Kentucky
Louisville narrowly avoids disaster against Eastern Kentucky
Noah Waterman’s driving layup with 1.2 seconds to play helped Louisville avoid what would have been a catastrophic loss to Eastern Kentucky Saturday afternoon inside the KFC Yum Center.
Trailing by one in the closing moments, U of L forced Colonels star Devontae Blanton into a missed jumper. Reyne Smith then took off up the left side of the floor, where he nearly lost the ball before finding Waterman, who nearly lost the ball as well. After regaining his footing, Waterman drove to the rim for a contested bucket that would give the Cardinals a 1-point lead.
A steal and a free-throw by Terrence Edwards would set the game’s score at its final margin.
The end-of-game sequence allowed the Cardinals to avoid what would have been a crippling defeat in game they were favored to win by 21.5 points. Instead, they’ll enter the New Year with an 8-5 record and only losses to quality opponents on their resume.
Still, the fact that Louisville couldn’t put away an EKU team that nearly knocked the Cardinals off for the first time since 1963 was more than a little unnerving.
After knocking down nine three-pointers in the first half, U of L could manage just two makes from deep in the second frame. The most important of those came from Smith, whose three with just under two minutes to play put the Cards ahead, 75-73. EKU’s George Kimble, who finished with a game-high 24 points, promptly answered with a three of his own to set up the game’s frantic final moments.
I don’t know if it was the holiday break or what, but the energy was down, the defense was downright bad, and the head-scratching unforced turnovers were back.
We are extremely fortunate that this wasn’t a Quad 4 loss that would have completely tanked our resume right before we begin our dive into the heart of conference play.
The most crucial two week stretch of the season — one which features games against North Carolina, Virginia, Pitt and Clemson — is now upon us. Handle it well, and we can dream March Madness dreams as we go deeper into January and February. Handle it the way we handled things today, and the season shifts to “keep fighting, see how many wins we can scrap together, and maybe we can pull off a crazy run in Charlotte” mode.
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Photo:
Fair Grounds / Hodges Photography & Jessica Morgan / Eclipse Sportswire
If college basketball could have its selection Sunday, then
horse racing offers its answer with selection Saturdays. Eight major stakes in
the next three weeks will do more to fill the starting gate for Kentucky Derby
2025 than all the prep races beforehand this winter.
The Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds in
New Orleans and the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park near
Cincinnati are scheduled to happen less than 20 minutes apart Saturday. The
winners are guaranteed of invitations and second-place finishers virtually
assured of joining them in the run for the roses May 3 at Churchill Downs.
John Hancock and Poster are the program favorites for this
weekend’s features, which will be followed March 29 by the Florida Derby (G1)
and Arkansas Derby (G1). The UAE Derby (G2) has a separate path to Louisville
on April 5, the same day the Blue Grass (G1), Wood Memorial (G2) and Santa
Anita Derby (G1) color in most of the rest of the Kentucky picture.
Eclipse Award winner Sierra Leone stands out on the
Louisiana Derby undercard with his return in the New Orleans Classic (G2). Between
the Bayou, northern Kentucky, the Arkansas mountains and Southern California, there
are nine key stakes on the Saturday calendar.
