How to play Churchill Downs’ 2019 opening day card

Fri Apr 26 2019Dick Powell

An historic Churchill Downs spring meet begins Saturday evening at 6 p.m. (ET) with monstrous purse levels. Field sizes should be strong throughout the meet presenting bettors with a juicy menu of options. RACE 1 LADYOFDRAGONSTONE (#6) (5- ...
How to Bet the Steve Sexton Mile Stakes

Fri Apr 26 2019J. Keeler Johnson

Chances are strong a new graded stakes winner will emerge in Sunday’s $300,000 Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (G3) at Lone Star Park . Only one starter in the ten-horse field— #10 Shotgun Kowboy —has ever broken through at the graded level, but the ...
Opening day Spot Plays for Churchill Downs’ 2019 spring meet

Fri Apr 26 2019John Mucciolo

The spring meeting at Churchill Downs will get underway on Saturday with 10 races on the slate. Topping the opening-evening card is the $125,000 William Walker Stakes, a five-furlong dash on the lawn for three-year-olds featuring the unbeaten Bull ...
Why I'm Betting River Boyne in the San Francisco Mile

Fri Apr 26 2019J. Keeler Johnson

He might not be an obvious standout at first glance, but I believe #10 River Boyne will be tough to beat in Saturday’s $250,000 San Francisco Mile Stakes (G3) at Golden Gate Fields . The Irish-bred 4-year-old has been flat-out classy since ...
Shapiro's Top Contenders Eight Days Out From the 2019 Kentucky Derby

Fri Apr 26 2019Scott Shapiro

We are eight days away from the 2019 Kentucky Derby, and you can feel the excitement in the air more and more each morning at legendary Churchill Downs. With half of the field still to arrive in Louisville over the next few days, it is far too early ...
2019 Kentucky Derby Horses as Famous Athletes

Thu Apr 25 2019Ashley Anderson

With the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby right around the corner, let's take a look at the top 10 Kentucky Derby points winners and find out who their world famous athlete counterpart is based on their character, race history and connections. ...

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Kentucky Derby Pedigree Profile: Win Win Win

Thu Apr 25 2019John Mucciolo

Live Oak’s homebred Win Win Win earned his way into the Kentucky Derby (G1) field with his third-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) , and most recently, a runner-up performance in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland . The Florida- ...
Kentucky Derby Pedigree Profile: Spinoff

Thu Apr 25 2019John Mucciolo

Wertheimer et Frere’s homebred Spinoff finished a close second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) to earn his spot in the starting gate of the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 4. The Todd Pletcher trainee was the last sophomore to gain a berth after garne ...
Dosage as a tool and not the rule

Thu Apr 25 2019Dick Powell

Following Kellie Reilly’s brilliant piece on the strengths and weaknesses of the Dosage Index is like a hack comedian being asked to go on stage after Richard Pryor. Not easy. Reilly went through the methodology and lack of updates of potentia ...
Betting Against the Proven Class in the Santa Margarita Stakes

Thu Apr 25 2019J. Keeler Johnson

There might be a couple of established grade 1 performers entered in Saturday’s $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park , but for various reasons I’m inclined to oppose both in this 1 1/8-mile test. #8 Paradise Woods is by ...
Kentucky Derby Pedigree Profile: Gray Magician

Thu Apr 25 2019John Mucciolo

Wachtel Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber’s Gray Magician punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby (G1) following a runner-up finish in the U.A.E. Derby (G2) at Meydan on March 30. The sophomore picked up 41 total points o ...
Kentucky Derby Pedigree Profile: Country House

Thu Apr 25 2019John Mucciolo

Mrs. J. V. Shields Jr., E. J. M. McFadden Jr. and LNJ Foxwoods’ Country House finished third in the Arkansas Derby (G1) most recently to earn his spot in the starting gate of the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs . The chestnut colt pre ...
Betting a Cold Double on Churchill Downs' Opening Night

Thu Apr 25 2019J. Keeler Johnson

Bulletin shouldn’t lose the William Walker, but identifying the most likely candidates to round out the exacta, trifecta or superfecta could be challenging. There’s little separating them, and spreading deep to ensure a winning ticket is a recipe for ...