Kentucky Derby Blog

Jess Jackson announced Tuesday that the reigning Horse of the Year will next run in the $500,000 Grade I Woodward on Aug. 30 at Saratoga.

The Woodward Stakes is a Grade I stakes race and is one of the premier races for older thoroughbred horses in the United States. Named for prominent racehorse owner, William Woodward, Sr., it is run at 1⅛ miles (1811 m) on the dirt for a purse of $500,000.

Jackson said a return to the Classic this year is possible, although he remains unconvinced that the synthetic track at Santa Anita where the Breeders’ Cup will be held is the right surface for his horse. Jackson said there remains a good chance Curlin isn’t in his last year of racing — and if he returns next year at age 5, attempts at a turf championship is possible. However, for a top stallion prospect like Curlin to keep racing, potential purses for older horses must go up, Jackson said.

The Woodward has also been suggested as a possible future racing site for Big Brown, although Jackson sounded skeptical a matchup was imminent.

Derby Trial winner Macho Again pulled a major upset in Sunday’s $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The 1 1/8 mile Jim Dandy is the traditional local prep race for the $1 million Travers Stakes on Saturday, August 23. A field of seven three-year-olds went postward for the Jim Dandy, including Belmont Stakes champ Da’ Tara and Louisiana Derby winner Pyro. Pyro went off as the 3-2 favorite and Da’ Tara was the 7-2 second choice.

After winning the Derby Trial, Macho Again was held out of the Kentucky Derby to train for the Preakness Stakes. He finished second to Big Brown in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown as a 39-1 longshot.