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Kentucky Derby Pedigree Profile: Cairo Cat
Cairo Cat got the 2019 Road to the Kentucky Derby series started last Saturday when registering a half-length upset over favorite Tight Ten in the $150,000 Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.
The 1 1/16-mile Iroquois, worth 10 Kentucky Derby ...
Racing
Harrington Raceway hosts Bobby Quillen Memorial
Monday evenings are typically not high on the radar for standardbred races but this past Monday it was Harrington Raecway in southern Delaware that offered the latest renewal of the $150,000 Bobby Quillen Invitational for Free-For-All Pacers, the hal ...
Racing
Fog of War Rallies to Victory in Summer Stakes
As a son of War Front out of the Grade 1-placed Galileo mare Say, Fog of War has a beautiful pedigree that screams “turf miler,” so his success over those conditions in the Summer Stakes was hardly a surprise. And with his “Win and You’re In” berth t ...
Racing
Roaring Lion, Laurens among five Breeders' Cup Challenge winners over Irish Champions Weekend
by DICK POWELL
Ireland had five major stakes races that were designated Breeders’ Cup Challenge races where the winner is guaranteed a berth in their corresponding race, money towards pre-entry/entry fees and travel stipends. For these horses a ...
Racing
La Pelosa Ships In, Runs Away With Natalma Stakes
Both the winner and the runner-up seem well-suited to a run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on November 2nd at Churchill Downs, especially when you consider that the last three times the Breeders’ Cup has been held in Kentucky, the Juvenil ...
Racing
Exclusive: ‘Jug’ Weekday Fair Racing Action Report
For weekday action through Wednesday, Sept. 19, check the TwinSpires harness blog for spot plays at the Delaware, Ohio County Fair.
The Breeders Crown Countdown will cover the Wednesday feature races, the Jugette and the Buckette for pacing an ...
Racing
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The Red Mile and Rosecroft offer Sunday stakes action
While many sports enthusiasts were closely monitoring the second weekend of action in the NFL, standardbred fans found ample time to watch the stakes action that unfolded at Lexington's Red Mile and Rosecroft Raceway, which kicked off its three-month ...
Racing
Skitter Scatter Proves Much the Best in Moyglare Stud Stakes
On paper, Sunday’s prestigious Moyglare Stud Stakes (Ire-I) at the Curragh in Ireland appeared to be a wide-open event destined to produce a very close finish.
The seven-furlong “ Win and You’re In ” prep race for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile ...
Racing
Oscar Performances Out-Sprints Rivals in Woodbine Mile
That’s not meant to detract from Oscar Performance, who’s pure talent and speed is what enabled him to secure such a favorable setup. But at the same time, the late runners had no real chance at victory given how the race unfolded, so I’m inclined to ...
Racing
Iroquois Stakes: Cairo Cat Wins First Prep Race for 2019 Kentucky Derby
Those two wound up pulling well clear of the rest while stopping the timer in 1:45.35, which translated to an 80 Beyer speed figure. Pole Setter flattened out late in the race to finish third, 3 ¼ lengths behind Tight Ten, while Tobacco Road also gre ...
Racing
Serengeti Empress Scores Breathtaking Victory in Pocahontas Stakes
Trained by Tom Amoss, the daughter of Alternation stopped the clock in 1:45.47. Her clocking was a bit slower than the time of 1:45.35 posted by two-year-old colts in the Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) one race prior (and it translated to a Beyer speed fi ...
Racing
Laurens Upsets Huge Favorite Alpha Centauri in Matron Stakes
It’s a fact that when a heavy favorite is upset in a major sporting competition, more attention is typically focused on the performance of the loser than the winner, and this is especially so when extenuating circumstances surround the defeat of the ...
Racing
Roaring Lion Edges Saxon Warrior Again in Irish Champion Stakes
Roaring Lion stopped the timer in 2:07.21 seconds over a course labeled “good to firm.” The tight finish marked the third time Roaring Lion and Saxon Warrior have finished a neck apart at the conclusion of a Group 1 test; Roaring Lion edged his rival ...
Racing
Scores In Mohawk Features Include Upsets At $11, $10 While Favorites Win Most; H2W Exacta Partners A-Plenty As 49 Percent Hit The Board
The major feature action on Sept. 14 at Mohawk resulted in a few decent prices for our contenders, decent considering the strength of public opinion on the stakes-laden program. The horses-to-watch list (H2W) delivered a lot of exactas with ...
