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Tournament Strategy: Interview with Mike VanRyckeghem, winner of Twinspires $2,500 NHC Qualifier Feeder #5

Mon Jul 01 2024Kevin Kilroy

After seven feeder tournaments offering $2,500 each this past fall, the day has finally come for NHC seats to be on the line in the Twinspires $5,000 NHC Qualifier.

Tournaments

Catching Freedom at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)

Catching My Eye: Unpacking the Louisiana Derby

Thu Mar 28 2024Kevin Kilroy

Fair Grounds has signed off on its 152nd season, but with a series of prep races that have been as productive as any on the first weekend of May, it’s way too soon to turn the page. Here’s a bookmark for the 111th Louisiana Derby, which when the dust settles, I believe will rank as one of the best and most productive in recent memory.

Kentucky Derby

Catching My Eye: Prices at Fair Grounds March 6 - March 10

Thu Mar 14 2024Kevin Kilroy

Prices were coming home last week at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Here’s a look at some of the top performers who outran their odds.

Analysis

The 2023 National Horseplayers Championship at Horseshoe Las Vegas (Photo courtesy NTRA)

NHC Horseplayers to descend upon Las Vegas, including two from TwinSpires Qualifier

Fri Mar 08 2024Kevin Kilroy

The most prestigious handicapping tournament of the year is taking place March 15-17 in Las Vegas.

Wagering

Jack Hammer wins the Louisiana Futurity division for boys at Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges Jr.)

Catching My Eye: Stakes Action and Foley’s Big Week at Fair Grounds

Tue Mar 05 2024Kevin Kilroy

Scheduled for the turf but moved to a muddy main track, two of the three stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday were won impressively.

Wagering

Flatter Me Silly at Fair Grounds. (Blaise Bollman/TwinSpires.com)

Catching My Eye: La-bred Stakes and Turf Winners from Fair Grounds

Wed Feb 28 2024Kevin Kilroy

FInd out more on Kevin Kilroy's thoughts surrounding turf winners from Fair Grounds.

Analysis

Sierra Leone winning the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges, Jr.)

Catching My Eye: What Did We Learn from The Risen Star?

Thu Feb 22 2024Kevin Kilroy

Billed as the most-stacked Kentucky Derby Prep race to date, what did we learn from Saturday’s Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds?

Analysis

Ova Charged wins the Mardi Gras at Fair Grounds (Photo courtesy of Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots)

Catching My Eye: Ova Charged and Doncho on Mardi Gras Day at Fair Grounds

Thu Feb 15 2024Kevin Kilroy

In the $100,000 Mardi Gras Stakes, among the field of nine fillies and mares, one of them didn’t fit, one of them didn’t belong, one of them was not like the others, but one of them absolutely romped.

Wagering

Jack Hammer wins the Louisiana Futurity division for boys at Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges Jr.)

Catching My Eye: Front-running monster Pink Polkadots and three others from Fair Grounds Feb. 1 - 4

Tue Feb 06 2024Kevin Kilroy

We have seen several impressive up-and-coming turf routers so far this meet. St. Armands Key and Ocean Victory come to mind quickly, but two others as well--Pink Polkadots and Le Gris.

Analysis

Fair Grounds (Photo by Holly M. Smith Photography)

Catching My Eye: Cox firster, Asmussen’s Guns A’blazing, Double DeVaux at Fair Grounds

Tue Jan 30 2024Kevin Kilroy

A handful of runs on Saturday, Jan. 27 at Fair Grounds Race Course caught my eye.

Features

Track Phantom scored a front-running victory in the Lecomte (Photo by Hodges Photography)

Catching My Eye: Asmussen has two pointed for Risen Star

Sat Jan 27 2024Kevin Kilroy

In the end, the Lecomte (G3) didn’t tell me much besides reinforcing a lesson I thought I had etched into my skull.

Kentucky Derby

Fair Grounds (Photo by Holly M. Smith Photography)

Catching My Eye: Fair Grounds Top Performers Week of Jan. 4 - Jan. 7

Thu Jan 11 2024Kevin Kilroy

Top honors this week go to Maycocks Bay. The Godolphin homebred trained by Mike Stidham put his name on the map in a big way beating home two quality colts trained by Brad Cox and Keith Desormeaux in Blown Cover and Hawkes Creek.

Analysis

Fair Grounds (Photo by Holly M. Smith Photography)

Catching My Eye: Fair Grounds winners who look ready for stakes company

Fri Jan 05 2024Kevin Kilroy

The racing last week at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots was excellent, and a handful of winners look primed to try stakes company next out. Here’s who caught my eye.

Analysis

Risk It (Photo by Adam Coglianese)

Catching My Eye: How the Gun Runner Pace Unfolded

Tue Dec 26 2023Kevin Kilroy

In order to get a clear handle on what happened in the Gun Runner last Saturday at Fair Grounds, we need to keep in mind the old adage: it's not how fast they run but how they run fast.

Analysis

Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography)

Catching My Eye: Week 5 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Wed Dec 20 2023Kevin Kilroy

With Road to the Derby Kickoff Day on Saturday, Dec. 23, and all the two-year-old/soon-to-be three frenzy about to take hold, let’s first take a look back at some strong efforts from week five at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Analysis

Touchuponastar wins the Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography / Credit to Lou Hodges, Jr.)

