With one month to the running of the 148th Kentucky Derby, NBC Sports presents exclusive live coverage of the Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes, and Santa Anita Derby this Saturday, April 9 at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
This weekend's show concludes NBC Sports' “Road to the Kentucky Derby” coverage on three consecutive Saturday afternoons, and marks the first time the “triplecast” show will be presented on NBC and Peacock. NBC Sports will present the 148th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 7.
Saturday's live coverage begins from Aqueduct Racetrack with the Grade 2 Wood Memorial, New York's premier Kentucky Derby prep race which has had 11 winners go on to win the Derby. The race is expected to feature Morello, who has won all three of his career races and has already earned 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.
In addition, the $1 million Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington is expected to feature Smile Happy, who recently finished second in the Grade 2 Risen Star behind Kentucky Derby qualifying leader Epicenter. Last year's Blue Grass Stakes winner, Essential Quality, placed third in the 2021 Kentucky Derby.
Rounding out Saturday's show is the $750,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, the signature West Coast prep race for the Kentucky Derby. Headlining the field is Messier, who won the Robert B. Lewis (G3), and Forbidden Kingdom, the American Pharoah colt who has won two consecutive races.
Ahmed Fareed hosts Saturday's coverage, alongside analysts Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey who won each Triple Crown race twice, Randy Moss, and insights analyst Steve Kornacki, who will be at his Big Board to analyze the Kentucky Derby points standings as qualifying for the Run for the Roses enters its final weeks. Reporters Britney Eurton will be on-site in Santa Anita, Matt Bernier will be in New York, and Kenny Rice will be at Keeneland.
NBC Sports will also present highlights of Saturday's “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” races from across the country.
Coverage will also be streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.
NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown, the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown.
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