Racing
Mohawk card offers glimpse of future
The first five races on the Mohawk Park card on Saturday night offered harness racing fans a glimpse into the future as two-year-olds of both gaits and genders participated in lucrative finals and several elims leading up to finals next weekend. In ...
Racing
Balloon Payouts the Last Time BC Held at Churchill Downs
This year, the Breeders' Cup takes place under the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs. The last time the BC took place at Churchill Downs, price horse after price horse dominated Saturday's card. I've chosen 4 prices to illustrate how crazy it actually w ...
Racing
Breeders’ Cup Classic: Don’t Expect an Odds on Favorite This Year
Favorites have won several of the most recent Breeders' Cup Classics. Gun Runner dominated in 2017 and Arrogate, although technically not the favorite, beat California Chrome in 2016. The favorite's march to a Classic victory could be different thi ...
Racing
Woodbine Mile international scouting report: Stormy Antarctic
A Group performer for all four seasons of racing, Stormy Antarctic has a newfound consistency since he was gelded last summer. The question is whether he can break through at the top level or continue to find one too good for him.
Stormy Antarctic ...
Racing
Woodbine Mile international scouting report: Lord Glitters
You don’t have to look far to find parallels between Lord Glitters and 2015 Woodbine Mile (G1) winner Mondialiste: both French recruits for owners Geoff and Sandra Turnbull and trainer David O’Meara, both runner-up in the Lincoln to start the seaso ...
Racing
Five Irish Breeders’ Cup ‘Win & You’re In' prep races on tap this weekend
Alpha Centauri (c) Photo courtesy of Ascot Twitter
by Dick Powell
Ireland has five races this weekend where the winners are guaranteed spots in their respective Breeders’ Cup races thanks to the “Win & You’re In” Challenge series . T ...
Racing
Stellar Mohawk Saturday card kicks off weekend of harness action
This weekend will offer serious harness racing fans a chance to see many of the sport's best trotters and pacers compete at various venues as many standardbred fans look forward to next Thursday's Little Brown Jug, the third jewel of pacing's triple ...
Racing
Powell’s Picks for the Summer Stakes
Fog of War (c) NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography
by Dick Powell
Woodbine ’s Summer Stakes (Can-G1) attracted a field of 13 going a one-turn mile on the turf for juveniles. The winner will get an automatic entry in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenil ...
Racing
Shapiro’s Selections for the Iroquois
My Sixth Sense (c) Ellis Park/Coady Photography
by Scott Shapiro
The Road to the Kentucky Derby gets started on Saturday as the Iroquois (G3) is slated as the 10TH race on a strong 11-race card at legendary Churchill Downs .
The first ...
Racing
Winx stars in Colgate Optic White at Randwick
As an appetizer to the big weekend of racing in Europe and North America, Winx gets the ball rolling in Australia late Friday night (1:10 a.m. EDT) in the Colgate Optic White (G1) at Randwick.
Fresh off breaking Black Caviar’s consecutive win ...
Racing
Powell’s All-Graded Stakes Pick 3 for Woodbine Mile Day
Johnny Bear (orange silks) and Hawkbill battle it out in the 2017 Northern Dancer Turf (c) WEG/Michael Burns Photography
by Dick Powell
Woodbine has a big weekend of racing coming up and a juicy Pick 3 with three graded stakes race later ...
Racing
Powell’s Picks for the Breeders’ Cup ‘WAYI’ Natalma
My Gal Betty (c) WEG/Michael Burns Photography
by Dick Powell
The Natalma Stakes (Can-G1) will be run at one-mile on the turf for two-year-old fillies at Woodbine on Sunday. The winner gets an automatic entry in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenil ...
Racing
How to Bet the Moyglare Stud Stakes
The Moyglare Stud Stakes
Can we have anything resembling a firm opinion on Sunday's race?
I’ll be honest, it’s hard to have anything resembling a firm opinion of who might win Sunday’s Moyglare Stud Stakes (Eng-I) at the Curragh in Ireland, a ...
