JC / Railbird

2019 Kentucky Derby

Prep schedule: Includes leaderboard, charts, replays, speed figures

Bellamy Road’s victory in the Wood was one of the most stunning and authoritative performances ever delivered in a prep race for the Kentucky Derby … He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 120 — the best performance in a Derby prep race since these numbers began appearing in print in 1991. It was better than the winning figure in any Triple Crown race during this period. And it was better than any horse of any age has earned in the United States this year … based on the limited evidence of the Wood Memorial, no horse in years has gone into the 3-year-old classics with such an advantage in raw talent over the rest of his generation. (MSNBC)

Q: Nerd. I assume you must know something about that song they always play.

A: Of course. It’s “My Old Kentucky Home,” written by Stephen Foster. No one can be sure that Stephen Foster ever visited Kentucky, and it certainly wasn’t his “home,” but it is one of the more recognizable tunes penned by this folk icon who died tragically young.

The song is played as the horses step on the track. Many folks sing along. Some just get weepy. And if you’re in the infield, by this point you’re probably too drunk to know the difference.

Bellamy Road (Zito/Castellano)
Won the Wood by 17 lengths, demolishing
the competition

Bandini (Pletcher/Velazquez)
He’s got every angle covered

Afleet Alex (Ritchey/Velazquez)
What lung infection? The old Alex is back.
And any doubts about his abilities around
two turns are gone after a brilliant win in
the Arkansas Derby

Noble Causeway (Zito/Prado)
Improves with each start

High Limit (Frankel/Dominguez)
Showed he can rate; decent second place
finish in the Blue Grass