Saturday
Louisiana Derby (G2), Fair Grounds, 1 3/16 miles,
3-year-olds, Kentucky Derby 100-50-25-15-10 points race
It was just last week when John Hancock was drawn into a
field of 10 for the Virginia Derby. Then trainer Brad Cox decided to wait for
this race that rewards twice as many Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Now the 2-for-2
Constitution colt is entered in another 10-horse field. After drawing the rail
post, John Hancock was made the 7-2 favorite on the morning line. With 20
points from his narrow Sam F. Davis victory Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs, he might
need only a third-place finish in New Orleans to get into the big starting gate
this spring at Churchill Downs.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start | Morn. line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
John Hancock Constitution |
7.06 |
Brad Cox Flavien Prat |
1st, 2025 Sam F. Davis |
7-2 |
|
Last race |
1st, 2025 Sam F. Davis |
|||||
| 2 |
|
Chunk of Gold Preservationist |
6.12 |
Ethan West Jareth Loveberry |
2nd, 2025 Risen Star G2 |
8-1 |
|
Last race |
2nd, 2025 Risen Star G2 |
|||||
| 3 |
|
Tiztastic Tiz the Law |
6.64 |
Steve Asmussen Joel Rosario |
5th, 2025 Rebel G2 |
8-1 |
|
Last race |
5th, 2025 Rebel G2 |
|||||
| 4 |
|
Yinzer Twirling Candy |
Steve Asmussen Ben Curtis |
1st, FG, MSW, 2/15/25 R9 |
12-1 | |
|
Last race |
1st, FG, MSW, 2/15/25 R9 | |||||
| 5 |
|
Caldera Liam’s Map |
6.76 |
D. Wayne Lukas Tyler Gaffalione |
2nd, 2025 Sunland Derby |
5-1 |
|
Last race |
2nd, 2025 Sunland Derby |
|||||
| 6 |
|
Built Hard Spun |
6.57 |
Wayne Catalano José Ortiz |
3rd, 2025 Risen Star G2 |
9-2 |
|
Last race |
3rd, 2025 Risen Star G2 |
|||||
| 7 |
|
Vassimo Nyquist |
6.06 |
Todd Pletcher Irad Ortiz Jr. |
4th, 2025 Risen Star G2 |
12-1 |
|
Last race |
4th, 2025 Risen Star |
|||||
| 8 |
|
Furio McKinzie |
5.79 |
Joe Sharp Luis Sáez |
2nd, FG, alw OC, 2/17/25 R5 |
12-1 |
|
Last race |
2nd, FG, alw OC, 2/17/25 R5 | |||||
| 9 |
|
Instant Replay Maximum Security |
5.34 |
Brad Cox Florent Géroux |
1st, FG, alw OC, 2/17/25 R5 | 6-1 |
|
Last race |
1st, FG, alw OC, 2/17/25 R5 |
|||||
| 10 |
|
Hypnus Into Mischief |
4.79 |
Kenny McPeek Brian Hernandez Jr. |
7th, 2025 Rebel G2 |
12-1 |
|
Last race |
7th, 2025 Rebel G2 |
|||||
New Orleans Classic (G2), Fair Grounds, 1 1/8 miles, 4-year-olds
and up
Which version of Sierra Leone will show up for his
4-year-old debut in this $500,000 race? The most successful version has earned
$6,008,000 with deep-closing performances like his Breeders’ Cup Classic win
that clinched a division championship. He also won the 2024 Risen Star (G2) in
his only previous start at Fair Grounds. After he finished first in last year’s
Blue Grass (G1), the son of Gun Runner lost four races in a row, including
three as the post-time favorite. Regardless of those times he has dashed the
highest wagering hopes for him, Sierra Leone is 9-for-9 when it comes to being
part of the trifecta.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start | Morn. line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Kinetic Street Sense |
6.23 |
Brad Cox Luis Sáez |
1st, General MacArthur Overnight |
10-1 |
|
Last race |
1st, General MacArthur Overnight |
|||||
| 2 |
|
Hall of Fame Gun Runner |
6.60 |
Steve Asmussen José Ortiz |
1st, 2025 Mineshaft G3 |
4-1 |
|
Last race |
1st, 2025 Mineshaft G3 |
|||||
| 3 |
|
San Siro Classic Empire |
Brendan Walsh Édgar Morales |
1st, FG, alw OC, 2/1/25 R6 | 15-1 | |
|
Last race |
1st, FG, alw OC, 2/1/25 R6 |
|||||
| 4 |
|
Maycocks Bay Speightstown |
6.34 |
Michael Stidham Ben Curtis |
3rd, 2025 Mineshaft G3 |
12-1 |
|
Last race |