Racing
Three-Year-Olds Might Have the Edge in Flying Five Stakes
Sunday’s Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (Eng-I) at the Curragh in Ireland might not be the toughest Group 1 sprint you’ll ever find, but the race is nevertheless a “ Win and You’re In ” prep race for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (gr. ...
Racing
All-Stakes Pick 4 play for Woodbine Mile Day
The C$800,000 Woodbine Mile (Can-G1) kick starts a $200,000 guaranteed All-Stakes Pick 4 at Woodbine on Saturday. It is also a “Win & You’re In” Challenge Series race, as the winner gets a berth in the November 3 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) .
...
Racing
Betting the Churchill Downs Homecoming Meet Tips
How To Bet the 2018 Churchill Downs Homecoming Meeting
Rely on familiar faces
The Homecoming Meeting at Churchill Downs is relatively new—having begun in 2013 after Turfway Park stopped racing in September—but a glance at the ...
Racing
Saturday Spot Plays for Woodbine
A huge day of racing will take place at Woodbine on Saturday. The Woodbine Mile (Can-G1) is the feature and will be accompanied by a trio of additional graded races – Northern Dancer Stakes (Can-G1), Canadian Stakes (Can-G2) and Bold Venture Stakes ...
Racing
How to Bet the Woodbine Mile
With a “ Win and You’re In ” berth to the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. I) on the line, Saturday’s $800,000 Woodbine Mile (gr. I) at Woodbine is shaping up to be a truly international event with plenty of talent from top to bottom. With a ...
Racing
How to Bet the Iroquois Stakes
It seems hard to believe, but the 2018-19 Road to the Kentucky Derby kicks off this Saturday with the running of the $150,000 Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs, which also serves as a “ Win and You’re In ” prep race for the 2018 ...
Racing
Why I'm Betting Serengeti Empress in the Pocahontas Stakes
It’s a simple question—will anyone defeat #1 Serengeti Empress in Saturday’s $200,000 Pocahontas Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill Downs ?
In my opinion, the answer is pretty simple as well—no. No one will defeat Serengeti Empress. Okay, maybe ...
Racing
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Berth Available in KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes
This weekend is going to be a big one in terms of “ Win and You’re In ” prep races for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
The attention of North American racing fans will be primarily focused on Sunday’s Summer ...
Racing
Alpha Centauri Looks Unstoppable in Matron Stakes
There are no certainties in racing, but if #1 Alpha Centauri is beaten in Saturday’s Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes (Ire-I) at Leopardstown, it will count as a monumental upset, because on paper Alpha Centauri looks absolutely unstoppable. ...
Racing
Roaring Lion, Saxon Warrior Meet Again in Irish Champion Stakes
Two months ago at Sandown Racecourse in Great Britain, the talented three-year-olds Roaring Lion and Saxon Warrior put on quite a show in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes (Eng-I), finishing just a neck apart at the end of the 1 ¼-mile test.
That thrill ...
Racing
Mohawk Stakes Finals Pit Division Stars For Top Dollars; Metro And ‘Great Lady’ Elims Offer More Frosh Action
In this blog for our betting weekend starting Thursday, Sept. 13 we address a host of big events. Make note that this is the weekend before we focus on Little Brown Jug (LBJ) where weekday racing becomes the focus (racing begins there on Su ...
Racing
Green Trotters Tackle Lucrative New York Sires Stakes Splits Over Half-Milers Saratoga And Yonkers; Milton Mares Engage At Mohawk
Here are the races for week five of the 2018 Breeders Crown Countdown (BCC), the exclusive blog that coordinates with our weekly harness blog at TwinSpires.com and the Hambletonian Society to find great wagering opportunities for "Crown ...
Racing
Breeders Crown Top Fives
(NE) = Not Eligible – can Supplement
Sept. 13—Sept. 20
TWO-YEAR OLD COLT TROT (no change)
1. DON’T LET’EM
2. GREEN MANALISHI S
3. GREENSHOE
4. GERRY
5. SWANDRE THE GIANT
TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT
...
Racing
2018-19 Road to the Kentucky Derby Kicks Off With Iroquois Stakes
The journey ultimately comes full circle; it begins where it ends, and ends where it begins.
That journey, of course, is the 2018-19 Road to the Kentucky Derby , which kicks off on September 15th with the running of the Iroquois Stakes (gr. I ...
