Kentucky Derby watch: The big 5 who stand above the rest Renegade is 1 of 5 contenders who Brian Zipse sees as standing above the rest.

Anyone can win, of course, but @zipseatthetrack.bsky.social believes a runner outside this group of five would be a surprise.

📸: Justin Manning / Eclipse Sportswire

Kentucky Derby watch: Is it time to shine for Not This Time? Could this be the year a son of Not This Time wins the Kentucky Derby?

Kentucky Derby watch: Could this be the year a son of Not This Time wins the Kentucky Derby?

📸: Taylor Made Stallions

Kentucky Derby watch: Losing the battle but winning the war Zipse wouldn't be surprised if runners-up from weekend preps win the roses in May.

Silent Tactic and Chief Wallabee were impressive in their weekend Kentucky Derby preps, writes @zipseatthetrack.bsky.social

📸: Bentley Breland / Eclipse Sportswire

Ky. Derby watch: Ted Noffey injury leaves no clear favorite Ted Noffey's injury leaves no clear favorite, but Nearly (pictured) is moving up the list.

Kentucky Derby watch: @zipseatthetrack.bsky.social reviews contenders and this weekend's 4 points preps.

📸: Katie Vordenberg / Eclipse Sportswire

Kentucky Derby watch: Canaletto debut + Holy Bull, Southwest A trio of weekend points preps in the Holy Bull, Southwest and Withers.

Kentucky Derby watch: @zipseatthetrack.bsky.social brings you up to speed on the road to the run for the roses.

www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/K...

📸: Churchill Downs / Margaret Burlingham

Kentucky Derby watch: Golden Tempo joins the fray Brian Zipse likes what he saw in Golden Tempo's Lecomte victory.

The competition will only get tougher from here, @zipseatthetrack.bsky.social writes, but Golden Tempo gives every indication of one who will get better with more experience and more distance.

📸: Bentley Breland / Eclipse Sportswire

Kentucky Derby watch: Strategic Risk leads sharp quartet Mark Casse's Strategic Risk leads a sharp quartet of winners last week.

Here's a review of the Kentucky Derby trail from @zipseatthetrack.bsky.social

📸: Justin Manning / Eclipse Sportswire

LITMUS TEST wins the Los Alamitos Futurity 🏇 Will this be the year when the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile turns out to be a key race for the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown?

www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/L...

The Cigar Mile and the Remsen Stakes top the last big day of the year in New York. I like odds in both 💣
www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/HorseC... 🏇

Kentucky Derby 2026 Sweet 16: Ted Noffey on top Initial look at the Kentucky Derby 2026 rankings of the most promising 2-year-olds.

With the Breeders’ Cup now in the rearview mirror, Brian Zipse takes an initial look at the 2026 Kentucky Derby with rankings of the most promising 2-year-olds.

📸: Bill Denver / Eclipse Sportswire

I know some don't get into the whole awards thing, but I do. It's a celebration of the very best horses of 2025🏇🏆This is actually one of my favorite editions of HorseCenter of the year--Who will win this year's Eclipse Awards? Tell Matt and I what you think!
www.horseracingnation.com/news/HorseCe...

Heir apparent.
Forever Young‘s win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic restores the memory of his great-grandsire Sunday Silence. Brian Zipse has more in his Sunday column.
www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/G...
📸 Shamela Hanley / Eclipse Sportswire

Wake-up call.
Do not sleep on multimillionaire White Abarrio in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Brian Zipse makes the case in his Sunday column.
www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/W...
📸 Carlos J. Calo / Eclipse Sportswire

Breeders' Cup Classic watch: Ranking the contenders Brian Zipse ranks 15 horses in the prospective field, with Sovereignty on top.

See how @zipseatthetrack.bsky.social sees the Classic shaping up.

📸: Candice Chavez / Eclipse Sportswire

Should Sovereignty be Horse of the Year no matter what happens in the Breeders' Cup Classic? I believe he has earned it with a strong full-season campaign 🏇
www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/A...

Winning at the Breeders’ Cup once is tough enough. Doing it a second or even third time places you in rarified air. Join the discussion now on my Sunday morning column! 🏇
www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/W...

As Sovereignty nears his date with destiny in the Breeders' Cup Classic, let's take a closer look at 3-year-olds facing older in the big race 🏇 www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/B...

In this week's Breeders' Cup Classic Watch article:
🔥Fierceness sizzles on the West Coast
🙄Jockey Club Gold Cup is a throw-out for most
🏇Pennsylvania Derby is shaping up nicely
www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/B...

Sweet as candy.
Trainer Aggie Ordóñez hits the big time thanks to Del Mar winner Om N Joy. Brian Zipse goes in-depth in his Sunday column.
www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/A...
📸 Del Mar / Benoit Photo - edited composite

A day for champions.
From Thorpedo Anna to Sovereignty, Saratoga has a Saturday not to be forgotten. Brian Zipse recounts the memorable afternoon in his Sunday column from trackside.
www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/S...
📸 NYRA / Coglianese Photo - edited composite

Breeders' Cup Classic watch: Sovereignty leads 10 hopefuls With a lull in the action of key preps, Brian Zipse unveils his list of top 10 contenders.

Breeders' Cup Classic Watch 🏇 With a lull in the action of key preps, this is the perfect time to reveal my list of the Top 10 contenders for the Breeders' Cup Classic with analysis on each ... www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/B...

A shiny nugget.
Chunk of Gold carries big hopes to match his big West Virginia Derby score. Brian Zipse looks ahead in his Sunday column.
www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/B...
📸 Scott Serio / Eclipse Sportswire

Breeders' Cup Classic watch: Sierra Leone is back with style Sierra Leone returns to the limelight with his strong win in the Whitney.

We're tracking the likely Breeders' Cup Classic contenders – see where things stand after weekend races.

📸: NYRA / Susie Raisher

Looks like MyRacehorse has another good in the speedy Seismic Beauty. Read all about it in my latest Sunday morning column! 🏇
www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/S...

It’s not often these days we see two champions race against each other as many as five times ... bring on Fierceness & Sierra Leone Round 5! Plus, Sovereignty and Nysos on a brand-new Breeders' Cup Classic Watch 🏇 www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/B...

Best of luck to our old friend Carl Spackler as he takes on a tremendous field on Wednesday in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. Among his competition are many of the top milers in the world: Field of Gold, Henri Matisse, Rosallion, and Docklands 🏇

Zipse: Baeza runs big, but he was born in the wrong year Zipse: After the Jim Dandy, imagine if Baeza had been foaled any other year.

Are you a fan of Baeza? This one's for you! Celebrating the horse who keeps running big only to finish behind Sovereignty and Journalism 🏇www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/Baeza_runs_bi...

How good is this current crop of 3yo Males? Will Sovereignty get Jim Dandied in the Jim Dandy?? Join us for HorseCenter now 🏇
www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/HorseC...

In this edition of my Breeders' Cup Classic Watch 🏇
🔥Journalism,
🔥Sovereignty
🔥Nysos
🔥Magnitude
www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/B...

From modest beginnings, the New Jersey-bred gelding Book'em Danno has become a horse to beat for the Breeders' Cup Sprint 🏇
www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/B...