3rd, 2025 Mineshaft G3 |
|||||
| 5 |
|
Touchuponastar Star Guitar |
5.45 |
Jeff Delhomme Timothy Thornton |
1st, La.-Bred Premier Night Championship |
6-1 |
|
Last race |
1st, La.-Bred Premier Night Championship |
|||||
| 6 |
|
Uno Mas Bourbon Macho Uno |
6.55 |
Ian Wilkes Brian Hernandez Jr. |
3rd, GP, alw OC, 2/15/25 R9 | 30-1 |
|
Last race |
3rd, GP, alw OC, 2/15/25 R9 |
|||||
| 7 |
|
Sierra Leone Gun Runner |
7.88 |
Chad Brown Flavien Prat |
1st, 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic G1 |
7-5 |
|
Last race |
1st, 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic G1 |
|||||
| 8 |
|
Tarantino Pioneer Of The Nile |
6.05 |
Peter Eurton Edwin Maldonado |
3rd, 2025 San Pasqual G2 |
15-1 |
|
Last race |
3rd, 2025 San Pasqual G2 |
|||||
| 9 |
|
Komorebino Omoide California Chrome |
6.37 |
Robertino Diodoro Jansen Melancon |
2nd, 2025 Mineshaft G3 |
8-1 |
|
Last race |
2nd, 2025 Mineshaft G3 |
|||||
| 10 |
|
Bishops Bay Uncle Mo |
5.89 |
Brad Cox Irad Ortiz Jr. |
1st, OP, alw, OC, 1/25/25 R4 | 10-1 |
|
Last race |
1st, OP, alw, OC, 1/25/25 R4 |
|||||
Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 miles,
3-year-old fillies, Kentucky Oaks 100-50-25-15-10 points race
Cox also has an undefeated starter Saturday in Fair Grounds’
automatic qualifier for the Kentucky Oaks (G2). Good Cheer, a Godolphin
homebred filly by Medaglia d’Oro, is 5-for-5. Dominating in all her starts, she
drew away to a 6 1/4-length triumph Feb. 15 in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at
Fair Grounds. With 45 points from her three wins in Oaks preps, Good Cheer
already may have done enough to assure her place among the 14 fillies running
for the lilies May 2.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Girl Math McKinzie |
Rodolphe Brisset Flavien Prat |
5th, 2025 Cincinnati Trophy |
Entered | |
|
Last race |
5th, 2025 Cincinnati Trophy |
|||||
| 2 |
|
Gowells Delight Practical Joke |
6.34 |
Kenny McPeek Brian Hernandez Jr. |
2nd, 2025 Rachel Alexandra G2 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
2nd, 2025 Rachel Alexandra G2 |
|||||
| 3 |
|
Ahavah City of Light |
Cherie DeVaux José Ortiz |
1st, FG, MSW, 2/15/25 R6 | Entered | |
|
Last race |
1st, FG, MSW, 2/15/25 R6 |
|||||
| 4 |
|
Jenkin Mineshaft |
6.27 |
Lindsay Schultz Florent Géroux |
8th, 2025 Honeybee G3 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
8th, 2025 Honeybee G3 |
|||||
| 5 |
|
Her Laugh Practical Joke |
6.34 | Whit Beckman
Irad Ortiz Jr. |
2nd, 2025 Suncoast |
Entered |
|
Last race |
2nd, 2025 Suncoast |
|||||
| 6 |
|
Bless the Broken Laoban |
6.06 |
Will Walden Axel Concepción |
3rd, 2025 Rachel Alexandra G2 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
3rd, 2025 Rachel Alexandra G2 |
|||||
| 7 |
|
Good Cheer Medaglia d’Oro |
7.45 |
Brad Cox Luis Sáez |
1st, 2025 Rachel Alexandra G2 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
1st, 2025 Rachel Alexandra G2 |
|||||
| 8 |
|
Secret Faith Aurelius Maximus |
Jayde Gelner Jareth Loveberry |
1st, La.-Bred Premier Night Starlet |
Entered | |
|
Last race |
1st, La.-Bred Premier Night Starlet | |||||
| 9 |
|
Quickick McKinzie |
7.24 |
Tom Amoss Tyler Gaffalione |
5th, 2025 Honeybee G3 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
5th, 2025 Honeybee G3 |
|||||
Muniz Memorial Classic presented by Horse Racing
Nation (G2), Fair Grounds, 1 1/8 miles, turf, 4-year-olds and up
The three millionaires in Fair Grounds’ top turf race
Saturday stand out for more than their bankrolls. Spirit of St Louis, a
6-year-old gelding from Chad Brown’s barn, rallied in his 2025 debut to deliver
a thrilling triumph in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).
