Kentucky
Tappan Street gives Brad Cox first Florida Derby win, clinches spot in 2025 Kentucky Derby
What’s With That? Betting superstitions at the Kentucky Derby
Courier Journal reporter Kirby Adams talks with Churchill Downs publicity manager Kevin Kerstein to answer your biggest Kentucky Derby questions.
Louisville trainer Brad Cox picked up his first Florida Derby victory and found another contender for the Kentucky Derby.
Tappan Street made a five-wide move off the final turn and raced to a 1 ½-length victory in Saturday’s $1 million, Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.
Ridden by Luis Saez, Tappan Street covered the 1 ⅛ miles in 1:49.27 and paid $6.80 to win on a $2 wager.
“Hopefully this is a big step forward for this colt,” Cox said. “I’m proud of the performance. … He’s got a great mind, knows how to turn it on and off. I think the best is yet to come. Obviously, the Kentucky Derby is the main goal.”
Tappan Street earned 100 qualifying points for the May 3 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, virtually assuring himself in a field limited to 20 runners.
Sovereignty, the 8-5 favorite, finished second and was followed by Neoequos and Madaket Road.
Madaket Road, the Bob Baffert trainee ridden by Mike Smith, set fractions of 23.37 seconds for the quarter-mile, 47.22 seconds for the half-mile and 1:11.61 for three-quarters before fading.
A son of Into Mischief, Tappan Street improved to 2-1-0 in three career starts. He entered off a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes on Feb. 1.
A $1 million purchase at the 2023 New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, Tappan Street is co-owned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and Cold Press Racing.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
Kentucky
Top Kentucky Football transfer Lance Heard had minor spring procedure
There is an old saying that there is no such thing as a minor procedure when it happens to you. But that’s exactly what happened over the spring football season as top transfer Lance Heard had surgery on an undisclosed injury that was deemed “minor.”
While Kentucky did not release what exactly the big left tackle had surgery on, anytime you are down your starting left tackle over Spring is not ideal. The good news is Heard has plenty of SEC experience, starting at LSU before transferring to Tennessee.
The biggest thing for an offensive line is reps, but offensive coordinator Joe Sloan told KSR he was happy with what he was seeing.
“You’re starting to see them work really well together, and they have an opportunity to be a strength of our team.” If that comes to fruition, Kentucky will have a really good year. As for the fans, expect a different style this year in Kroger Field.
Kentucky’s offense will be different
Under Mark Stoops, the calling card became a physical offensive line, a punishing run scheme, and a ball control style. That offense will be very different this year, not because of a shift away from the run game, but because there will be a lot more chances taken.
Sometimes, that is a good thing, and other times it causes turnovers. Will Stein said he never called a play he didn’t think would score a touchdown. That aggressive style is what will define Stein’s time in Lexington. He chose a defensive coordinator known for dialing up the blitz. He has gone after nearly all the top recruits, and he isn’t backing down from saying he expects to be the best head coach in the country.
Will it work? I don’t know, but I do know it will look different than what Mark Stoops was putting out. But it all depends on the health of the key players Stein brought in, and that starts with a healthy offensive line.
Kentucky
Kentucky Colonels executive to speak at Florence Rotary Club on Monday, public welcome to register
Kentucky
Tornado ripped through Florence area during storms, NWS confirms
Ohio tornado warnings: what residents should know
Severe storms June 17 in Ohio: know tornado watch vs. warning, safety steps, shelters and alerts.
A tornado was confirmed to have ripped through the Florence area during the overnight storms June 18.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington released a statement June 20 saying a tornado traveled eastward 6.2 miles across the Northern Kentucky city, 10 miles south of Cincinnati. It had estimated peak winds of 100 mph, which classifies it as an EF1 “moderate” tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
The tornado’s path goes mostly through residential areas, and the first evidence was found on Landings Way where several trees were snapped at their trunks, the weather service reported.
The tornado progressed east, crossing Interstate 71/75 and then seemingly dissipating on Tallwood Circle where multiple large branches were downed, the final known instance of damage.
Along the way, the tornado uprooted multiple trees and snapped branches, damaged several buildings and businesses, and snapped a large power pole near the intersection of U.S. 42 and Dream Street, according to the weather service.
How many tornadoes have been confirmed in Greater Cincinnati, beyond?
As of 1 p.m. June 20, the weather service has confirmed that apart from the one in Florence, two other tornadoes touched down in Greater Cincinnati on June 18:
- An EF2 “significant” tornado that traveled about 9 miles from Dearborn County, Indiana, to Boone County, Kentucky.
- An EF2 “significant” tornado that traveled just over 5 miles from Franklin County, Indiana, to Butler County, Ohio.
A few other tornadoes have been confirmed outside the Greater Cincinnati region, including an EF2 that traveled 23.6 miles from Scott County, Indiana, to Trimble County, Kentucky; an EF2 that traveled 9 miles across Pike County, Ohio; and one in Grant County, Kentucky, just north of Williamstown.
The weather service said details on the Grant County tornado will be released later on June 20.
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