Kentucky Derby Blog

R Heat Lightning was declared out of Friday’s Kentucky Oaks after heat was detected in her right front leg.

R Heat Lightning was expected to be among the favorites for the Kentucky Oaks. She appeared to jog fine over the Churchill Downs track in the morning but was found to be ailing shortly upon her return to the shedrow.

“We noticed back at the barn that she seemed to be just a little off in her right front,” Pletcher said. “We checked her and could feel some heat in her right knee. We consulted with her owner’s people and the decision was made to withdraw her from the race.”

The weather forecast for Saturday’s 137th Kentucky Derby calls for rain with a chance of thunderstorms. The expected post-time temperature is 75 degrees, which is similar to last year. The chances for a muddy track may have a big impact on this years winner as well as the chances for a Triple Crown winner this year.

The Friday forecast calls for light rain and isolated thunderstorms. Both Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby will be run on the muddy track.

Machen trained by Neil Howard and ridden by Edgar Prado, won the Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial on the opening night of the spring meet at Churchill Downs. Machen, the fifth choice at 5-1 in the field of nine, covered the mile over a fast track in 1:35.47. He returned $15.40.

Dominus was second, 21/4 lengths in front of J J’s Lucky Train. Travelin Man, the 8-5 favorite, faded to sixth.

The 87th running of the Derby Trial won’t produce a runner for Kentucky Derby for the sixth straight year since Don’t Get Mad in 2005.

Watch the race replay!

The Kentucky Oaks 137 Graded Stakes Earnings will likely determine the participants in the 137th running of the $1 million Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 6.

The Kentucky Oaks field is limited to 14 starters and R Heat Lightning, trained by Todd Pletcher is the likely Kentucky Oaks favorite.

Here is the list of 2011 Kentucky Oaks contenders by Graded Earnings.

Churchill Downs historically has kicked off its spring race meet one week before the Kentucky Derby, but this year they’re making a much bigger deal of it–they’re running a full card under their recently installed lights that will be headlined by the $200,000 Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial.

First post time for the 11-race program, which kicks off the Churchill Downs’ 39-day spring meeting, will be 6 p.m. EDT with the Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial going off as the eighth race on the card with a 9:39 p.m. post time.

In theory, the Derby Trial is supposed to be a last shot for horses to qualify for the Kentucky Derby but even for a winning entry it would be a very long shot to make the field one week later. Still, the Derby Trial is attractive not only for its association with the most famous race in the sport but also it’s generous prize money. Furthermore, it’s a good springboard for a horse looking to compete in the Preakness Stakes or Belmont later this summer.

Here are the contenders for Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial.