Inside the Kentucky Derby

The Championship Series on the Road to the Kentucky Derby continues this weekend with the Arkansas Derby and the Florida Derby. These races have historically been major feeders for contenders aiming to compete in the Run for the Roses. For example, there have been 25 instances where a horse competed in the Florida Derby and went on to compete in the Kentucky Derby, with 15 of those horses winning...

The Championship Series on the Road to the Kentucky Derby shifts from 50-point races to 100-point races starting with the Jeff Ruby Steaks and Louisiana Derby. Numerous key contenders are returning to Turfway and Fair Grounds this weekend to add to their resume and more or less stamp their ticket to the 151st Kentucky Derby. Darren and KK analyze the full race cards, previewing the horses that cou...

The Virginia Derby is the newest race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Colonial Downs race is attracting a couple of key performers for the upcoming Championship Series races. Darren and KK analyze the full race card, previewing the horses that could impact the standings. Additionally, they recap performances from the Tampa Bay Derby and touch on the horses in the Virginia Oaks on the Road t...

After a weekend of exciting races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series the leaderboard is starting to get flushed out as we get into March. Darren and KK recap recent contenders from the San Felipe, Gotham and the Fountain of Youth. They then shift focus to Tampa Bay Downs and the running of the Tampa Bay Derby this weekend. Darren and KK analyze the full race card, previewing the...

We’re fully into the Championship Series of races, with key events happening across the globe. This weekend, the focus shifts to three U.S.-based races: the Fountain of Youth, Gotham, and San Felipe. Each race offers valuable points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale, giving contenders a chance to climb the leaderboard. Darren and KK analyze the full race cards, previewing the horses that could impact the s...

It may be cold across the country, but plenty of horses are heating up on the Kentucky Derby trail. Despite weather delays, the Road to the Derby races continue with the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway and the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The John Battaglia Memorial marks the final 20-point prep race, while the Rebel Stakes continues the Championship Series, awarding 50 points to the winner. D...

Following a big weekend of football in New Orleans, the focus shifts to the racetrack in the Big Easy. The Championship Series kicks off at Fair Grounds with the Risen Star Stakes, the first 50-point race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Darren and KK analyze the full race card, previewing the horses that could impact the standings. They also discuss John Hancock's record-setting performanc...

The focus of the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks shifts to Tampa Bay Downs, where the Sam F. Davis and Suncoast Stakes will take place. The winners of these races will earn 20 points on their respective paths. Darren and KK break down each race card, previewing the horses that could impact the standings. They also discuss the winning performances from the Withers, Holy Bull, and Rober...

Across the country this weekend, a trio of Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races will take place, including the Withers at Aqueduct, the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park, and the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. Darren and KK analyze each race card, previewing the horses that could make an impact on the Derby standings. They also analyze Speed King’s performance in his recent Southwest Stakes vi...

All eyes turn to Oaklawn Park in Arkansas for the running of the Southwest Stakes and the Martha Washington. These upcoming races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks trail will award 20 points to the winners and help answer questions about a few key contenders. Hosts Darren and KK analyze the Southwest field to share their picks for this race and other notable 3-year-old horse...

Inside the Kentucky Derby returns to cover The Road to the 151st Kentucky Derby. Races continue with the second major points race at Fair Grounds in the Lecomte Stakes. There is also the opening of Future Wager Pool 3 this weekend. The Lecomte Stakes features a strong field of horses looking to earn 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Darren, KK and Special guest Travis Stone analyze t...

Joining the show today is the newest Churchill Downs Racing Analyst Tony Calo. He joins the team to discuss the latest updates from here at Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders. Tony has been a longtime track announcer at Fingerlakes. Darren and KK discuss the Tony’s earliest memories of horse racing and highlight some of his favorite moments throughout his career in racing. ...

Joining the show today are Scott and Doug Davenport coaches of Bellarmine University’s Men’s Basketball team. As Louisville natives, Scott and Doug provide insight about their relationship with the city of Louisville and what the Kentucky Derby means to them having grown up in the city blocks away from Churchill Downs. Darren and KK discuss the coaches’ earliest memories of the derby and highlight...

