ST LOUIS (LALATE) – Who won the Kentucky Derby 2013 today? The Kentucky Derby 2013 winner today May 4, 2013 from Churchill Downs was Orb ridden by jockey Joel Rosario, delivering stunning results before a packed track. Before the race, the Joe Bravo horse Black Onyx and the Alan Garcia horse Fear the Kitten were scratched. Because wagering had already started when Black Onyx was scratched, officials told news that it was too late to add Fear the Kitten back into the race.

Recently, Bob Baffert confirmed to news that he wouldn’t have a horse in the Kentucky Derby 2013 today. Both Baffert horses Governor Charlie and Code West were withdraw, marking the first time that Baffert hasn’t had a horse in the race since 2008. But Baffert tell news that Code West is ready to run the Belmont Stakes 2013.

Prior to the running of Kentucky Derby today, Shug McGaughey, trainer of favorite Orb, told the Chicago Tribune “I don’t mind talking about the race, hoping that people will read the stories and get interested in the sport.” He also told news “But there’s only so much I can say about it at this point — and I always hope nobody remembers what it was once the race is run.” Meantime, new security measures were in place today at the track. Officials confirmed the tightest security since 9/11. Upwards of 165,000 persons were estimated in attendance.

Calvin Borel rode Revolutionary today. Borel won the Derby in 2007, then again two years later and once again in 2010. In 2009, Borel won on Mine That Bird, a then long shot horse with 50-1 odds. He picked up the win less than twenty-fours hours after winning the Kentucky Oaks on Rachel Alexandra. And in 2010, Borel won with Super Saver. A month later Borel became the second jockey along with Pat Day to pick up one thousand career wins at Churchill Downs. For complete results today, click HERE.

• Comments (0)

ST LOUIS (LALATE) – Who won the Belmont Stakes today? Union Rags became the Belmont Stakes 2012 winner today in stunning final results. Union Rags’ win followed a week in which I’ll Have Another was retired after a career ending injury. While fans knew that today’s Belmont Stakes 2012 results would not deliver at Triple Crown winner, news analysts had wondered if yet another long shot could take the prize today.

Earlier this week, I’ll Have Another was hoping to become the first Triple Crown winner in thirty-four years. But in a stunning news statement this week, trainer Doug O’Neill and owner J. Paul Reddam revealed that I’ll Have Another had injured his left front tendon. The injury prompted the horses to withdraw from today’s race and enter retirement. O’Neill told news that the cause of injury was a ” freakish thing”.

Today, I’ll Have Another today became the third horse in Belmont history to scratch after winning the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Burgoo King and Bold Venture did the same in the 1930s.

But in advance of today’s race, news analysts wondered if another long shot could win Saturday. They noted that long shots have ruled the Belmont since 2000, and especially from 2006 to last year.  Ruler on Ice, Drosselmeyer, and Summer Bird were the most recent examples, officials told news.

With I’ll Have Another scratched, many eyes were on three horses: Bob Baffert’s entry Paynter, D Wayne Lukas’ attempt with Optimizer and the Kent Desormeaux ridden horse Guyana Star Dweej. After attempting races with Bodemeister, Baffert told news today that Paynter had a chance to win. “Bodemeister was like I’ll Have Another’s pace car. These are two different types of horses but (Paynter) is getting better and better. I think the mile-and-a-half would suit him better than it would Bodemeister.”

Also dominating news this week with an injury was D. Wayne Lukas. Lukas was struck in the head Wednesday morning. Lukas told news that he believed he had a slight concussion. While he admitted to suffering horse injuries before, Lukas didn’t recall an injury like this one where the horse “paw me in the head”. He joked “The good news was I got a date with the head nurse, and I sold both doctors a race horse while I was there last night.”

Lukas, however, reminded news that Belmont is still a difficult track. He told news midweek that riders, not horses, most often loose at Belmont. He said that, even riders who train on the track daily, frequently make critical mistakes, mainly about pacing.

• Comments (0)

ST LOUIS (LALATE) – I’ll Have Another has won the Preakness Stakes 2012. I’ll Have Another with jockey Mario Gutierrez won the Preakness Stakes from Pimlico today May 19, 2012. All eyes today were on I’ll Have Another and Bodemeister, which had finished first and second at the Kentucky Derby. Coming into Saturday’s race, Bodemeister (named for Bode Baffert) was the favorite.

Bodemeister Trainer Bob Baffert told Philadelphia Daily News that it was unusual for him to get a second place at the Kentucky Derby. “That’s the only time I’ve run second where I’ve been happy because he ran his race”. Yet Baffert told news that Mike Smith delivered the best race he could for the Derby finish.

Baffert said “At the eighth pole, when [jockey] Mike [Smith] went to the left-handed stick, the yellow caution light came on. He tried to fight back and he hung on for second. He was glorious in defeat.”

Baffert came into today’s race with five previous Preakness wins. He told news that his key to the Preakness is to use the Derby as a preparation. He said that, with that Derby prep, he has always been happy with his horse entry. Baffert also told news that he enjoys Pimlico the most among the Triple Crown races, noting that he has prepared his horses appropriately based upon the narrow window of training time.

In final results, I’ll Have Another finished first, followed by Bodemeister in second.

• Comments (0)

ST LOUIS (LALATE) – A Churchill Downs murder 2012 has been revealed this morning. A male’s dead body was found after the Kentucky Derby 2012 inside the Angel Montano Sr. barn. Montano did not have a horse in Saturday’s running of the 2012 Kentucky Derby. Investigators confirm that the murder is unrelated to the Derby, but do confirm that dead body was found close to the barn for Saturday’s winner.

After the 2011 Kentucky Derby, jockey Michael Blaze’s body was found in a stables at Churchill Downs. He died of an accidental overdose.

• Comments (0)

LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Mario Gutierrez on I’ll Have Another won the 2012 Kentucky Derby moments ago. Mario Gutierrez pulled off a stunning upset today. In final results, Bodemeister and Dullahan ridden by Desormeaux, finished second and third, respectively.

Just days ago, Mario Gutierrez with I’ll Have Another made news winning the G1 Santa Anita Derby. Today, Gutierrez told news that he was blessed to have trainer Doug O’Neill and owner Paul Reddam chose him for the Santa Anita run.

• Comments (0)