Fiona Derek

European trainers have become much braver when it comes to putting their stable stars on to a transatlantic flight and hopes are high for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup. This year it is not just the big names in the training ranks who are making the journey to Keeneland.more…

Epicenter has proved expensive to follow at the top level but rewarded his supporters in convincing style in the 2022 $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday August 27. Saddled by Steve Asmussen formore…

Nations Pride rewarded his UK-based trainer Charlie Appleby’s decision to campaign him in the US for Godolphin by winning the 2022 $1 million Saratoga Derbymore…

Stamina was at a premium as Cyberknife kept on best in the stretch to beat shorter-odds rivals in a thrilling finish to the $1million 2022 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park (Saturday, July 23).more…

The unexpected 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike will skip the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico and run next in the Belmont Stakes on June 11, in pursuit of the third jewel in the Triple Crown.more…

There was tremendous talent displayed on Future Stars Friday at the 2021 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on November 5 with considerable success for many horse race bettors before drama andmore…

If ever a colt deserved to score at the top level it is Hot Rod Charlie and he finally gained his first grade 1 win in the 2021 $1 million Pennsylvania Derby run over a mile and a furlong at Parx on September 25.more…

War Like Goddess was expected to register her sixth win in the 2021 $600,000 Flower Bowl and did so easily on September 4, delighting her trainer Bill Mott. Relocated from Belmont Park, it was the first time this grade 1 for fillies and mares run onmore…

Bettors who supported Essential Quality heavily in the 2021 Travers Stakes had an extremely tense time as he dueled with Midnight Bourbon all the way to the wire on August 28 at Saratoga. The Godolphin homebred was the 2/5 favorite and rewarded his followers, winning bymore…

A month ago Malathaat had her first experience of defeat, but on August 21 she reasserted her superiority over her regular rivals in the $600,000 2021 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga under John Velazquez. Bettors did not lose confidence inmore…

Bettors were right to favor the Irish raider Santa Barbara on the day in the 2021 Beverly D Stakes at Arlington International Racecourse on August 14. Owned by Michael Tabor, Mrs John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, she won withmore…

A shipper from Ireland was expected to win the 2021 Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 7 but not the Joseph O’Brien-trained 21/1 shot, State Of Rest. This son of Starspangledbanner owned by Teme Valley Racing chose a great time to achieve his second score, grabbing the lion’s share of the $1 million prize fund.more…

Maracuja did not know that place money was her only feasible target when she headed the unbeaten and supremely talented 3/10 favorite Malathaat in the 2021 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday July 24.more…

Bolshoi Ballet was the heavy favorite for the 2021 Belmont Derby but he did not look likely to reward his followers until late in the stretch at Belmont Park on July 10.more…

Trainer Wesley Ward had to wait for the decision of the stewards after his Campanelle was narrowly beaten in the 2021 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, England on June 18. Sent off at 5/1 under the talented Italian Frankie Dettori, the filly was bumped andmore…

Essential Quality lived up to his name and proved a worthy favorite in the 2021 Belmont Stakes for Godolphin at Belmont Park on Saturday June 5. There was nail-biting duel with the long-time leader, Hot Rod Charlie, in the stretch that he eventually won by amore…

Rombauer is seeking his second Triple Crown score and is the second favorite for the 2021 Belmont Stakes on Saturday (June 5) after his unexpected Preakness win. There is often a heated debate about his race schedule but targeting the Belmont was a no-brainer. Rombauer hasmore…

A record-breaking seventh win in the 2021 Kentucky Derby seemed very unlikely for Bob Baffert but his 12/1 shot Medina Spirit, a bargain-basement $1000 yearling, surprised him andmore…

Malathaat proved a worthy 2021 Kentucky Oaks favorite and outbattled the equally determined Search Results at Churchill Downs on Friday (April 30) for trainer Todd Pletcher. There was a closely-fought duel, involving contact, that started aftermore…

Brad Cox was mighty relieved when favorite Essential Quality was allocated gate 14 at Churchill Downs for Saturday’s 2021 Kentucky Derby. There was a strong chance that his star trainee would be starting from the dreaded inside gate at one point during the draw on Tuesday morning. No horse has won the Run for the Roses from that position since 1986.more…

The $1 million 2021 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park is the final prep race for the Kentucky Derby on May 1 and it did not go to plan for the 3/10 favorite Concert Tour on Saturday (April 10). After a high-speed duel with Caddo River on the pace, he was unable tomore…

Rock Your World won his first race on dirt from the front, easily beating the odds-on favorite Medina Spirit in the $750,000 2021 Santa Anita Derby on April 3. He scored by four and a quarter lengths, gaining the necessary 100 points to reserve a stall in the Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs.more…

The US-trained Mystic Guide was the 6/4 favorite in the 2021 $12 million Dubai World Cup and won in the style of an odds-on shot for Godolphin in Meydan on March 27 under Luis Saez.more…

Swiss Skydiver completely outclassed her rivals in the grade 1 2021 Beholder Mile for fillies and mares at Santa Anita Park on March 13. She was favorite by a narrow margin at 7/5 but won so easy it was a beautiful thing to watch, especially for her trainer Kenny McPeek who decided to let her have a run much earlier thanmore…

Life Is Good drew well clear of the field in the Kentucky Derby betting after his sensational victory in the 2021 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park on March 6. He is now half the price of his closest rival. He showed his lack of experience by losing focus andmore…

The $20 million Saudi Cup was expected to be a two-horse race but the Pegasus World Cup winner Knicks Go weakened and the UK-trained Mishriff managed to close on Charlatan to win by a length at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh on February 20, 2021.more…

Mandaloun had something to prove after being beaten last time out in the Lecomte but turned the tables on his rivals to take the $400,000 Risen Star convincingly at Fair Grounds on February 13.more…

Knicks Go asserted his superiority over his rivals by leading from flag fall and powering all the way to the wire in the 2021 $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Saturday (January 23).

Saddled by Brad Cox and ridden by Joel Rosario formore…

When the starting gates were drawn for the $3 million Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational 2021 this week, it strengthened the confidence of bettors in Knicks Go, the 5/2 favorite who will jump from gate four.

Run over a mile and a furlong at Gulfstream Park onmore…

Anyone who loves racing has heard of Goldikova even if they were too young to pay attention when she won her third Breeders’ Cup Mile on the turf at Churchill Downs in 2010. Her passing at the age of 16 was announced on January 6 by Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for her ultra-wealthy owners and breeders, the Wertheimer brothers.more…