Wasn’t close to winning in either of his graded-stakes runs. |
↬ JADE - TTCG is back! May 1st, 2024 11:51:43pm 3,801 Posts |
Poor Epic Ride wouldn't fit on the original post because it was so long! I had to make a second post to include him!  Color: Bay Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Blame Dam: Pick a Time, by Gio Ponti Price tag: $160,000 at 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale Trainer: John Ennis, first Derby. Jockey: Adam Beschizza, 0 for 1 in Derby. Finished seventh with Enforceable in 2020. Record: 2-2-1 in five starts Career earnings: $253,166 Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 35 (No. 21) Last race: Third in Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 6 at Keeneland Running style: Stalker Notes: Epic Ride never has raced outside of Kentucky, his first four races coming at Turfway Park before the Blue Grass at Keeneland. That was his first race on dirt. Epic Ride won the Leonatus Stakes at Turfway on Feb. 2 before a second-place finish behind Encino in the John Battaglia on March 2. Trainer is a native of Ireland and took out his trainer’s license in 2012. He previously was an exercise rider, including for Hall of Famer Wise Dan. What they’re saying: “I would love if we could get into the Derby because I think he’s entitled to have a shot,” Ennis said. “Let’s see what happens. He’s a lovely horse, and he’s going to be a nice horse later in the year.” Why he can win: Turfway Park specialist was a respectable third in the Blue Grass, his debut on dirt. Beyer speed numbers are trending in the right direction. Why he can’t win: Wants to be near the front early but hard to see him hanging with the more accomplished horses in this field. |
 KGPG Horse Revival Project - Now with Arabo-Friesian's May 2nd, 2024 1:00:51pm 32 Posts |
If I want play, do I pay you the total of all 3 ($45 mil) or do I pay just $20 mil to enter for all 3 draws?  |
↬ JADE - TTCG is back! May 2nd, 2024 7:43:34pm 3,801 Posts |
You pay per race when the draws for that specific race are open (usually the week before it runs). The most draws you can purchase per race is 3 for 20mil HPD. This will assign 3 horses from that race to you. I hope this clears up any confusion! Let me know! |
 Kiyoko - Autumnoak Farm 🍁 [Main/BFH] May 2nd, 2024 8:33:58pm 82 Posts |
Sent in draw money! Sierra Leone I think is the horse most likely to win in my own opnion based on past races. My sentimental pick is West Saratoga because of his story and who doesn't love a grey thoroughbred? I also always hope the Japanese horses do well having to come all the way over here, and be awesome to see Forever Young keep his unbeaten streak. XD You never know though until those gates open because even the best horses have been thwarted due to the 20 horse chaos into the first turn. I really wish for safety reasons they'd lower the field back down to fourteen, but unless a huge accident occurs the money is just too lucrative to do so right now. x__x |
↬ JADE - TTCG is back! May 2nd, 2024 9:32:32pm 3,801 Posts |
Sierra Leone is a solid choice to win, but my heart is definitely with the gray West Saratoga. Given what he is going through, I would love for the trainer to win a Derby. The Japanese horses seem to be cursed so far, but maybe this will be the year they change that! |
KGPG Horse Revival Project - Now with Arabo-Friesian's May 3rd, 2024 1:07:58pm 32 Posts |
Ty and sent yesterday |