Five-year-old Gigante won two listed Fair Grounds stakes, lower case, since he
finished second in last year’s Muniz Memorial, but he was a disappointing
eighth last month in the Fair Grounds Stakes (G3), upper case. Brilliant Berti,
one of the three 4-year-olds in the 12-horse field, made the Oct. 26 Bryan
Station (G3) his fifth win in seven career starts before going on a 4 1/2-month
break.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start | Morn. line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Gigante Not This Time |
6.49 |
Steve Asmussen Joel Rosario |
8th, 2025 Fair Grounds G3 |
8-1 |
|
Last race |
8th, 2025 Fair Grounds G3 |
|||||
| 2 |
|
Johny’s Fireball Tonalist |
5.47 |
Norm Casse Florent Géroux |
6th, John B. Connally Turf Cup |
20-1 |
|
Last race |
6th, John B. Connally Turf Cup |
|||||
| 3 |
|
What Say Thee Sea The Stars |
Mike Maker Luis Sáez |
3rd, 2025 Fair Grounds G3 |
10-1 | |
|
Last race |
3rd, 2025 Fair Grounds G3 |
|||||
| 4 |
|
Cameo Performance Oscar Performance |
5.84 |
Brendan Walsh Irad Ortiz Jr. |
8th, 2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3 |
20-1 |
|
Last race |
8th, 2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3 |
|||||
| 5 |
|
Redistricting Kingman |
6.34 |
Chad Brown Flavien Prat |
2nd, 2024 Seabiscuit Handicap G2 |
9-2 |
|
Last race |
2nd, 2024 Seabiscuit Handicap G2 |
|||||
| 6 |
|
Spirit of St Louis Medaglia d’Oro |
7.76 |
Chad Brown Tyler Gaffalione |
1st, 2025 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational G1 |
3-1 |
|
Last race |
1st, 2025 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational G1 |
|||||
| 7 |
|
Rebel Red Frankel |
5.94 |
Cherie DeVaux José Ortiz |
3rd, 2024 Red Smith G2 |
4-1 |
|
Last race |
3rd, 2024 Red Smith G2 |
|||||
| 8 |
|
Brilliant Berti Noble Mission |
6.67 |
Cherie DeVaux Brian Hernandez Jr. |
1st, 2024 Bryan Station G3 |
5-1 |
|
Last race |
1st, 2024 Bryan Station G3 |
|||||
| 9 |
|
Smokey Mandate Strong Mandate |
3.79 |
Mike Maker Jareth Loveberry |
1st, FG, alw OC, 2/22/25 R8 |
20-1 |
|
Last race |
1st, FG, alw OC, 2/22/2025 R8 |
|||||
| 10 |
|
Dancin In Da’nile Pioneerof the Nile |
4.45 |
Gail Cox Axel Concepción |
4th, 2024 Valedictory G3 |
20-1 |
|
Last race |
4th, 2024 Valedictory G3 |
|||||
| 11 |
|
Idratherbeblessed Unified |
3.79 |
Chris Hartman Ben Curtis |
4th, 2025 Fair Grounds G3 |
20-1 |
|
Last race |
4th, 2025 Fair Grounds G3 |
|||||
| 12 |
|
Higgins Boat Omaha Beach |
6.06 |
Tom Amoss Édgar Morales |
2nd, 2025 Fair Grounds G3 |
15-1 |
|
Last race |
2nd, 2025 Fair Grounds G3 |
|||||
Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), Turfway Park, 1 1/8 miles,
synthetic, 3-year-olds, Kentucky Derby 100-50-25-15-10 points race
Poster has won twice on turf and once on dirt. After a
third-place finish last month in the Sam F. Davis, trainer Eoin Harty will try
Godolphin’s homebred Munnings colt on Tapeta for the first time. The winner of
the Remsen (G2) on the Aqueduct dirt in December, Poster will be paired with
John Velázquez this weekend, his fourth different jockey in five starts. Among
the other entrants in the overflow field, California Burrito successfully
graduated to stakes company with a narrow, gate-to-wire victory in the John
Battaglia Memorial covering 1 1/16 miles of Turfway’s synthetic track Feb. 22.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Calling Card Complexity |
6.06 |
Mike Maker Adam Beschizza |
7th, 2025 Gotham G3 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
7th, 2025 Gotham G3 |
|||||
| 2 |
|
Charlie’s To Blame Blame |
6.12 |
Peter Eurton Juan Hernández |
1st, 2025 Kitten’s Joy |
Entered |
|
Last race |
1st, 2025 Kitten’s Joy |
|||||
| 3 |
|
California Burrito Army Mule |
6.14 |
Tommy Drury |
1st, 2025 John Battaglia Memorial |
Entered |
|
Last race |
