calvin borel

With morning-line favorite Omaha Beach out of the Kentucky Derby, rival trainers forecast a wide-open scramble among top contenders. Meanwhile, the scratched favorite's trainer, Richard Mandella, licked his wounds from an epic disappointment.

The most enduring trainer-jockey duo in the sport will try to capture the Preakness, a race neither man has won.

Calvin Borel built a successful career by sticking close to the rail, but the Hall of Fame jockey left the rail as soon as he could Saturday at Laurel Park while riding Ivan Fallunovalot in Saturday's $250,000, Grade 3 Frank J. De Francis Memorial.

As with most debates involving sports, there are varying reasons for the absence of a Triple Crown champion racehorse over the past 37 years. It has as much to do with bank accounts as bloodlines, yet trying to pinpoint the main reason is as elusive as the achievement itself.

Torrential overnight rains and a soupy track have shrunk the race fields and crowds for Friday's Black-Eyed Susan Day at Pimlico.

Jockey John Velazquez claimed Friday's Xpressbet Hall of Fame Jockey Challenge as part of Black-Eyed Susan Day.

Ria Antonia owner Ron Paolucci has plenty of ways to refute the overwhelming sentiment that his 30-1 long shot filly will be overmatched running with the colts in Saturday's 139th Preakness Stakes.

Ride on Curlin finished a distant seventh in the Kentucky Derby, yet he was treated like a rock star Monday on his trip from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport to Pimlico Race Course.

Five key storylines heading into the 2014 Preakness Stakes.

Todd Pletcher's best finish in Derby was third, despite having five horses entered

Orb comes from behind to capture the 139th Kentucky Derby down the stretch

So, the 5,749 race fans at Old Hilltop truly got the best of both worlds, kicking off the two-week run-up to the Preakness with a full card of live racing and the opportunity to place their bets and try to choose the horse that will come to Baltimore with hope still alive for horse racing's biggest prize.

Orb, Verrazano and Goldencents remain the strong top choices to win Saturday's Kentucky Derby. But with rain in the forecast and a 19-horse field, the prevailing view is that a week of talk about which horse will go to Baltimore and the Preakness with his Triple Crown dream alive won't mean much.

A rainy Saturday has not deterred a robust crowd from heading to Churchill Downs

Orb, Verrazano and Goldencents remain the strong top choices to win Saturday's Kentucky Derby. But with rain in the forecast and a 19-horse field, the prevailing view is that a week of talk about which horse will go to Baltimore and the Preakness with his Triple Crown dream alive won't mean much.

Orb drew the No. 16 post Wednesday for Saturday's 139th running of the Kentucky Derby.

Twenty horses should race for the chance to win the Kentucky Derby and chase just the 12th Triple Crown of all time

Where to find live odds, our handicapper's picks and a couple of worthy reads before the 138th Kentucky Derby

Maryland-based trainer Hamilton Smith finally has his chance to saddle a horse in the 2012 Kentucky Derby

Bodemeister and Union Rags still figure to be favorites in 138th running of Kentucky Derby

Sneaky Lil surges late to win in Shine Again Stakes. Filly was $7,500 claimer 2 weeks ago. "Take Charge" dominates Florida Derby.

Kentucky Derby favorite Union Rags did make a late charge to finish third