THE BIG PICTURE on The Derby Trail

     This most recent week of thoroughbred racing action did not to clear the Kentucky Derby picture one bit.  The last “favorite” in everyone’s mind was The Factor. Depending who you ask, either he folded like a tent in the stretch or he “flipped his palette” during the stretch run and faded.

     Either way, Archarcharch has won two graded Derby preps this season – and he wasn't, and probably still isn’t on anyone’s Top 10 list. Nine hours to the East, Keeneland’s Bluegrass Stakes provided another shocking finish that landed a son of Three Chimney’s stallion Dynaformer in the Top 20 of graded earnings.  The last Dynaformer of note on the  Derby Trail – Barbaro.

     While confusion reigned supreme in the three-year-old ranks, many venerable campaigners continued to make their mark and build resumes that would hopefully punch tickets to the 2011 Breeders’ Cup.

     Photos from the best of the week's racing action are the flavor this week. Please excuse the obnoxiously large watermarks, we just need to protect the rights of our image provider Eclipse Sportswire. All photos produced by Eclipse Sportswire are provided for the readers of Stride LIVE, and all rights are reserved.

     Enjoy…

Russell Road returns to his winning ways with Travis Dunkelberger aboard in the Confucius Say Stakes and Charles Town Races and Slots.

Get Stormy wins the Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland.

The Jenny Wiley at Keeneland Race Course

Jon Court gives a thumbs up after Archarcharch wins the Arkansas Derby.

Shotgun Gulch storms home for the win in the Vinery Madison at Keeneland.

Sweet Goodbye draws clear for a win in the $250,000 TVG Sugar Maple Stakes at Charles Town Race and Slots.

Juniper Pass and Rafael Bejarano(left) hold off Imponente Purse and Chantal Sutherland to win the San Juan Capistrano .Handicap at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA

Turbulent Descent wins The Beaumont at Keeneland Race Course.

Brilliand Speed surges by on the outside for the win in the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland.

Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends Equine Retirement home in Georgetown, KY, with recent retiree Ball Four after he paraded in the paddock during a morning demonstration for Keeneland visitors. Old Friends recently found out they were in dire need of emergency funding after a bank error put them more than $200,000 behind in payments. Old Friends is still in need of financial assistance.

  

"Jersey Joe" Bravo coasts Duke of Mischief to the wire at Charles Town Race and Slots to be the first horse to win the first graded stakes races ever contested at the 6-furlong oval since its opening.  This was the third running of the $1,000,000 Charles Town Classic.