1st, 2025 John Battaglia Memorial |
|||||
| 4 |
|
Final Gambit Not This Time |
Brad Cox Luan Machado |
1st, TP, MSW, 2/15/25 R5 |
Entered | |
|
Last race |
1st, TP, MSW, 2/15/25 R5 | |||||
| 5 |
|
Flying Mohawk Karakontie |
5.79 | Whit Beckman
Joe Ramos |
1st, FG, alw OC, 1/30/25 R8 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
1st, FG, alw OC, 1/30/25 R8 | |||||
| 6 |
|
Baby Max Maximus Mischief |
6.07 |
Kelsey Danner Abel Cedillo |
2nd, 2025 John Battaglia Memorial |
Entered |
|
Last race |
2nd, 2025 John Battaglia Memorial |
|||||
| 7 |
|
Giocoso Not This Time |
6.15 | Keith Desormeaux
Jaime Torres |
12th, 2025 Risen Star G2 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
12th, 2025 Risen Star G2 |
|||||
| 8 |
|
Innovator Authentic |
6.24 |
D. Wayne Lukas Nik Juárez |
12th, 2025 Rebel G2 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
12th, 2025 Rebel G2 |
|||||
| 9 |
|
Poster Munnings |
7.12 |
Eoin Harty John Velázquez |
3rd, 2025 Sam F. Davis |
Entered |
|
Last race |
3rd, 2025 Sam F. Davis |
|||||
| 10 |
|
Maximum Promise Maximum Security |
6.05 |
Kenny McPeek Frankie Dettori |
3rd, 2025 John Battaglia Memorial |
Entered |
|
Last race |
3rd, 2025 John Battaglia Memorial |
|||||
| 11 |
|
Curvino Vino Rosso |
Peter Miller Gerardo Corrales |
3rd, OP, alw OC, 2/24/25 R6 |
Entered | |
|
Last race |
3rd, OP, alw OC, 2/24/25 R6 | |||||
| 12 |
|
He’s Not Joking Practical Joke |
6.27 |
Josie Carroll Rafael Hernández |
5th, 2025 Holy Bull G3 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
5th, 2025 Holy Bull G3 |
|||||
|
13 ae |
|
Candytown Speightstown |
Todd Pletcher John Velázquez |
2nd, TAM, MSW, 2/8/25 R7 |
Entered | |
|
Last race |
2nd, TAM, MSW, 2/8/25 R7 | |||||
Bourbonette Oaks, Turfway Park, 1 1/16 miles, synthetic,
3-year-old fillies, Kentucky Oaks 50-25-15-10-5 points race
Racing on her home track, White Rocks tries to parlay her
Cincinnati Trophy score Feb. 21 into a victory that would clinch one of the 14
berths in the Kentucky Oaks. The daughter of Frosted will be rematched against
Adrift, who finished second in last month’s one-mile race, and
Somethinabouther, who came in third. Fourth-place Bracelet, an also-eligible
entrant this week, would join the rematch with one scratch. Just Ruthless, who
finished eighth in the Cincinnati Trophy, is also part of the reunion.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Resolve Midnight Lute |
5.87 |
Leonard Powell Umberto Rispoli |
2nd, SA, alw OC, 2/21/25 R7 | Entered |
|
Last race |
2nd, SA, alw OC, 2/21/25 R7 |
|||||
| 2 |
|
Somethinabouther Mendelssohn |
6.34 |
Brendan Walsh Declan Cannon |
3rd, 2025 Cincinnati Trophy |
Entered |
|
Last race |
3rd, 2025 Cincinnati Trophy |
|||||
| 3 |
|
Admit Blame |
5.84 |
Tommy Drury |
2nd, 2025 Cincinnati Trophy |
Entered |
|
Last race |
2nd, 2025 Cincinnati Trophy |
|||||
| 4 |
|
Zealous Moon The Factor |
Riley Mott Jaime Torres |
1st, GP, alw, 2/2/25 R8 | Entered | |
|
Last race |
1st, GP, alw, 2/2/25 R8 |
|||||
| 5 |
|
Bless the Broken Laoban |
6.06 |
Will Walden John Velázquez |
3rd, 2025 Rachel Alexandra G2 | Entered |
|
Last race |
3rd, 2025 Rachel Alexandra G2 |
|||||
| 6 |
|
Getting After It Violence |
Michael Puhich Juan Hernández |
2nd, TP, alw OC, 3/6/25 R7 | Entered | |
|
Last race |
2nd, TP, alw OC, 3/6/25 R7 |
|||||
| 7 |
|
As Catch Can Mo Town |
6.15 |
Jonathan Thomas Frankie Dettori |
2nd, 2025 Sweet Life |
Entered |
|
Last race |
2nd, 2025 Sweet Life |
|||||
| 8 |
|
Golden Sunshine Medaglia d’Oro |
Eoin Harty Vincent Cheminaud |
1st, TP, MSW, 2/13/25 R8 |
Entered | |
|
Last race |
1st, TP, MSW, 2/13/25 R8 | |||||
| 9 |
|
Fixin To Bee Mshawish |
5.79 | Rusty Arnold Corey Lanerie |
4th, 2025 Sweetest Chant |
Entered |
|
Last race |
4th, 2025 Sweetest Chant |
|||||
| 10 |
|
Just Ruthless Justify |