Catching My Eye: Touchuponastar Leads Coteau Grove Farms’ $150,000 Classic Trifecta

Wed Dec 13 2023Kevin Kilroy

It’s not often you see one breeder behind the top-three finishers, especially in a stakes race, but that is exactly what happened on Saturday in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Wagering

Hoist the Gold winning The Cigar Mile (G2) at Aquedcut (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Joe Labozzetta)

Catching My Eye: Big Weekend for Dallas Stewart/Dream Team Racing and James Graham

Wed Dec 06 2023Kevin Kilroy

What a weekend for trainer Dallas Stewart and breeder/owner Dream Team Racing. Sure, Hoist the Gold won the Cigar Mile, earning a 106, his top Brisnet Speed figure to date, but how about the way his sister turned heads on Sunday at Fair Grounds?

Analysis

Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photography)

Catching My Eye: Opening Weekend at Fair Grounds

Sat Nov 25 2023Kevin Kilroy

As racing wraps up at Churchill Downs, many non-Kentucky connections will try to snag the purses and several of Fair Grounds’ stakes days are L.A.-bred delights.

Analysis

Twirl Around winning at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)

Catching My Eye: McPeek and Foley Send Out Impressive Juveniles at Churchill

Wed Nov 15 2023Kevin Kilroy

You know that Ken McPeek and Greg Foley were up early and whistling while they worked Monday morning. Not much else could make a trainer love their job more than a two-year-old showing promise in November. Between the two barns, they sent out six juveniles at Churchill Downs this weekend who caught my eye. Let’s take a look.

Wagering

Mullion winning a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs. (Coady Photography)

Catching My Eye: Three maidens and an old salt at Churchill Downs

Mon Nov 06 2023Kevin Kilroy

Racing analyst Kevin Kilroy discusses a trio of maidens who caught his eye at Churchill Downs along with a five-year-old allowance winner.

Analysis

Dubyuhnell winning the Remsen S. (G2) at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Catching My Eye: Closing Day at Keeneland

Mon Oct 30 2023Kevin Kilroy

That’s a wrap on Keeneland’s fall meet, as Kentucky racing moves back to its homebase of Churchill Downs, where they’ll be through Nov. 26.

Analysis

Dornoch breaking his maiden at Keeneland (Photo by Keeneland Photos)

Catching My Eye: Mighty Hearts and Raw Talent at Keeneland

Tue Oct 17 2023Kevin Kilroy

A fantastic card at Keeneland on Saturday was punctuated time and again by a triumphant favorite, winning each of the final six races, including the sensational $600,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1). The raw talent of freshman Dornoch and the gallant heart of both Lindy and First Mission were on full display.

Analysis

Keeneland (Photo courtesy of Keeneland)

Tournament Strategy: Contenders List for Saturday at Keeneland

Sat Oct 14 2023Kevin Kilroy

TwinSpires’ has a National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) handicapping tournament this weekend and it covers the entire Keeneland card on Saturday, October 14.

Features

Locked (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Catching My Eye: Keeneland Breeders' Cup preps from Saturday, Oct. 7

Tue Oct 10 2023Kevin Kilroy

On Saturday, Keeneland had two "Win and You’re In” events, but connections used each of the five graded stakes as prep races for the first weekend in November.

Breeders Cup

(Keeneland Photo)

Tournament Strategy: TwinSpires $2,500 NHC Qualifier Feeders Oct. 7 and 8

Fri Oct 06 2023Kevin Kilroy

TwinSpires has a new handicapping tournament, the TwinSpires $5,000 NHC Qualifier, offering two seats to the National Horseplayers Championship, which will take place Nov. 25. In order to participate, you have to finish in the top 10% of one of the seven feeder tournaments, and there are two taking place this weekend. If you have a TwinSpires account, opt in to play on Oct. 7 or Oct. 8, 2023.

Tournaments

TwinSpires $2,500 NHC Qualifier Feeder: TwinSpires rolls out new $10 win bet tournaments

Wed Oct 04 2023Kevin Kilroy

Outside of working at a racetrack, to me, there’s no better experience as a handicapper than going to the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC). TwinSpires announced a new tournament, the TwinSpires $5,000 NHC Qualifier, offering two seats.

Tournaments

Zozos (Photo by Coady Photography)

Catching my eye: Closing week of Churchill Downs’ September meet

Tue Oct 03 2023Kevin Kilroy

Kevin Kilroy discusses a few standout horses that caught his eye on the closing weekend of Churchill Downs' September meet.

Analysis

Horse Racing (Photo by Coady Photography)

Betting Strategies: Building tickets with the market in mind

Fri Sep 29 2023Kevin Kilroy

In terms of building multi-race tickets, we are betting into the races blindly, meaning we do not have any tote information about where the money is going and who might be underlays or overlays. Therefore, a lot of horseplayers end up writing tickets that simply reflect their opinions of who could win, forgetting about the notion of value.

Analysis

Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)

Churchill Downs: Early Pick 5 for Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023

Tue Sep 26 2023Kevin Kilroy

On Wednesday, Churchill Downs fires up the final week of the September meet. Here is an early Pick 5 play that kicks off with a single in the opening leg.

Wagering

Xigera wins the 2023 Seneca Stakes (Coady Photography)

Catching My Eye: Bauer and Walsh's strong weekends at Churchill Downs

Mon Sep 25 2023Kevin Kilroy

Trainer Philip Bauer had a huge weekend, scoring with three of his four entries on Saturday and Sunday.

Wagering