Derby and Oaks contenders have arrived here at Churchill Downs and have begun their preparations. Darren and KK analyze the field and what they have seen from the early trainings so far with Steve Byk from At the Races on SiriusXM. They look at the early favorite Journalism and discuss potential horses that could take down the Derby favorite. Things can change as the official post-position draw happens Saturday 4/26 but the guys give their analysis and key things to watch for over the next we...
As the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks fields begin to finalize, other key stakes races start to take shape at Churchill Downs. During Derby Week in the lead up to the Oaks and Derby there are plenty of big money stakes races and star power on display. Darren and KK dive into what to watch for during derby week with special guest Dan Bork. As the Assistant Racing Secretary and Stakes Coordinator at Churchill Downs, he has his finger on the pulse of all the horses and trainers that will be in...
After a busy bunch of Championship Series concluded, the Kentucky Derby field is nearly set! Darren and KK recap the action from the UAE Derby, Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial, and Blue Grass Stakes. The dust has started to settle, and the field is nearly set as the early derby preference list is being finalized and opportunities to win points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is coming to close with this weekend’s Lexington Stakes. Darren and KK analyze contenders’ performance and giv...
Multiple contenders look to punch their tickets to the Kentucky Derby starting gate this weekend with a slew of Championship Series races. A busy weekend with the Blue Grass, Santa Anita Derby, UAE Derby, and Wood Memorial will certainly send their winners to Churchill Downs. They will look to join Sandman and Tappan Street who won the Arkansas Derby and Florida Derby respectively. While we don’t know how these crucial races will play out, Darren and KK analyze the full race cards, pre...
The Championship Series on the Road to the Kentucky Derby continues this weekend with the Arkansas Derby and the Florida Derby. These races have historically been major feeders for contenders aiming to compete in the Run for the Roses. For example, there have been 25 instances where a horse competed in the Florida Derby and went on to compete in the Kentucky Derby, with 15 of those horses winning both races. Similarly, the Arkansas Derby has produced eight Kentucky Derby participants, most re...
The Championship Series on the Road to the Kentucky Derby shifts from 50-point races to 100-point races starting with the Jeff Ruby Steaks and Louisiana Derby. Numerous key contenders are returning to Turfway and Fair Grounds this weekend to add to their resume and more or less stamp their ticket to the 151st Kentucky Derby. Darren and KK analyze the full race cards, previewing the horses that could impact the standings. Additionally, they recap performances from the Virginia Derby and discus...
The Virginia Derby is the newest race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Colonial Downs race is attracting a couple of key performers for the upcoming Championship Series races. Darren and KK analyze the full race card, previewing the horses that could impact the standings. Additionally, they recap performances from the Tampa Bay Derby and touch on the horses in the Virginia Oaks on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Just a reminder: beginning on 3/14, the next Kentucky Derby Future Wager ope...
After a weekend of exciting races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series the leaderboard is starting to get flushed out as we get into March. Darren and KK recap recent contenders from the San Felipe, Gotham and the Fountain of Youth. They then shift focus to Tampa Bay Downs and the running of the Tampa Bay Derby this weekend. Darren and KK analyze the full race card, previewing the horses that could impact the standings. Inside the Kentucky Derby is your home for exciting news...
We’re fully into the Championship Series of races, with key events happening across the globe. This weekend, the focus shifts to three U.S.-based races: the Fountain of Youth, Gotham, and San Felipe. Each race offers valuable points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale, giving contenders a chance to climb the leaderboard. Darren and KK analyze the full race cards, previewing the horses that could impact the standings. They also recap recent Road to the Derby races, including the Rebel, John Battaglia, an...
It may be cold across the country, but plenty of horses are heating up on the Kentucky Derby trail. Despite weather delays, the Road to the Derby races continue with the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway and the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The John Battaglia Memorial marks the final 20-point prep race, while the Rebel Stakes continues the Championship Series, awarding 50 points to the winner. Darren and KK analyze the full race cards, previewing the horses that could impact the standings. ...