Destin Heath Gabriel Sáez |
8th, 2025 Cincinnati Trophy |
Entered | |
|
Last race |
8th, 2025 Cincinnati Trophy |
|||||
| 11 |
|
White Rocks Frosted |
6.12 |
Arnaud Delacour Victor Carrasco |
1st, 2025 Cincinnati Trophy |
Entered |
|
Last race |
1st, 2025 Cincinnati Trophy |
|||||
| 12 |
|
Will Then War of Will |
6.34 |
Jonathan Thomas Gerardo Corrales |
1st, 2024 Jimmy Durante G3 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
1st, 2024 Jimmy Durante G3 |
|||||
|
13 ae |
|
Bracelet Authentic |
Brad Cox Luan Machado |
4th, 2025 Cincinnati Trophy |
Entered | |
|
Last race |
4th, 2025 Cincinnati Trophy |
|||||
|
14 ae |
|
Classic Appeal Classic Empire |
John Hancock Albin Jiménez |
13th, 2025 Honeybee G3 |
Entered | |
|
Last race |
13th, 2025 Honeybee G3 |
|||||
Kentucky Cup Classic (G3), Turfway Park, 1 1/8 miles,
synthetic, 4-year-olds and up
Three weeks after a seventh-place finish in the Gulfstream
Park Mile (G2), Godolphin homebred Encino goes back to the Tapeta track where
his career began so impressively. Overcoming a dawdling start to finish second
by a neck in his debut last winter, the 4-year-old Nyquist colt broke his
maiden next out and then finished first in the 2024 Battaglia. After an April
13 victory in the Lexington (G3) on the Keeneland dirt, a soft-tissue strain
cost him a start in the Kentucky Derby and put him on Cox’s bench for nine
months. A comeback win came Jan. 16 in a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Gulfstream
Park. That was where Encino set the pace early this month before fading off the
board.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Highestdistinction Point of Entry |
4.79 |
Lindsay Schultz Adam Beschizza |
4th, TP, alw OC, 2/28/2025 R8 | Entered |
|
Last race |
4th, TP, alw OC, 2/28/2025 R8 |
|||||
| 2 |
|
Paros Cairo Prince |
5.34 |
Mike Maker Juan Hernández |
5th, 2025 Canadian Turf G3 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
5th, 2025 Canadian Turf G3 |
|||||
| 3 |
|
Verstappen War Front |
6.11 |
Brendan Walsh Declan Cannon |
2nd, John B. Connally Turf Cup |
Entered |
|
Last race |
2nd, John B. Connally Turf Cup |
|||||
| 4 |
|
Mercante Gun Runner |
Brian Knippenberg Joe Ramos |
1st, TP, alw OC, 2/12/25 R5 |
Entered | |
|
Last race |
1st, TP, alw OC, 2/12/25 R5 | |||||
| 5 |
|
Gamer Twirling Candy |
Hugo Andrade Óscar Villarreal |
1st, TP, OC, 2/28/25 R3 |
Entered | |
|
Last race |
1st, TP, OC, 2/28/25 R3 | |||||
| 6 |
|
Encino Nyquist |
6.81 |
Brad Cox Luan Machado |
7th, 2025 Gulfstream Park Mile G2 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
7th, 2025 Gulfstream Park Mile G2 |
|||||
| 7 |
|
Tapit Shoes Tapit |
6.03 |
Ed Moger Jr. Evin Román |
4th, Dust Commander |
Entered |
|
Last race |
4th, Dust Commander |
|||||
| 8 |
|
Hush of a Storm Creative Cause |
4.84 |
Brad Cox Vincent Cheminaud |
2nd, Dust Commander |
Entered |
|
Last race |
2nd, Dust Commander |
|||||
| 9 |
|
Tall Boy Lookin At Lucky |
5.70 |
Doug O’Neill Rafael Hernández |
1st, CD, alw OC, 5/2/2024 R8 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
1st, CD, alw OC, 5/2/2024 R8 | |||||
| 10 |
|
Utah Beach English Channel |
6.07 | Nacho Correas Frankie Dettori |
9th, 2025 William L. McKnight G3 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
9th, 2025 William L. McKnight G3 |
|||||
| 11 |
|
Lord Bullingdon Lord Nelson |
6.26 |
Michael McCarthy Umberto Rispoli |
3rd, 2025 San Marcos G3 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
3rd, 2025 San Marcos G3 |
|||||
| 12 |
|
Chiron Protonico |
Richard Estvanko Sophie Doyle |
1st, Dust Commander |
Entered | |
|
Last race |
1st, Dust Commander |
|||||
|
13 ae |
|
Tucson Constitution |
Todd Pletcher John Velázquez |
1st, GP, alw OC, 2/22/2025 R11 |
Entered | |
|
Last race |
1st, GP, alw OC, 2/22/2025 R11 | |||||
