Kentucky Derby 2021 Contenders: Lineup and Pedigree for All Entries in the Field bleacherreport.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bleacherreport.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The road to the
2021 Kentucky Derby, which returned to its typical schedule, included 35 qualifying races that were run between Sept. 5, 2020. and April 10, 2021.
During the points era, the Derby results have become remarkably consistent. The favorite has been a significant factor in the finish of the race, with the winner usually racing as part of the early pace. Every horse to cross the finish line first has had a victory in one of the 100-point qualifying races and, except for last year’s extended Derby trail, was unbeaten during his 3-year-old campaign. Occasionally, a long shot has broken into the exacta, trifecta or superfecta.
On the road to Louisville, this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod originates from Tulsa, Okla., with conversations ranging from racing’s momentum during COVID to a big race this weekend. It features Nate Newby, the general manager of Santa Anita; Monomoy Girl’s trainer Brad Cox ahead of this weekend’s Apple Blossom showdown with Swiss Skydiver, and Horse Racing Radio Network’s Dan Mason and Horse Racing Nation CEO Mark Midland. The RFRP is sponsored by 1/ST BET.
Panadol Out of Kentucky Derby, Field Takes Shape bloodhorse.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bloodhorse.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Las Vegas
If not for the last four jumps of last week’s Blue Grass Stakes, the entire Kentucky Derby picture would have gone from the High Renaissance of Raphael to the abstract of Jackson Pollock.
That was just a haughty way of saying the apple cart was nearly flipped completely over in the past week.
Essential Quality needed nearly every stride of the 1⅛ miles around Keeneland last Saturday to overtake Highly Motivated in the Blue Grass and remain undefeated. In the time since, Rock Your World moved successfully from the turf to dirt with a decisive upset in the Santa Anita Derby, Greatest Honour came off the Derby trail because of a bad ankle, connections for Rebel’s Romance declined an invitation to Louisville, and Weyburn was re-aimed for the Belmont Stakes.