2024 In Review: Monthly Highlights
James Scully reviews some monthly highlights from Thoroughbred racing in 2024
Analysis
James Scully
James Scully is a passionate sports analyst who grew up traveling to various sporting events around the country. James follows the NFL and NCAA, but also plays golf and other sports as time allows. Whether it be pro or college football, basketball, baseball…James can share solid insight with actionable information. When James isn’t watching sports, he can be found handicapping horse racing and playing golf. Twitter: @James_Scully111
2024 Breeders’ Cup: Betting the Breeders’ Cup Saturday Late Pick 5
James Scully constructs a Late Pick 5 ticket on a $100 budget for Saturday's Late Pick 5 at Del Mar
Breeders Cup
Betting with, and against, City of Troy in Breeders’ Cup Classic
Recommendations for playing with, and against, morning-line favorite City of Troy in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic.
Breeders Cup
2024 Breeders’ Cup: Betting the Future Stars Friday Pick 5
James Scully analyzes and provides a ticket for the Breeders' Cup Future Stars Friday program
Breeders Cup
Scully: Longshots to consider for 2024 Breeders’ Cup
James Scully picks five Breeders’ Cup race contenders at double-digit morning-line odds to consider at Del Mar this weekend.
Breeders Cup
First-crop sires: Authentic may still hit the mark
Authentic retired to Spendthrift Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, with earnings of more than $7.2 million from an 8-6-2-0 record. Let's review some of his runners to hit the track so far.
Features
Scully: Pick 3 play on Travers undercard
Saturday's $1.25 million Travers (G1) promises to be exciting, but other races have more appeal from a betting standpoint.
Wagering
Scully: Singling Asmussen firster in Pick 3 play
Saturday’s 12-race program at Saratoga features a pair of graded stakes, the Alfred Vanderbilt (G1) for sprinters and Jim Dandy (G2) for three-year-olds, but I will focus upon a Pick 3 sequence carded between the main events.
Wagering
Scully: Playing the All-Stakes Pick 4 on Friday’s Belmont at Saratoga program
Friday’s 12-race Belmont at Saratoga program features four stakes, the $500,000 Acorn (G1) for three-year-old fillies and a trio of graded turf events for distaffers, and I have put together a ticket for the all-stakes Pick 4.
Wagering
2024 Belmont Stakes Brisnet Speed Rating Report and Run Styles
Saturday’s $2 million Belmont S. (G1) will be contested over 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga due to the refurbishment of Belmont Park, and here is a look at Brisnet Speed ratings and projected run styles for the 2024 field.
Belmont Stakes
2024 Brisnet Preakness Speed Rating Report and Run Style Analysis
Nine three-year-olds are set for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, Saturday’s 149th running of the $2 million Preakness (G1) at Pimlico, and we will preview Brisnet Speed ratings and run styles
Preakness Stakes
2024 Kentucky Derby run styles
Let's examine run styles for the horses in the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1)
Kentucky Derby
2024 Kentucky Derby Brisnet Speed Rating Report
From 2012-2021, nine of 10 Kentucky Derby (G1) winners registered triple-digit Brisnet Speed ratings prior to the 1 1/4-mile race
Kentucky Derby
Endlessly – Kentucky Derby Context
Endlessly will bring a late kick to the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 4, rallying smartly past rivals to earn his spot with a four-length decision in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) in late March
Kentucky Derby
T O Password – Kentucky Derby Context
Unbeaten from two starts, T O Password will try to carry his speed all the way in the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1)
Kentucky Derby
Resilience – Kentucky Derby Context
Resilience likes to race up close with his tactical speed and appears to be discovering his best form at the right time
Kentucky Derby
Fierceness – Kentucky Derby Context
Based on nearly every metric, Fierceness is the fastest horse entering the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1)
Kentucky Derby
Sierra Leone – Kentucky Derby Context
Long and physically imposing, Sierra Leone will bring a dynamic closing kick to the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Kentucky Derby
Just a Touch – Kentucky Derby Context
A late-developing colt, Just a Touch impressively captured his career debut over a sloppy track at Fair Grounds in late January and followed with a good second in the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct in the slop.
Kentucky Derby
Stronghold – Kentucky Derby Context
After a pair of seconds in his first two stakes attempts last year, Stronghold improved over the winter, recording a smashing win in the Sunland Derby (G3) and a courageous triumph in the Santa Anita Derby (G1)
Kentucky Derby
Forever Young – Kentucky Derby Context
The highest-ever rated dirt two-year-old in Japan, Forever Young may be the one to buck recent international trends in the Kentucky Derby (G1)
Kentucky Derby
Just Steel – Kentucky Derby Context
Runner-up in the Arkansas Derby (G1), Just Steel likes to race close to the pace and the early/presser rates as an intriguing longshot for the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) following a career-best effort at 1 1/8 miles
Kentucky Derby
Dornoch – Kentucky Derby Context
A full brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage, Dornoch convincingly broke his maiden going two turns at Keeneland last fall.
Kentucky Derby
Track Phantom – Kentucky Derby Context
Track Phantom broke his maiden when stretching out to two turns at Churchill Downs last fall and followed with convincing wins in the Gun Runner S. and Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds, establishing himself as a legitimate Kentucky Derby (G1) contender
Kentucky Derby
Catching Freedom – Kentucky Derby Context
After being cut off a couple of strides out of the gate, Catching Freedom dropped back to last and offered a dynamic closing kick to win the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds by a length.
Kentucky Derby
Honor Marie – Kentucky Derby Context
Honor Marie has shown an affinity for Churchill Downs, winning the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last November, and he will bring a closing kick to the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 4.
Kentucky Derby
Society Man – Kentucky Derby Context
After winning a maiden race the fourth time out in mid-March, Society Man earned a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) field by finishing second in the Wood Memorial (G2) at 106-1 odds
Kentucky Derby
Domestic Product – Kentucky Derby Context
A midpack stalker, Domestic Product overcame a tough trip in traffic behind a glacial pace in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 9, getting up determinedly to prevail by a neck
Kentucky Derby
Catalytic – Kentucky Derby Context
Catalytic earned a spot in the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) by finishing second in his stakes debut and third career start, the Florida Derby (G1)
Kentucky Derby
Mystik Dan – Kentucky Derby Context
After racing on or close to the lead in his first four starts, Mystik Dan became more effective when switching to rating tactics two starts back, and the bay colt will look to make a serious impact from off the pace in the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1)
Kentucky Derby