Essex (G3), Oaklawn, 1 1/16 miles, 4-year-olds and up
Sired by Street Sense out of Bernardini mare Collective, 4-year-old colt Kinetic has yet to have his racing résumé measure up to his bloodlines. Lightly raced for Cox, the Godolphin homebred won by three-quarters of a length as the odds-on favorite Jan. 25 in the $145,000 General MacArthur Overnight going 1 1/8 miles at Oaklawn. Two starts back he finished second to Saudi Crown in the $100,000 Tenacious at Fair Grounds. Kinetic will carry the top weight of 120 pounds, between one and four more than anyone else in the field.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Red Route One Gun Runner |
7.11 |
Steve Asmussen Keith Asmussen |
7th, 2025 Razorback Handicap G3 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
7th, 2025 Razorback Handicap G3 |
|||||
| 2 |
|
Maycocks Bay Speightstown |
6.34 |
Michael Stidham Francisco Arrieta |
3rd, 2025 Mineshaft G3 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
3rd, 2025 Mineshaft G3 |
|||||
| 3 |
|
Tarantino Pioneer Of The Nile |
6.05 |
Peter Eurton Edwin Maldonado |
3rd, 2025 San Pasqual G2 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
3rd, 2025 San Pasqual G2 |
|||||
| 4 |
|
Patriot Spirit Constitution |
6.18 |
Michael Campbell Rafael Bejarano |
2nd, 2025 Fifth Season |
Entered |
|
Last race |
2nd, 2025 Fifth Season |
|||||
| 5 |
|
Kinetic Street Sense |
6.23 |
Brad Cox Cristian Torres |
1st, General MacArthur Overnight |
Entered |
|
Last race |
1st, General MacArthur Overnight |
|||||
| 6 |
|
Speed Bias Uncle Mo |
4.84 |
Ron Moquett Ricardo Santana Jr. |
4th, OP, alw OC, 2/28/2025 R9 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
4th, OP, alw OC, 2/28/2025 R9 | |||||
| 7 |
|
Unload Gun Runner |
5.79 |
Steve Asmussen Erik Asmussen |
7th, OP, alw OC, 1/25/25 R4 |
Entered |
|
Last race |
7th, OP, alw OC, 1/25/25 R4 | |||||
San Luis Rey (G3), Santa Anita, 1 1/2 miles, turf,
4-year-olds and up
In a race likely to be without any standout winning streaks, some recent also-rans may capture the attention of bettors. Seven-year-old Easter and 4-year-old Lord Bullingdon finished second and third in that order in the 1 1/4-mile San Marcos (G3), which was won Feb. 8 by There Goes Harvard. Six-year-old Midnight Mammoth, who won the 1 1/2-mile Cougar II (G3) by 10 1/4 lengths in July at Del Mar, lost his last three races by a combined 49 1/2 lengths, all at shorter distances. According to the Santa Anita racing office, a $67,000 turf allowance going 1 1/8 miles March 29 may lure some of the horses listed as possible rather than probable for the San Luis Rey.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Midnight Mammoth Midnight Lute |
6.91 |
Craig Dollase |
4th, 2025 Santa Anita Handicap G1 |
Probable | |
|
Last race |
4th, 2025 Santa Anita Handicap G1 |
|||||
|
|
Cabo Spirit Pioneerof the Nile |
6.71 |
George Papaprodromou |
3rd, 2025 Frank E. Kilroe Mile G1 |
Probable | |
|
Last race |
3rd, 2025 Frank E. Kilroe Mile G1 |
|||||
|
|
Easter Exosphere |
6.49 |
Phil D’Amato |
2nd, 2025 San Marcos G3 |
Probable | |
|
Last race |
2nd, 2025 San Marcos G3 |
|||||
|
|
Lord Bullingdon Lord Nelson |
6.26 |
Michael McCarthy |
3rd, 2025 San Marcos G3 |
Probable | |
|
Last race |
3rd, 2025 San Marcos G3 |
|||||
|
|
Megayacht Tonalist |
4.12 | Bob Hess Jr. |
1st, SA, clm, 2/2/25 R1 |
Probable | |
|
Last race |
1st, SA, clm, 2/2/25 R1 | |||||
|
|
Atitlan The Factor |
6.70 |
John Shirreffs |
5th, 2025 San Marcos G3 |
Possible | |
|
Last race |
5th, 2025 San Marcos G3 |
|||||
|
|
Balladeer Distorted Humor |
6.15 |
George Papaprodromou |
9th, 2024 Kentucky Turf Cup G2 |
Possible | |
|
Last race |
9th, 2024 Kentucky Turf Cup G2 |
|||||
|
|
Divin Propos George Vancouver |
6.09 |
Phil D’Amato |
4th, 2025 San Marcos G3 |
Possible | |
|