Following a big weekend of football in New Orleans, the focus shifts to the racetrack in the Big Easy. The Championship Series kicks off at Fair Grounds with the Risen Star Stakes, the first 50-point race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Darren and KK analyze the full race card, previewing the horses that could impact the standings. They also discuss John Hancock's record-setting performance in the Sam F. Davis Stakes. Inside the Kentucky Derby is your home for exciting news, stories and in...
The focus of the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks shifts to Tampa Bay Downs, where the Sam F. Davis and Suncoast Stakes will take place. The winners of these races will earn 20 points on their respective paths. Darren and KK break down each race card, previewing the horses that could impact the standings. They also discuss the winning performances from the Withers, Holy Bull, and Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Inside the Kentucky Derby is your home for exciting news, stories and insights...
Across the country this weekend, a trio of Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races will take place, including the Withers at Aqueduct, the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park, and the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. Darren and KK analyze each race card, previewing the horses that could make an impact on the Derby standings. They also analyze Speed King’s performance in his recent Southwest Stakes victory as he aims to follow in the footsteps of Kentucky Derby 150 winner Mystik Dan. Inside the K...
All eyes turn to Oaklawn Park in Arkansas for the running of the Southwest Stakes and the Martha Washington. These upcoming races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks trail will award 20 points to the winners and help answer questions about a few key contenders. Hosts Darren and KK analyze the Southwest field to share their picks for this race and other notable 3-year-old horse races happening around the country this weekend! Inside the Kentucky Derby is your home for excit...
Inside the Kentucky Derby returns to cover The Road to the 151st Kentucky Derby. Races continue with the second major points race at Fair Grounds in the Lecomte Stakes. There is also the opening of Future Wager Pool 3 this weekend. The Lecomte Stakes features a strong field of horses looking to earn 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Darren, KK and Special guest Travis Stone analyze the field to give you, their picks! Inside the Kentucky Derby is your home for exciting news, stor...
Joining the show today is the newest Churchill Downs Racing Analyst Tony Calo. He joins the team to discuss the latest updates from here at Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders. Tony has been a longtime track announcer at Fingerlakes. Darren and KK discuss the Tony’s earliest memories of horse racing and highlight some of his favorite moments throughout his career in racing. Inside the Kentucky Derby: Around the Downs is a is your home for exciting news, stories an...
Joining the show today are Scott and Doug Davenport coaches of Bellarmine University’s Men’s Basketball team. As Louisville natives, Scott and Doug provide insight about their relationship with the city of Louisville and what the Kentucky Derby means to them having grown up in the city blocks away from Churchill Downs. Darren and KK discuss the coaches’ earliest memories of the derby and highlight some of their favorite moments of being at Churchill Downs. Inside the Kentucky Derby: Around th...
The preference list for the 150th Kentucky Derby is complete following the running of the Lexington Stakes. Encino needed a win plus a scratch to make it into the top-20 for the Derby starting gate and he got both this weekend! Darren and KK analyze the performance from Encino and they discuss the potential scenarios for the Kentucky Derby including some potential movement from horses on the preference list. Inside the Kentucky Derby is your home for exciting news, stories and insights ...
There will be a lot of moving parts throughout the next three weeks until the Kentucky Derby, but Saturday’s Lexington Stakes is a major part of deciding who’s in and who’s out of this year’s field. Contenders Hades and Encino currently sit on the bubble of Kentucky Derby contention. Both needing the win on Saturday to either get in or keep their hopes of qualifing for entry in the Derby starting gate. Darren and KK dive into the race to analyze their chances as well as the rest of the race f...
The penultimate weekend of Championship Series races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby did not disappoint. Stronghold, Sierra Leone, and Resilience all punched their ticket to the starting gate for the 150th Kentucky Derby. Darren and KK analyze the performances in the Blue Grass, Wood Memorial, and Santa Anita Derby and look ahead to their upcoming training for the Kentucky Derby. Inside the Kentucky Derby is your home for exciting news, stories and insights from the people inside of h...