The preference list for the 150th Kentucky Derby is complete following the running of the Lexington Stakes. Encino needed a win plus a scratch to make it into the top-20 for the Derby starting gate and he got both this weekend! Darren and KK analyze the performance from Encino and they discuss the potential scenarios for the Kentucky Derby including some potential movement from horses on the prefe...

There will be a lot of moving parts throughout the next three weeks until the Kentucky Derby, but Saturday’s Lexington Stakes is a major part of deciding who’s in and who’s out of this year’s field. Contenders Hades and Encino currently sit on the bubble of Kentucky Derby contention. Both needing the win on Saturday to either get in or keep their hopes of qualifing for entry in the Derby starting...

The penultimate weekend of Championship Series races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby did not disappoint. Stronghold, Sierra Leone, and Resilience all punched their ticket to the starting gate for the 150th Kentucky Derby. Darren and KK analyze the performances in the Blue Grass, Wood Memorial, and Santa Anita Derby and look ahead to their upcoming training for the Kentucky Derby.  Inside the Ken...

Although Darren is still on Spring Break, KK is joined by Churchill Downs handicapping analyst Kaitlin Free. A lot is on tap for the last week of the Kentucky Derby 100 point prep races.   Blue Grass Stakes in Lexington at Keeneland on Saturday. Wood Memorial in New York at Aqueduct on Saturday. Santa Anita Derby in California at Santa Anita on Saturday. The final Derby Wager Future Pool is availa...

A clear derby favorite is in place after a weekend full of Championship Series Races. Fierceness stood out amongst the pack after collecting 100 points in a victory in the Florida Derby. Forever Young (JPN) shipped to Dubai and is the latest Japanese horse to win the UAE Derby. KK is joined by Churchill Downs Track Announcer Travis Stone to the performances from the Florida, Arkansas and UAE Derby...

Three major Championship Series races will be run this weekend that will dramatically impact the potential field for the first Saturday in May. The Arkansas Derby, Florida Derby and UAE Derby play key roles in the Road to the Kentucky Derby. All three races are 100-point races to the winner and will help the contender punch their ticket to the Kentucky Derby starting gate. Darren and KK dive into...

It was a busy weekend of races including two Championship Races, the finale of the Japan Road to the Derby. Catching Freedom has punched his ticket to the derby starting gate with his last to first rally in the Louisiana Derby. Endlessly also jumped up the leaderboard after taking home the victory in the Jeff Ruby Steaks earning an additional 50 points on the Road to the Derby.  Darren and KK anal...

The Lousiana Derby and Jeff Ruby Steaks offer wagerers two great fields and give Kentucky Derby fans an idea of who the top competitors will be entering the starting on the first Saturday in May. Darren and KK give their analysis, picks and add context to the two races.  Subscribe to the podcast by looking for the 'Inside the Kentucky Derby' on your favorite podcast app. Inside the Kentu...

No Prep Races? No Problem! Darren and KK give us a preview of what to expect for Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 5 and Kentucky Oaks Future Wager Pool 1. This will be bettors first opportunity to pick their Longines Kentucky Oaks winner and their second to last opportunity to pick their Kentucky Derby, presented by Woodford Reserve winner.  Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool 5 time:  Open | 12:00 P...

 Darren and KK give their analysis of a slow-paced Tampa Bay Derby. This race was the last 50-point race of the Championship Series of races. Trainer Chad Brown already has a top Kentucky Derby (G1) contender in Sierra Leone, and stablemate Domestic Product just boosted his own profile in Saturday’s $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3). Darren and KK share their insights on the race and Darren shares his...

The Tampa Bay Derby stands as the lone Road to the Derby Race on the docket this weekend. It is the last 50-point race of the Championship Series. Two key horses in the running on Saturday include Sam F. Davis winner, No More Time and Holy Bull runner up Domestic Product. Darren and KK dive into the race to analyze the race field and give you their picks for these races!  Inside the Kentucky Derby...

It was a busy weekend of races including three Championship Races, the finale of the prep series of races which concluded with some shuffling on the leaderboard. Dornoch, became the big winner of the weekend with a victory in the Fountain of Youth moving him up to second on the leaderboard. Darren and KK analyze Dornoch, Deterministic, and Encino’s performance and look ahead to what we could expec...