Last race |
4th, 2025 San Marcos G3 |
|||||
|
|
Wizard Of Westwood Tu Brutus |
5.91 |
Michael McCarthy |
8th, 2025 Thunder Road G3 |
Possible | |
|
Last race |
8th, 2025 Thunder Road G3 |
|||||
|
|
El Rey Rey Karakontie |
4.79 |
Héctor Palma |
1st, SA, alw, 2/28/25 R3 | Possible | |
|
Last race |
1st, SA, alw, 2/28/25 R3 |
|||||
|
|
Gold Phoenix Declan’s Warrior |
4.45 |
Phil D’Amato |
7th, CT, clm, 2/24/23 R1 |
Possible | |
|
Last race |
7th, CT, clm, 2/24/23 R1 | |||||
|
|
Invigorated Street Sense |
Michael McCarthy |
11th, SA, alw OC, 3/1/25 R11 | Possible | ||
|
Last race |
11th, SA, alw OC, 3/1/25 R11 |
|||||
The Kentucky Wildcats finished the regular season on a high note and earned the 6-seed in the SEC Tournament.
With double-digit bids likely, the conference has numerous top-10 teams, so the Cats did well to earn some type of bye in the event. They won their first battle against Oklahoma but lost to Alabama Friday evening in the quarterfinal.
With a resume that includes two wins over Tennessee and a win over the No. 1-ranked Duke Blue Devils, the Wildcats are in a good position heading into Selection Sunday. Heading into the SEC Tournament, Kentucky was firmly a No. 3 seed.
Did the loss to Alabama change that at all? Let’s find out and dive into where many media outlets rank the Cats.
Final Bracketology Roundup
On3’s James Fletcher III has the Cats as the No. 3 seed in the West Region, where the Florida Gators sit atop the 16-team grouping.
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, one of the most trusted names in bracketology, has the Cats No. 3 in the South Region, with Auburn at the top. Michigan State is No. 2 in the region.
CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm has the Cats as the No. 3 seed in the West Region, where Florida sits at No. 1, followed by St. John’s and Arizona at No. 2 and 3.
FOX Sports has Kentucky as a No. 3 seed, joined by Wisconsin, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech as the other No. 3s.
Bracket Matrix, which rounds up bracketology predictions from across the internet, has Kentucky as a No. 3 seed.
When it’s all said and done, what do you believe will be the seed for the men? And how about the women? They’re still widely projected as a No. 3 seed as well.
Let us know in the comments section!
Kentucky Wildcats guard Lamont Butler is expected to return for the NCAA Tournament after missing the Wildcats’ 99-70 loss to Alabama in the SEC Tournament. Head coach Mark Pope shared the positive update on Friday, easing concerns about Butler’s shoulder injury.
Butler’s absence was felt in the loss to Alabama, as Kentucky struggled to keep up offensively and defensively without their dynamic playmaker. Fortunately, Pope clarified that the latest injury is unrelated to Butler’s previous shoulder issue.
Despite the loss, news of Butler’s return has lifted spirits within the team.
“That’s great. I mean, obviously, we were all worried about it,” said guard Koby Brea after the loss to Alabama. “Just knowing that we have such a big piece that’s going to be able to provide a lot for us going into this tournament is important.”
Amari Williams expressed his enthusiasm about having teammates return from injury, emphasizing the dedication they put into their recovery.
“I’m always excited when one of our guys comes back, just knowing they put in the work to recover and be back out there with us,” Williams said. “They give it 100% every time, and that’s what they showed, even the guys who weren’t able to return. We’re just thankful that we can get them back.”
With Butler’s return on the horizon, the Wildcats are hopeful for a strong showing in the NCAA Tournament as they look to bounce back from their SEC Tournament exit.
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