Kentucky

Kentucky Derby roundup: Fierceness tries the track

Published

2 years ago

April 23, 2024

Kentucky Derby roundup: Fierceness tries the track

Fierceness, the champion 2-year-old of 2023 and possible favorite for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, made his first appearance on the Churchill Downs main track on Tuesday morning.

Fierceness galloped a mile during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks runners.

Also making his first appearance on track was Catalytic, who jogged a mile under exercise rider Olaf Hernandez.

Scheduled to work six furlongs on Wednesday morning is Forever Young. Jockey Ryuseu Sakai is slated to be aboard for the work.

At Gulfstream Park on Tuesday morning, Grand Mo the First worked six furlongs in 1:16.46 for trainer Victor Barboza Jr. Grand Mo the First is scheduled to ship to Louisville on Thursday.

Also at Gulfstream, Fiona’s Magic worked six furlongs in 1:15.16 toward the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks for trainer Bo Yates. Fiona’s Magic is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs in the next 48 hours, according to Yates

Catalytic. Making his first appearance on track Tuesday morning was Tami Bobo, Julie Davies and George Isaacs’ Catalytic, who jogged a mile under exercise rider Olaf Hernandez.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Catalystic arrived at Churchill Downs Monday morning after vanning from South Florida. Catalystic is scheduled to work Sunday.

Catching Freedom, Encino, Just a Touch. Trainer Brad Cox’s Derby trio of Catching Freedom, Encino and Just a Touch all galloped about 1 1/2 miles on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m.

Following their training sessions, the trio schooled in the paddock at 10 a.m.

Cox, who was at Keeneland on Tuesday morning, is scheduled to be back at Churchill Downs on Wednesday.

Domestic Product, Sierra Leone. Trainer Chad Brown’s two Kentucky Derby hopefuls galloped a mile and a half during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses.

It was the first day on the track for Domestic Product.

“The first day on the track was excellent. He was moving well,” Brown said.

Sierra Leone, winner of the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes and Grade 2 Risen Star, had regular exercise rider Kriss Bon aboard.

Dornoch, Society Man. Trainer Danny Gargan’s Kentucky Derby hopefuls, Dornoch and Society Man, galloped a mile and a half under Pricilla Schaefer.

Dornoch galloped at 7:30 and comes into the Derby off a fourth-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1).

Society Man, the runner-up in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial in his most recent start, galloped at 9 a.m.

Endlessly. Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks winner, Endlessly had an easy 1 1/2 mile gallop early Tuesday morning.

Endlessly is slated to work Saturday.

Fierceness. Fierceness made his first appearance on the track at Churchill Downs on Tuesday morning.

Fierceness galloped a mile during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks runners.

“He looked smooth and handled it well,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of the morning’s activity.

Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Grade 1 Florida Derby in dominating fashion, Fierceness is scheduled to work Friday morning, weather permitting.

Pletcher said Fierceness would make a couple of trips to the starting gate as well as a couple of paddock schooling sessions next week.

Pletcher discusses Fierceness and Kentucky Oaks contender Leslie’s Rose with Jennie Rees of the Kentucky Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association.

Forever Young. The undefeated Forever Young warmed up in the mile chute for a half-hour before galloping a mile and a half under jockey Ryusei Sakai.

Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, Forever Young is scheduled to work six furlongs in company Wednesday morning with Sakai aboard.

Yahagi is scheduled to arrive in Louisville next Tuesday night and be trackside on Wednesday morning, May 1.

Grand Mo the First. At Gulfstream Park on Tuesday morning, Grand Mo the First worked six furlongs in 1:16.46 for trainer Victor Barboza Jr. Grand Mo the First is scheduled to ship to Louisville on Thursday.

“It was a beautiful workout,” Barboza said via text of the solo move with jockey Emisael Jaramillo up. “We will arrive there Thursday night, walk Friday and then go to the track Saturday.”

Honor Marie. Honor Marie galloped 1 1/2 miles on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. under trainer Whit Beckman’s exercise rider Maurilio Garcia.

His jockey, Ben Curtis, was also in town on Tuesday to watch his Derby mount train.

Just Steel. Just Steel returned to the track on Tuesday for the first time since his serious one-mile work Saturday.

The D. Wayne Lukas trainee had an easy gallop around 5:30 a.m.

Mystik Dan. Mystik Dan galloped a mile and a half for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Winner of the Grade 3 Southwest and most recently third in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, Mystik Dan is scheduled to work Saturday.