Racing
My Gal Betty Seeks Fourth Straight Win in Natalma Stakes
If you think that Sunday’s Summer Stakes (gr. I) at Woodbine is shaping up to be a competitive race, just wait until you see the entries for the $250,000 Natalma Stakes (gr. I) earlier on the card!
The one-mile “ Win and You’re In ” prep ...
Racing
Kentucky Downs Selections – September 13, 2018
Kentucky Downs (c) Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com
by Joe Kristufek
Seven of the 10 races at Kentucky Downs on Wednesday were run over at least a mile and outside stalkers/closers one the majority of them, although there was a gate-to-wire v ...
Racing
Huge, Competitive Field Assembles for Summer Stakes
Turf? Check. Huge field? Check. Two-year-olds? Check. Fantastically competitive and wide-open betting race? You bet!
On Sunday, Woodbine racecourse will host the $250,000 Summer Stakes (gr. I) , a one-mile grass race that offers a “ Win and You ...
Racing
Churchill Downs releases 2018/2019 Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule
The Road to the Kentucky Derby (RTKD) schedule made up of points races toward a starting berth in the 2019 Kentucky Derby (G1) has been unveiled by Churchill Downs . The 2018/2019 series is comprised of 35 races, with 19 making up the “Prep Seas ...
Racing
Harrington Raceway set to host Bobby Quillen Memorial
Very few thoroughbred or standardbred tracks offer their best event of the season on a Monday, but such will be the case next Monday at Harrington Raceway if the southern Delaware half-mile oval is spared the brunt and remnants of Hurricane Florence ...
Racing
Kentucky Downs Selections – September 12, 2018
By JOE KRISTUFEK
Despite being rated “good” on Saturday, the turf seemed closer to firm than yielding -- I walked it myself. The races played out exactly to profile. Of the seven sprints, three were won by pace pressers, three by stalkers and on ...
Racing
Huge Weekend of Racing Set for September 15-16 at Woodbine
On the weekend of September 15-16, the attention of the racing world will turn to Woodbine in Canada, where a top-class series of eight stakes races worth nearly $2.2 million will take center stage.
Among the highlights of this action-packed w ...
Racing
Harrah's Philadelphia offers seven Liberty Bell
While many sports enthusiasts were watching the full slate of opening Sunday games in the NFL, harness racing fans turned their attention to the home of the idle NFL champions as Harrah's Philadelphia offered seven Liberty Bell divisions for sophomor ...
Racing
Let's Catch Up With American Pharoah
Santa Anita runs the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Saturday, Sep. 29. I thought it might be a good idea to check in on the horse that broke the 37-years Triple Crown drought. American Pharoah currently stands at Coolmore . Chec ...
Racing
Breeders' Cup Among Highlights of September and Fall Meets at Churchill Downs
Starting this Friday and continuing through the end of November, Churchill Downs racetrack—home of the Kentucky Derby—will host a pair of race meets that will showcase some of the most accomplished older horses and the most promising young runne ...
Racing
Keeler Johnson's Breeders' Cup Sprint Top 10: Will a 3yo Prevail?
With the 2018 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs rapidly approaching—it’s just eight weeks away—the fields for the 14 championship races are starting to take shape.
At the moment, it appears that the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) will be among ...
Racing
BOOM ! Pair Of Upsets Pay $68, $14, Plus Three More Grand Circuit Winners At Mohawk; $36 Tops Three ‘Countdown’ Scores
Breeders Crown-eligible horses are battling for bucks at the biggest venues in North America and our exclusive blog, Breeders Crown Countdown (BCC), has been repeatedly scoring for TwinSpires players. This past week three more horses from t ...
Racing
Scioto Downs, Mohawk and Yonkers offer solid Saturday cards
On the eve of the first full slate of NFL games, harness racing enthusiasts kicked off their weekend by watching a bevy of stakes and solid overnight events at Mohawk Park, Scioto Downs and Yonkers Raceway, a trio of tracks of varying sized ovals. S ...
Racing
Kentucky Downs Selections – September 9, 2018
Kentucky Downs (c) Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com
by Joe Kristufek
Sunday represents the second to last card of the Kentucky Downs meet. Thursday is closing day, and Churchill Downs opens Friday. With rain the forecast, I’ll continue to l ...
