January 1st marks the birthday for all Thoroughbreds and the new three-year-olds will start their campaigns for the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown. The Gulfstream Park Derby in Florida, run on New Year's Day, is the first and marks the beginning of a schedule of prep races restricted to 3-year-olds that will run every weekend until the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May. It has been 35 years since Affirmed won the last Triple Crown, and while I'll Have Another looked like he could do it last year, ultimately he never got the chance when he was scratched from the Belmont Stakes. Will someone FINALLY take the big prize this year?
Every week I will post the results and links to articles about each race, so check back regularly. Races marked with an asterisk * are points-scoring races under the new Road to the Kentucky Derby, where points determine who gets into the Kentucky Derby field.
J A N U A R Y
1 - Gulfstream Park Derby, Gulfstream, 1 M
Results: 1:34.39 - Itsmyluckyday, Sr. Quisqueyano, Undrafted
1 - Spectacular Bid Stakes, Gulfstream, 6 F
Results: 1:11.39 - Merit Man, City of Weston, Little Distorted
5 - Jerome Stakes, Aqueduct, 1 M 70 yards
Results: 1:40.67 - Vyjack, Siete de Oros, Amerigo Vespucci
5 - Big Drama Stakes, Delta Downs, 7 F
Results: 1:27.46 - King Henny, Mr. Bandini's Band, Hero Force
5 - * Sham Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 M
Results: 1:36.50 - Goldencents, Den's Legacy, Mandando
5 - Turfway Prevue Stakes, Turfway, 6 1/2 F
Results: 1:18.31 - Mac the Man, Smokinindaboysroom, Lew and Mike
12 - California Derby, Golden Gate, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:46.50 - Zeewat, Wildcat Moon, Tree of Life
12 - Pasco Stakes, Tampa Bay Downs, 7 F
Results: 1:22.79 - Dynamic Sky, Sky Commander, Divine Ambition
19 - * Lecomte Stakes, Fair Grounds, 1 M 70 yards
Results: 1:43.30 - Oxbow, Golden Soul, Fear the Kitten
19 - Frank Whiteley Stakes, Laurel, 7 F
Results: 1:24.78 - Ore Pass, Alpha Mike Foxtrot, Lunar Rock
19 - Groovy Stakes, Sam Houston Park, 7 F
Results: 1:24.74 - Worldventurer, Breathethefire, Mula Run
19 - Pepsi Cola Stakes, Sunland Park, 6 F
Results: 1:10.10 - Devons Ca Ching, Thermal, Kiss My Hennessy
20 - Kitten's Joy Stakes, Gulfstream, 1 1/16 M Turf
Results: 1:43.43 - Charming Kitten, Bambazonki, Redwood Kitten
21 - * Smarty Jones Stakes, Oaklawn, 1 M
Results: 1:38.64 - Will Take Charge, Texas Bling, Always in a Tiz
21 - Jimmy Winkfield Stakes , Aqueduct, 6 F
Results: 1:09.75 - Clawback, Winning Cause, Rubysandpearls
26 - * Holy Bull Stakes, Gulfstream, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:41.81 - Itsmyluckyday, Shanghai Bobby, Clearly Now
26 - California Breeders Champion Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 M
Results: 1:36.56 - Tiz a Minister, Omega Star, Surfcup
26 - Allen's Landing Stakes, Sam Houston, 7 F
Results: 1:23.16 - Tour Guide, Hardrock Eleven, Holiday Mischief
F E B R U A R Y
2 - * The Withers Stakes, Aqueduct, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:44.32 - Revolutionary, Escapefromreality, Siete de Oros
2 - Hutcheson Stakes, Gulfstream, 7 F
Results: 1:22.53 - Honorable Dillon, Forty Tales, Undrafted
2 - 96ROCK Stakes, Turfway, 1 M
Results: 1:40.52 - Mac the Man, Bye Bye Bernie, Takin the Sloroad
2 - Louisiana Premier Night Prince, Delta Downs, 7 F
Results: 1:25.52 - Hero Force, Heitai, Indian Road
2 - * Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:42.95 - Flashback, Den's Legacy, He's Had Enough
2 - * Sam F. Davis Stakes, Tampa Bay, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:44.79 - Falling Sky, Dynamic Sky, My Name Is Michael
9 - Miracle Wood Stakes, Laurel, 1 M
Results: 1:40.58 - Dynamic Strike, Where's Dominic, Lunar Rock
16 - * El Camino Real Derby, Golden Gate, 1 1/8 M
Results: 1:51.45 - Dice Flavor, Nina's Dragon, Counting Days
16 - Jim's Orbit Stakes, Sam Houston, 1 M
Results: 1:39.44 - Worldventurer, Meme Jo, Breathethefire
17 - San Vicente Stakes, Santa Anita, 7 F
Results: 1:22.48 - Shakin It Up, Treasury Bill, Caballo Del Cielo
18 - * Southwest Stakes, Oaklawn, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:44.84 - Super Ninety Nine, Fear the Kitten, Heaven's Runway
23 - * Risen Star Stakes, Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:44.52 - Ive Struck a Nerve, Code West, Palace Malice