Resilience. Resilience jogged about one mile on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. a day after his five furlong move in 1:01.60

“It was a beautiful work and had very good energy,” jockey Junior Alvarado said. “He’s a very easy horse to manage. He galloped out very strong. I had to pull him up a little bit earlier because he wanted to keep going.”

Alvarado was named to ride Resilience in the Kentucky Derby.

Stronghold. Stronghold, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in his most recent start, was en route to Louisville on Tuesday morning from trainer Phil D’Amato’s main base at Santa Anita.

Stronghold was scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday afternoon.

Track Phantom. Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes winner, Track Phantom jogged about one mile then had a light gallop under exercise rider Roberto Howell on Tuesday at 5:45 a.m.

West Saratoga. West Saratoga galloped two miles at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Kentucky, under Donte Lowery for trainer Larry Demeritte.

West Saratoga is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs with a work scheduled for Saturday morning.

“I thank God every day for my blessings in this life and this is truly amazing how we got to this position with this horse,” Demeritte said. “I’m hopeful people will see our story and become interested in this sport because this horse is proving anyone with a dream can make it to the Derby stage.”

Also Eligibles. Welch Racing’s Epic Ride galloped at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Trainer John Ennis tentative plans call for Epic Ride to come to Churchill Downs after training Friday morning in Lexington.

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Kentucky

Kentucky Volleyball set for Final Four showdown with Wisconsin

Published

24 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Kentucky Volleyball set for Final Four showdown with Wisconsin

The semifinal stage is set for No. 1 seed Kentucky volleyball, as the Wildcats prepare to take on No. 3 seed Wisconsin in the NCAA Final Four on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 9:00 PM ET inside the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

Kentucky has been dominant throughout the NCAA Tournament, including a 3–0 sweep of Wofford, a sweep against Cal Poly in the Sweet 16, and a sweep over Creighton in the Elite Eight. Their only dropped set came in the Round of 32 against UCLA. Outside of that brief hiccup, Kentucky has controlled matches from start to finish and remains undefeated at home this season.

Wisconsin arrives in Kansas City after a statement win over No. 1 Texas in the Elite Eight. The Badgers earned a measure of revenge against the Longhorns, who handed Wisconsin one of its four losses during the regular season. Kentucky accounted for Texas’ other two defeats, beating the Longhorns in both the regular season and the SEC Tournament championship.

Thursday’s matchup also carries historical weight for Big Blue Nation. Wisconsin was the team that ended Kentucky men’s basketball’s perfect 38–0 season in the 2015 Final Four, denying the Wildcats an undefeated national title.

Now, Kentucky volleyball has an opportunity to write a different ending against the Badgers on the sport’s biggest stage.

If the Wildcats advance, they’ll face the winner of the other national semifinal matchup, which sees No. 1 seed Pittsburgh, who actually handed Kentucky one of its regular-season losses, take on No. 3 seed Texas A&M, whom the Cats defeated in College Station.

With a spot in the national championship match on the line, the Wildcats will look to continue their dominant run and settle an old score. The national championship game is Sunday, Dec. 21, on ABC at 3:30 PM ET.

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Kentucky

PREVIEW: Kentucky wraps up home-and-home series with Belmont on the road

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

PREVIEW: Kentucky wraps up home-and-home series with Belmont on the road

Kentucky has had a week off following their 82-55 win over Central Michigan, and now, the Cats retake the court down in Nashville to take on the Belmont Bruins. This is the second game of a home-and-home series between the two programs. Kentucky won its contest against Belmont last season by just six points at home — an 84-78 game in which the Bruins gave Kentucky all it could handle.

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Belmont squad and the upcoming game.

Bio Blast

Belmont is 4-5 on the season, but this isn’t your average 4-5 Missouri Valley Conference team. Three of those five losses came to AP ranked teams and Princeton, who they also lost to, was the first team outside of the AP Poll in the latest release. So, make that four of their five losses that have come to AP top 26 teams.

Amidst those losses came a defeat to McNeese. That’s their only real stinker on the season. For most of the game, Belmont kept it close against No. 9 Oklahoma, No. 18 Tennessee, No. 21 Ohio State and Princeton who, again, is right outside the AP top 25.

Kentucky is 4-0 all-time against Belmont, and all of those matches have taken place since 2014. Georgia Amoore had 23 points and five assists in last year’s win over the Bruins. Amelia Hassett had a notable outing as well, scoring 16 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and getting two steals as she played in all 40 minutes of the game.

Scouting Report

Speaking of last year’s game, guard Jailyn Banks had 23 points against the Wildcats, and she could very well put up a similar number this time around. As a junior, Banks is averaging 14.9 points, 3.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game. She has scored in double figures in all of Belmont’s games this season except for one, when she put up seven points against the Buckeyes.