Racing
A look at Saturday's Early Pick 4 at Kentucky Downs
On the most important of the five Kentucky Downs cards this month, we'll take a swing at the Early Pick 4 (Races 2-5, 14% takeout) before five stakes, four of which are Grade 3s, round out the 10-race program.
Race 2
#2 TAXMAN (3-1) was not ...
Racing
Betting opportunities abound on Kentucky Turf Cup Day
The $750,000 Kentucky Turf Cup (G3) is the headliner and Kentucky Downs features another strong program filled with competitive races on Saturday. A total of five stakes worth a combined $2.7 million will be offered and there’s seldom a short field a ...
Racing
Plenty of stakes action at Scioto Downs and Mohawk this weekend
While many sports enthusiasts are gearing up for a full slate of NFL games on Sunday afternoon and evening, harness racing fans will focus their attention of the bevy of stakes taking place at a quartet of ovals this weekend. Saturday night Scioto D ...
Racing
Game Winner vs. Mind Control: Who’s More Likely to Win the Kentucky Derby?
On Labor Day, the summer race meets at Del Mar and Saratoga came to a climax with the running of the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) and the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I), the first two Grade 1 events of the year for two-year-old males.
As a result, Game Winne ...
Racing
Mucciolo: Kentucky Downs Stakes Selections
Kentucky Downs (c) Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com
Five lucrative stakes races help make up half of a fine card at Kentucky Downs on Saturday.
Here are my selections:
RACE 6 – KENTUCKY DOWNS JUVENILE TURF SPRINT
The Wesley Ward duo of ...
Racing
Kentucky Downs Selections – September 8, 2018
Kentucky Downs (c) Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com
by Joe Kristufek
Speed held better on the second day of the abbreviated Kentucky Downs meet. Only one horse wired the field, but four of the 10 winners pressed the early pace. Three closed f ...
Racing
Pick 4 play for British Columbia Derby Day at Hastings
The C$150,000 British Columbia Derby (Can-G3) highlights a huge day of racing at Hastings Park on Saturday. The Vancouver, Canada, venue will play host to 10 races in total, with six of the stakes variety.
The late Pick 4 (Races 7-10) offers big f ...
Racing
Picks for the Korea Sprint and Cup at Seoul, South Korea
Wild Dude (c) Ross Holburt/Korean Racing Authority
by Dick Powell
Race 8 on Saturday night is the $354,840 Korea Sprint Cup (Kor-G1). It has attracted 13 runners going about six furlongs on the sand track at Seoul, South Korea, and the impo ...
Racing
Friday and Saturday Spot Plays at Los Alamitos
The Los Alamitos County Fair began Thursday and all four stakes races during the 12-day meet will be conducted on Saturdays. The $75,000 E.B. Johnston , a one-mile test for California-bred three-year-olds and up, and the $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis f ...
Racing
Keeler Johnson's (Way Too Early) 2019 Kentucky Derby Top 10
7. Endorsed
There was plenty to like about Endorsed’s maiden victory at Saratoga. After breaking slowly, he was urged to get back into the race and never really got a chance to relax, but despite this challenging setup, he produced a powerful fi ...
Racing
Mucciolo: Opening Day plays at Belmont Park
Belmont Park (c) NYRA/Brittlan Wall/Adam Coglianese Photography
It’s never a joyous occasion when the racing at Saratoga concludes. The dynamic session was sensational once again in 2018 but another great one begins when the Belmont Fall Cham ...
Racing
Candy Ride Sires Another Grade 1 Winner
Candy Ride sired another Grade 1 victor after Game Winner took the 2018 Del Mar Futurity. The former Pacific Classic winner trained by Ronald McAnally has become one of the top sires in the United States. Lane's End's stud fee for Candy Ride is only ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: 2018 Meet Wrap-Up
Saratoga (c) Spencer Tulis/Horsephotos.com
by Dick Powell
This is a deep dive into the 2018 Saratoga meet for trainers Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher, as well as jockeys Irad Ortiz Jr., Javier Castellano and Jose Ortiz.
CHAD BROWN
...
Racing
Third start at Kentucky Downs could be the charm in Old Friends
Kentucky Downs (c) Bob Newell/Horsephotos.com
The $250,000 Old Friends heads a nice 10-race program from Kentucky Downs on Thursday and there appears to be plenty of speed in the 12-horse field.
