Trainer suspended ahead of Derby after 2 deaths

The 17-horse Kentucky Derby field on Saturday is stacked with long shots offering the potential for a great payday.

Under jockey John Velazquez, Medina Spirit jumped to an early lead and fended off challenges down the stretch to cross the line first in front of 51,838 fans in the largest U.S. sporting event since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The win was Hall of Fame jockey Velazquez’s fourth in the Triple Crown race, which returned to its usual first Saturday in May spot on the sport’s calendar after being pushed to September last year due to the pandemic.

HENDERSON, Ky. (AP) — Blue Grass winner Art Collector led all the way in winning the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby by 3 1/4 lengths on Sunday, and earned 50 qualifying points for next month’s Kentucky Derby.