04/05/2023. International Horse Racing World: Les Pavots (IRE) by No Nay Never, August Rodin (IRE) in the 2000 Guineas by TDN – 149° Kentucky Derby and prep races

 

 

No Nay Never’s Les Pavots Strikes for TDN Rising Star Badge at Chantilly

Craig Bernick and Haras d’Etreham’s hitherto untested 2-year-old filly Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never–Sparrow {Ire}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) was hammered down to 5-2 favouritism at the tills for Thursday’s €30,000 Prix des Closeaux… [To read this entire TDN News Story, click here.]

 

Auguste Rodin Heads Field Of 14 For Newmarket’s 2000 Guineas

Aidan O’Brien will rely on G1 Futurity Trophy hero Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and G1 Phoenix S. victor Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) in Saturday’s G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas, with both… [To read this entire TDN News Story, click here.]

 

by TDN

 

 
 
The TDN Writers’ Room: 2023 Kentucky Derby Edition with Andy Beyer
 
Andy Beyer, the longtime racing columnist for the Washington Post and the creator of the Beyer Speed Figures that appear in the Daily Racing Form, is never short of opinions, especially when it comes to who will win the GI Kentucky Derby. With the race right around the corner, we asked Beyer to give us his thoughts on the race and share his handicapping acumen on the TDN Writers’ Room podcast, which is presented by Keeneland.
 
  After some spirited and amusing debate about how to pronounce Forte’s name, Beyer, who was this week’s Green Group Guest of the Week, said he’s no fan of that horse, saying that Forte (Violence) “won’t hit the board.”
 
  “I don’t like him,” he said. “I don’t like him because the name issue grates on me every time I hear it. He is not historically what we look for in the Kentucky Derby, which is a horse on the upgrade coming into the Derby. He clearly doesn’t fit that profile. Yes, he is trained by Todd Pletcher. But as we know, Todd’s forte is not training horses to win the Derby. His record in this race is two for 62. So I don’t think you get any extra credit for being in the Pletcher barn in this race. I want no part of Forte. I don’t think he’ll hit the board.”
 
  Then who does he like? It’s Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits).
 
  “I am looking for a history making Japanese victory on Saturday night with Derma Sotogake,” Beyer said. “It’s not a great Derby. But what makes it really interesting to me is the Japanese presence. And I’ve been looking a lot at this and I think that Japan is really on the brink of becoming the number one power in world horse racing, eclipsing even Great Britain and the United States. It’s going to happen at the present rate eventually. And the coming out party just might be Saturday.”
 
  Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by Coolmore, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, 1/St Racing, WinStar Farm, XBTV and West Point Thoroughbreds, podcast regulars Zoe Cadman, Randy Moss and Bill Finley ran through the entire 20-horse field, giving their opinions on each starter. Finley picked Tapit Trice (Tapit) to win, Moss selected Derma Sotogoake and Cadman gave the nod to Practical Move (Practical Joke).
 
 
photo credit: Coady
 
 
 

2023 Kentucky Derby Prep Races

The 149th running of the $3 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) will be run Saturday, May 6th, 2023.

 

About the Road to the Kentucky Derby

 
RACE   TRACK DATE POINTS
Iroquois   Churchill Downs Sep 17, 2022 10-4-3-2-1
Juddmonte Royal Lodge   Newmarket Sep 24, 2022 10-4-3-2-1
Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford   Curragh Sep 24, 2022 10-4-3-2-1
Champagne   Belmont At The Big A Oct 1, 2022 10-4-3-2-1
Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere   Longchamp Oct 2, 2022 10-4-3-2-1
American Pharoah   Santa Anita Park Oct 8, 2022 10-4-3-2-1
Breeders’ Futurity   Keeneland Oct 8, 2022 10-4-3-2-1
Vertem Futurity Trophy   Doncaster Oct 22, 2022 10-4-3-2-1
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile   Keeneland Nov 4, 2022 30-12-9-6-3
Kentucky Jockey Club   Churchill Downs Nov 26, 2022 10-4-3-2-1
Cattleya   Tokyo Racecourse Nov 26, 2022 10-4-3-2-1
Remsen   Aqueduct Dec 3, 2022 10-4-3-2-1
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun   Kawasaki Dec 14, 2022 20-8-6-4-2
Los Alamitos Futurity   Los Alamitos Race Course Dec 17, 2022 10-4-3-2-1
Springboard Mile   Remington Park Dec 17, 2022 10-4-3-2-1
Gun Runner   Fair Grounds Dec 26, 2022 10-4-3-2-1
Smarty Jones   Oaklawn Park Jan 1, 2023 10-4-3-2-1
Jerome   Aqueduct Jan 7, 2023 10-4-3-2-1
Sham   Santa Anita Park Jan 8, 2023 10-4-3-2-1
Lecomte   Fair Grounds Jan 21, 2023 20-8-6-4-2
Southwest   Oaklawn Park Jan 28, 2023 20-8-6-4-2
Holy Bull   Gulfstream Park Feb 4, 2023 20-8-6-4-2
Robert B. Lewis   Santa Anita Park Feb 4, 2023 20-8-6-4-2
Withers   Aqueduct Feb 11, 2023 20-8-6-4-2
Sam F. Davis   Tampa Bay Downs Feb 11, 2023 20-8-6-4-2
El Camino Real Derby   Golden Gate Fields Feb 11, 2023 10-4-3-2-1
Risen Star   Fair Grounds Feb 18, 2023 50-20-15-10-5
Hyacinth   Tokyo Racecourse Feb 19, 2023 30-12-9-6-3
Rebel   Oaklawn Park Feb 25, 2023 50-20-15-10-5
Patton   Dundalk Mar 3, 2023 20-8-6-4-2
Fountain of Youth   Gulfstream Park Mar 4, 2023 50-20-15-10-5
Gotham   Aqueduct Mar 4, 2023 50-20-15-10-5
San Felipe   Santa Anita Park Mar 4, 2023 50-20-15-10-5
John Battaglia Memorial   Turfway Park Mar 4, 2023 20-8-6-4-2
Tampa Bay Derby   Tampa Bay Downs Mar 11, 2023 50-20-15-10-5
Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes   Kempton Park Mar 15, 2023 20-8-6-4-2
UAE Derby   Meydan Racecourse Mar 25, 2023 100-40-30-20-10
Louisiana Derby   Fair Grounds Mar 25, 2023 100-40-30-20-10
Jeff Ruby Steaks   Turfway Park Mar 25, 2023 100-40-30-20-10
Fukuryu   Nakayama Mar 25, 2023 40-16-12-8-4
Sunland Derby   Sunland Park Mar 26, 2023 50-20-15-10-5
Florida Derby   Gulfstream Park Apr 1, 2023 100-40-30-20-10
Arkansas Derby   Oaklawn Park Apr 1, 2023 100-40-30-20-10
Cardinal Condition Stakes   Chelmsford city Apr 1, 2023 30-12-9-6-3
Wood Memorial   Aqueduct Apr 8, 2023 100-40-30-20-10
Blue Grass   Keeneland Apr 8, 2023 100-40-30-20-10
Santa Anita Derby   Santa Anita Park Apr 8, 2023 100-40-30-20-10
Lexington   Keeneland Apr 15, 2023 20-8-6-4-2