Parlor ( #10) packs a solid turn ...
Racing
Big Bucks For Soph Trotters All Weekend; Mohawk Elims For Frosh Finals; Grand Circuit Stakes Made Of Money
Before we pick up the Grand Circuit at Mohawk, we offer sires stakes and older trotters in New York on Friday. Saturday is a big night in Canada with elims for next week’s lucrative finals for freshman colt-and-filly trotters. Simcoe Stakes host some ...
Racing
Fillies Firing For Fame At Yonkers, Mohawk In Search Of Berths With The Best
Here are the races for week four of the 2018 Breeders Crown Countdown, the exclusive blog that coordinates with our weekly harness blog at TwinSpires.com and the Hambletonian Society to find great wagering opportunities for "Crown" elig ...
Racing
Breeders Crown Top Fives
(NE) = Not Eligible – can Supplement
Sept. 6—Sept. 12
TWO-YEAR OLD COLT TROT (no change)
1. DON’T LET’EM
2. GREEN MANALISHI S
3. GREENSHOE
4. GERRY
5. SWANDRE THE GIANT
TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT
...
Racing
Kentucky Downs Selections -- September 6, 2018
by JOE KRISTUFEK
The Kentucky Downs turf course played true to form on opening day Saturday. A little give in the ground aided off the pace types, particularly in the routes. Speed held a little better in the sprints, which is typical ...
Racing
Why I'm Betting Bandua in the Dueling Grounds Derby
There are plenty of talented horses entered in Sunday's $400,000 Exacta Systems Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs , but to be perfectly honest, I never seriously considered picking anyone but #6 Bandua to win.
My reasoning is simple. Ke ...
Racing
Harness action was hot over Labor Day weekend
While many Americans often head to the beaches or prepare for elaborate cookouts for Labor Day weekend, often dubbed the unofficial end of summer, harness racing fans had plenty of reason to bypass the beaches and barbecues and head to the track. Mo ...
Racing
Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint Could Have Breeders' Cup Implications
If you’re excited about the inaugural scheduled to be held in November at Churchill Downs , then you won’t want to miss Saturday’s $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs .
The 6 ½-furlong event is a perfect prep ...
Racing
Why I'm Betting Oscar Nominated in the Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes
Although most racecourses in North America are pretty similar in shape and size, Kentucky Downs is a unique and challenging exception.
The European-style course is vaguely shaped like an oval, but the first turn is significantly sharper than t ...
Racing
Game Winner Rallies to Victory in Del Mar Futurity
On every level, Game Winner’s performance was strong. His final time of 1:23.18 for seven furlongs was quite fast for Del Mar and produced a Beyer speed figure of 93, one of the highest earned by any two-year-old in the nation so far this year. Furth ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Week 7 Wrap-Up
by DICK POWELL
Sixty-five races were run in the final week of Saratoga (one was a steeplechase). Only four came off the turf and the average field size was 8.43. The average win price was $11.35. Twenty-one favorites won the 65 races for a win p ...
Racing
Handicapping Wednesday's Show-Place-Win $1,500 split
The Show-Place-Win opportunity is back as Indiana Grand will present a pair of $200,000 grass stakes for three-year-olds on Wednesday
Opt in and become eligible to split $1,500 in cash . Place a winning $20 Show bet on Race 7 (4:53 p.m. EDT) at I ...
Racing
Mind Control Posts Upset Victory in Hopeful Stakes
By winning the season’s first Grade 1 race for two-year-old males, Mind Control has stamped himself as one of the East Coast top contender for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and—by extension—the 2019 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) . And although ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Closing Day
by Dick Powell
The Saratoga 2018 racing season concluded on Monday. Amazingly, the heat and humidity were back with a vengeance and it was extremely uncomfortable for all involved. Many horses were having water poured on them in the paddock eve ...
Racing
Sky Full of Stars Gamely Prevails in T. Von Zastrow Stutenpreis
Needless to say, it was a gutsy performance from Sky Full of Stars, though it’s fair to question the quality of the rivals she defeated. Star Rock has primarily been a listed race and handicap competitor in Great Britian with her previous career-best ...