23 - Turf Paradise Derby, Turf Paradise, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:44.16 - Persuasive Paul, Brokered, Tiz Fitting
23 - * Fountain of Youth Stakes, Gulfstream, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:42.24 - Orb, Violence, Speak Logistics
23 - Gentilly Stakes, Fair Grounds, 1 M 70 Yards
Results: 1:42.76 - Sunbean, Hopeful Notion, Nubin Ridge
23 - Mine That Bird Derby, Sunland, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:45.32 - Dry Summer, Show Some Magic, Storm Driver
M A R C H
2 - Black Gold Stakes, Fair Grounds, 7 1/2 F Turf
Results: 1:35.84 - Up With the Birds, Animal Style, Cairo Six
2 - Swale Stakes, Gulfstream, 7 F
Results: 1:23.19 - Clearly Now, Singanothersong, Undrafted
2 - Gazebo Stakes, Oaklawn, 6 F
Results: 1:12.00 - King Henny, Titletown Five, Malibu High
2 - John Battaglia Memorial, Turfway, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:43.13 - General Election, Giant Finish, For Greater Glory
2 - * The Gotham, Aqueduct, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:44.09 - Vyjack, West Hills Giant, Elnaawi
2 - Texas Heritage Stakes, Sam Houston, 1 M
Results: 1:37.94 - Departing, Holiday Mischief, Worldventurer
3 - Palm Beach Stakes, Gulfstream, 1 1/8 M Turf
Results: 1:48.18 - Rydilluc, Charming Kitten, Reporting Star
9 - The Fred Capossela, Aqueduct, 6 F
Results: 1:10.43 - Maleeh, Tenango, Clawback
9 - Pelican Stakes, Delta Downs, 7 1/2 F
Results: 1:33.36 - Hero Force, Heitai, Unbridled's Score
9 - Private Terms Stakes, Laurel, 1 1/8 M
Results: 1:51.35 - Mr Palmer, Battier, Seventeenohsix
9 - * San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:42.34 - Hear the Ghost, Flashback, Tiz a Minister
9 - * Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:43.96 - Verrazano, Java's War, Falling Sky
16 - * The Rebel, Oaklawn Park, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:45.18 - Will Take Charge, Oxbow, Den's Legacy
23 - * Spiral Stakes, Turfway, 1 1/8 M
Results: 1:51.98 - Black Onyx, Uncaptured, Giant Finish
23 - Rushaway Stakes, Turfway, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:45.66 - Crop Report, Divine Ambition, Red Wings
24 - * Sunland Derby, Sunland, 1 1/8 M
Results: 1:47.54 - Govenor Charlie, Show Some Magic, Abraham
24 - New Mexico Breeders' Derby, Sunland, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:44.18 - Hush's Storm, Storm Surprise, Keagan's Way
30 - Crescent City Derby, Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:45.68 - Johnny Handsome, Hero Force, Skinny
30 - * Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds, 1 1/8 M
Results: 1:50.28 - Revolutionary, Mylute, Departing
30 - * Florida Derby, Gulfstream, 1 1/8 M
Results: 1:50.87 - Orb, Itsmyluckyday, Merit Man
30 - * UAE Derby, Meydan, 1 3/16 M
Results: 1:58.35 - Lines of Battle, Elleval, Secret Number
A P R I L
5 - Transylvania Stakes, Keeneland, 1 1/16 M Turf
Results: 1:41.80 - Jack Milton, Up With the Birds, Redwood Kitten
6 - * Wood Memorial, Aqueduct, 1 1/8 M
Results: 1:50.27 - Verrazano, Normandy Invasion, Vyjack
6 - Bay Shore, Aqueduct, 7 F
Results: 1:22.09 - Declan's Warrior, Clearly Now, The Truth and K G
6 - * Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, 1 1/8 M
Results: 1:48.76 - Goldencents, Flashback, Super Ninety Nine
6 - Ocala Breeders' Sales Sophomore, Tampa Bay, 7 F
Results: 1:23.48 - City of Weston, Ruler of Love, Risk Factor
13 - * Blue Grass Stakes, Keeneland, 1 1/8 M
Results: 1:50.27 - Java's War, Charming Kitten, Rydilluc
13 - * Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn, 1 1/8 M
Results: 1:51.94 - Overanalyze, Frac Daddy, Carve
13 - Northern Spur, Oaklawn, 1 M
Results: 1:38.37 - Get Happy Mister, Looking Cool, Red Wings
20 - Illinois Derby, Hawthorne, 1 1/8 M
Results: 1:50.78 - Departing, Fordubai, Siete de Oros
20 - * Lexington Stakes, Keeneland, 1 1/16 M
Results: 1:43.93 - Winning Cause, General Election, Pick of the Litter
27 - * Derby Trial, Churchill Downs, 1 M
Results: 1:35.77 - Forty Tales, Capo Bastone, Ruler of Love
M A Y
4 - Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 M
11 - The Peter Pan, Belmont, 1 1/8 M
11 - Lone Star Derby, Lone Star Park, 1 1/16 M
11 - Alcatraz Stakes, Golden Gate, 1 1/16 M Turf
18 - Preakness Stakes, Pimlico, 1 3/16 M
J U N E
8 - Belmont Stakes, Belmont, 1 1/2 M
