Kentucky Derby Blog

Risen Star Stakes winner Mucho Macho Man lost his right front shoe at the start of the Louisiana Derby on Saturday but still battled bravely to finish third, beaten by less than a length by winner Pants On Fire. Mucho Macho Man has $370,000 in graded stakes earnings, which should be sufficient to guarantee him a starting spot in the Kentucky Derby.

Previously unheralded Pants On Fire, a son of Jump Start, had only a maiden win in seven starts prior to his neck victory in the Louisiana Derby at odds of 6-1.

Kelly Breen, who trains the Kentucky-bred colt for George and Lori Hall, left Fair Grounds early to prepare his horses for the Sunland Park Derby (gr. III), but indicated earlier that Pants On Fire, who earned $600,000 for the victory, would make his next start in the May 7 Derby.

Watch the Louisiana Derby 2011 replay

The 3-year-old son of Warfront turned the Rebel into his third consecutive wire-to-wire victory, blazing through the 1 1-16 miles in 1:42.19, a stress-free 6¼ lengths in front.

The Factor returned $4.80, $4 and $3.20. Caleb’s Posse paid $14.20 and $6.80, outsprinting in the stretch Southwest Stakes winner Archarcharch, which paid $4.20.

The Factor could return to the Hot Springs, Ark. track for a run in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (GI) at 1 1/8 miles on April 16.

Watch the Rebel Stakes replay.

Grade 2 heroine KATHMANBLU (Bluegrass Cat) was the decisive choice when wagering closed Sunday on the lone three-day betting pool for Churchill Downs’ 2011 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager

The Ken McPeek-trained Kathmanblu ended up as a clear 7-2 favorite among 24 betting interests in the March 11-13 pool. A $2 win wager placed on the daughter of 2006 Kentucky Derby runner-up Bluegrass Cat will return $9.40 if she wins the Kentucky Oaks.

Kentucky Oaks had fans wagered $92,902 during the three-day pool, including $29,098 in exacta bets, when the Oaks Future betting concluded Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. (EDT).

Here is the complete list of the 24 betting interests for the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager odds.

Win handle was $279,534 on Pool 2, with another $97,165 bet on exactas. The total of $376,699 was up 6 percent from 2010 Pool 2 and ranks right in the middle for all-time Pool 2 handles (seventh-highest of 13) since Churchill Downs first began offering parimutuel futures in 1999. The record Pool 2 handle of $511,655 was set in 2005.

Leading three-year-old Uncle Mo has been made the favorite with the close of betting in the second Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

Here is the complete list of the 24 betting interests for the second Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The third and final Future Wager will be on the first weekend of April.

Uncle Mo, trained by Todd Pletcher, is a strong favorite and the top contender. Check out the top 10 Kentucky Derby contenders in the graded earning as of March 13.

Watch Me Go upset the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs on March 12, 2011.

Watch Me Go, a 43-1 long shot, won the Tampa Bay Derby in Oldsmar, Fla., yesterday in one of the biggest upsets in the history of the race, beating a field that included Kentucky Derby hopeful Brethren.

Brethren finished third behind Crimson Knight, who had 86-1 odds in the $350,000 Grade 2 race.

Watch Me Go now is a serious contender to make the Kentucky Derby in May. Ridden by Luis Garcia, Watch Me Go pulled to the lead on the homestretch, as Brethren and Crimson Knight were neck and neck for most of the 1 1/16 mile race. Brethren, however, faded, and Watch Me Go won by a neck over Crimson Knight.

The winning time was 1:44.25. Watch Me Go, who finished third at the Davis Stakes a month ago, returned $89.40, $28.80, and $8.80. Crimson Knight was second at $50 and $11.80, and Brethren returned $2.10 to show.