Racing
From Last to First, Sippican Harbor Wins the Spinaway
The previously unbeaten Restless Rider , entering off an impressive win in the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs, produced a mild rally from mid-pack to finish second by a neck over the late-running longshot Cassies Dreamer , who—like Sippican Ha ...
Racing
Frosh Fires For $81 Win; Longest Shot In PASS Frosh Quartet At $34; Forecasted Upset Spot On As McWicked Blows Lazarus N Away
Just as our weekly preview blog concluded its exclusive freshman-contenders section, the big score of the following blog not only beat the top price of all the frolicking frosh groups of this season but it made the filly paying $81.50 the c ...
Racing
Instagrand headlines Breeders’ Cup Future Wager Juvenile pool, ‘All Other Sires’ tops Juvenile Sires pool
Instagrand winning the Best Pal Stakes (G2) (c) Benoit Photo
Grade 2 winner Instagrand (#8) and the “All Other Sires” closed as favorites in their respective pools when the second of three Breeders’ Cup Future Wagers closed on Sunday.
I ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Final Sunday of the 2018 meet
by Dick Powell
Fast and firm. Perfect weather. Why can’t Saratoga be like this every day?
Because if it was, it wouldn’t be Saratoga.
A dozen races were carded again today but at least the first-race post time was 12:30 p.m. (ET). Saturda ...
Racing
Yoshida Tries Dirt, Rallies to Victory in Woodward Stakes
For Yoshida, the victory was the biggest of his career and opened up new options for the future. The Bill Mott-trained four-year-old now looms as a major contender for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) on dirt in November at Churchill Downs, a race ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Woodward Day
by Dick Powell
Woodward Stakes Day started out a little chilly but the sun came out and it was a perfect day at Saratoga . The main track is still listed as fast but the two turf courses were both listed as good.
Race 1 was a seven-furlong ...
Racing
How to bet the Hopeful Stakes
Mucho (c) Teresa Genaro
A field of eight will contest the $350,000 Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga , the meet-closing feature on Labor Day. The winner figures to come from a group of five: Sanford (G3) victor Sombeyay (#1) and last-out graduat ...
Racing
How to bet the Del Mar Futurity
Roadster (c) Benoit Photo
by Scott Shapiro
The closing day card at Del Mar is headlined by the Del Mar Futurity (G1) . The seven-furlong event conducted over the main track has been dominated by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert dating back to t ...
Racing
Scully: Kentucky Downs stakes picks on Opening Day
Kentucky Downs (c) Bob Newell/Horsephotos.com
Today is the first of five cards at Kentucky Downs and the 10-race program includes four stakes. Here are some of my thoughts:
Get your bet back on every stakes race up to $5 if the horse you ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Chad Brown ties record
by Dick Powell
The last Friday of the meet was a perfect, cloudy day with temperatures in the 70s. The humidity has left town, temporarily, and I wore a long-sleeve shirt. The main track was listed as fast, the inner turf course was good with the ...
Racing
Godolphin Might Finally Win the Breeders' Cup Classic
finished last, Godolphin put him back on the turf. He ran well on the turf his 3-year-old season. This year, he's run well on the dirt. We can forgive Thunder Snow for his awful showing in the Juddmonte International . Not only was it his first r ...
Racing
How to bet the Saturday juvenile turf stakes
Gulfstream Park (c) Lauren King/Adam Coglianese Photography
A total of five stakes races will be held for two-year-olds over the lawn on Saturday. I previously covered the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Stakes on Brisnet.com and will now take aim a ...
Racing
How to bet the 2018 Spinaway Stakes
A dozen fillies will look to earn an automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Saturday in the $350,000 Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga, a "Win & You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge race.
By far the most intriguing entrant is # ...
Racing
Shapiro explores a $40 bet for the Woodward Stakes
by Scott Shapiro
The 2018 Woodward Stakes (G1) did not attract anyone near the talent of last year’s winner and Horse of the Year Gun Runner, but it certainly is a challenging analytical puzzle for handicappers to unpack.
The $750,000 event ru ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Off the turf again
by Dick Powell
The weather on Thursday was exactly like expected when writing yesterday’s column on Saratoga . Unfortunately, the skies opened up at 9:30 p.m. (ET) last night and then more storms hit the area overnight. The result was a fast mai ...
Racing