Avery Strickland has been a big contributor for them as well, averaging 11.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game this season. Tuti Jones, who had 11 against Kentucky a year ago, is putting up 9.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.2 steals per game.

Hilary Fuller is another name to watch for Belmont. She’s currently averaging 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 37.5% from deep. As a team, Belmont is shooting just 30.6% from three-point range, but she’s one of their players that can get hot in a hurry from the perimeter.

Belmont Bruins roster

via espn.com

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Projected Kentucky Starters

#5 – Tonie Morgan

5-FOOT-8 – GUARD – SENIOR

12.4 PPG – 8.5 APG – 2.9 RPG

#0 – Jordan Obi

6-FOOT-1 – GUARD – GRADUATE STUDENT

12.2 PPG – 6.2 RPG – 1 APG

#32 – Amelia Hassett

6-FOOT-4 – FORWARD – SENIOR

9.7 PPG – 6.1 RPG – 2 BPG

#7 – Teonni Key

6-FOOT-5 – FORWARD – SENIOR

11.5 PPG – 5.7 RPG – 1.6 BPG

#13 – Clara Strack

6-FOOT-5 – CENTER – JUNIOR

15.2 PPG – 10.2 RPG – 2.7 BPG

Phoenix’s Prediction

Score: 76-60, Kentucky

MVP: Amelia Hassett

Belmont’s 4-5 record is deceiving, and I would expect them to give Kentucky some trouble on the road. I don’t think they’ll ever truly threaten to win the game, but at the same time, I don’t think Kentucky is going to blow this team out to the point Gabby Brooks gets any PT. Give me Amelia Hassett to put up a team-high 20 points in the win.

How to Watch/Listen

Join The Discussion on KSBoard

Want to interact with the KSR crew during tonight’s game? Consider joining the conversation on KSBoard, where we’ll be sharing live updates while also answering questions and providing real-time analysis (and probably complaining about the officiating).

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Kentucky

Even Indiana-Kentucky basketball rivalry couldn’t resist HeisMendoza chants

Published

2 days ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Even Indiana-Kentucky basketball rivalry couldn’t resist HeisMendoza chants

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman Trophy triumph made noise as far afield as Rupp Arena on Saturday night.

Indiana could not claim too many fans in the building, in the Hoosiers’ first regular-season game against Kentucky in 14 years, unsurprising given the venue. But the ones who made the trip east on I-64 made themselves heard more than once during a 72-60 loss.

That included what has become a familiar chant among IU fans, one that broke out not long into the game and yet owing absolutely nothing to what was happening on the floor.

As news filtered through the arena that Mendoza had won his program’s first Heisman Trophy, fans seated in small clusters — including one group just a few feet away from the media seating area — began loudly chanting “Heis-Mendoza!” at the news.

It was the latest reminder of IU’s brave new world, with football and basketball co-existing so significantly, so late into the calendar. Curt Cignetti’s team, the No. 1 seed in this year’s College Football Playoff, will next play in the Rose Bowl, on New Year’s Day in Los Angeles.

The Hoosiers await the winner of the 8/9 game between Oklahoma and Alabama, in Norman.

In the meantime, they’ve spent the pre-Christmas period resting on the field, while cleaning up off it. Mendoza and Cignetti were named Big Ten offensive player and coach of the year, respectively, while Carter Smith won the conference’s lineman-of-the-year award.

Cignetti has also won multiple national coach-of-the-year awards, with more potentially on the way.

Mendoza added a clutch of trophies to his mantle this weekend in New York, including not just the Heisman Trophy but the Davey O’Brien Award for nation’s best quarterback and the Maxwell Award for nation’s best player. Mendoza is also the first Hoosier to win the O’Brien Award, and the second (after Anthony Thompson) to win the Maxwell.

More than a dozen Hoosiers have landed All-Big Ten and/or All-America honors since their Big Ten championship game triumph a week ago. A handful — including Smith, Aiden Fisher, Riley Nowakowski, Pat Coogan, Isaiah Jones and others — traveled to New York to celebrate with their quarterback.

Alberto Mendoza, Fernando Mendoza’s backup and younger brother, also made the trip. Both brothers became visibly emotional when Fernando referenced his younger brother during his acceptance speech.

The Hoosiers ultimately left Rupp Arena empty handed Saturday. But their football program once again left them celebrating, nonetheless.

Want more Hoosiers coverage? Sign up for IndyStar’s Hoosiers newsletter. Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the latest on IndyStar TV: Hoosiers.

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