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Hambletonian Heats and Oaks Finals Are Historic Highlights At the Meadowlands
The first Saturday in August is now this Saturday. North America’s top sophomore trotters gather to compete for the Hambletonian prize at the Meadowlands with the fillies going in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks and a total of 16 colts and o ...
Racing
How to Bet the Whitney Stakes
He may have been a last-minute entrant, but #6 Diversify certainly looms as the horse to beat in Saturday’s $1.2 million Whitney Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga , a prestigious “Win and You’re In” prep race on the road to the Breeders’ Cup Class ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Week Three Begins
by Dick Powell
Ten days in the books, 30 more to come. Yesterday, the forecast for today was not only a washout but dangerous thunderstorms with hail and lightning were predicted. There was a light drizzle around 10 a.m. (ET) and, so far, it has ...
Racing
Why I'm Betting Santa Monica in the Waya Stakes
“Deep” probably isn’t a strong enough word to describe the depth of trainer Chad Brown’s stable, at least when referring to the number of quality female turf horses he trains. “Essentially bottomless?” Yes, that has a more accurate ring to it.
So ...
Racing
How to Bet the Test Stakes
What do you do when four of the top contenders in a given race seem certain to engage in an all-out battle for the lead, but you don’t really care for the chances of their late-running rivals?
That’s the question I’m faced with when handicapping S ...
Racing
Regally bred Dream Pauline could be the next big thing Thursday at Saratoga
The eighth race at Saratoga on Thursday is a first-level allowance for fillies and mares at six furlongs. DREAM PAULINE , a fine debut winner at Aqueduct in December, makes her return for conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin.
The daughter of Tapit caugh ...
Racing
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Hambletonian Future-Bet #3 Offered With Cast Of Classic Race
The third Hambletonian Future Wager takes action Wednesday, Aug. 1 at noon and closes on Friday, Aug. 3 at 10:00 pm.
Entries have been taken and drawn for the Saturday, Aug. 4 $1 million Hambletonian (see complete analysis Thur ...
Racing
How to play the Canterbury Humpday Showdown
Wednesdays replace Sundays on the Canterbury Park calendar in August, and TwinSpires.com will be offering the Humpday Showvivor on every Wednesday program at the Shakopee, Minnesota, course.
Opt in and place a Show wager of exactly $5 on a s ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Week Two Wrap-Up
by DICK POWELL
Week two had just about everything except a turf course listed as Firm. The main track was all four designations -- Fast, Good, Sloppy and Muddy. The Mellon turf course was Good and Yielding while the Inner turf course was Good, Y ...
Racing
Baffert Ships Once On Whiskey for West Virginia Derby
It’s not every day that trainer runs a horse at Mountaineer , but then again, it’s not every day that the West Virginia racetrack hosts a graded stakes race worth $500,000.
Thus, it’s not too surprising that Baffert will be in action on August ...
Racing
Good Magic Rebounds to Win Haskell Invitational
If there’s one aspect that you can knock about Good Magic’s performance, it’s that he did not run a particularly fast race despite enjoying a picture-perfect trip—he never had a straw in his path, but his speed figures (98 Beyer and 103 BRIS) were on ...
Racing
Playing the Indiana Grand "10% Win or Lose" Pick 4
They're sloppy and off the turf to start Tuesday's Indiana Grand card, but TwinSpires.com's " 10% Win or Lose! " offer goes on. Opt in and wager at least $50 into either of the Pick 4 pools at Indiana Grand every Tuesday and earn a 10% bonus on winni ...
Racing
Out Cap Da Shap at Del Mar on August 1
by SCOTT SHAPIRO
After failing to get to Beach View in the featured $100,000 Cougar II H. (G3) last Wednesday afternoon, I am back for the third "Out Cap Da Shap" promo of the Del Mar summer meeting.
Last week saw six winners split an add ...
Racing
Unique Bella Overcomes Adversity in Clement L. Hirsch Stakes
The final time of 1:44.40 was modest, as was Unique Bella’s time for the final five-sixteenths of a mile (:32.84), but the lack of a shoe surely compromised her performance to some degree, and despite that obstacle she did give the impression of havi ...
Racing
Ocean Downs and Yonkers offer stakes action on Monday
A pair of half-mile harness racing ovals separated by several states offered stakes action on Monday evening as Ocean Downs hosted a quartet of Maryland Standardbred Race Fund events for two-year-olds early on the card while Yonkers Raceway in New Yo ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Day Ten
by DICK POWELL
The last day of week two saw the turf still less than firm and the main track a blazing fast condition. Not sure why they continue to treat it as if it is going to rain but it is tight as a drum.
Race 1 was the postpo ...
Racing
Turf sprints bookend Late Pick 4 Monday at Saratoga
I find turf sprints to be among the most challenging races to handicap. But they can also be the most rewarding, often producing healthy payouts. So Monday’s late Pick 4, which has turf sprint races in the first and closing legs, has to be given a pl ...
Racing
Ocean Downs and Pocono Downs offer solid Sunday cards
While many thoroughbred racing fans were focused on watching Good Magic capture the Grade I, $1 million Haskell Invitational to perhaps inherit the role of top three-year-old for the remainder of the season in light of the early retirement of Triple ...
Racing
Post Jim Dandy and Haskell Top Active 3-Year-Old Rankings
Both the Jim Dandy and Haskell Invitational took place this weekend. Good Magic easily won the $1 million Haskell Invitational. Tenfold took the Jim Dandy. Now that the two biggest preps of the summer for the Travers Stakes are out of the way, it's t ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Sunny Sunday
by DICK POWELL
Bad weather left town and the main track was finally listed as fast. The Mellon turf course, which drains faster, was listed as good and the inner turf course started out as yielding. The main track was heavily sealed before the ra ...
Racing
2018 Haskell Invitational one-liners
Although only seven line up in today’s Haskell Invitational (G1), the $1 million contest at Monmouth Park should have a bearing on the state of the three-year-old division post-Justify. And aside from the allure of a Grade 1 on the resume, it also fu ...
Racing
Ransom the Moon Defeats Roy H Again in Bing Crosby Stakes
Following the race, Prat credited a change in tactics for producing Ransom the Moon’s big finish. “I was thinking I was riding this horse up too close,” Prat told Del Mar publicity. “I might have been taking his kick away from him. So today I went a ...
Racing
Double-Digit Duo Of ‘Doherty’ Winners; Favorite Fillies Fly In ‘Oaks’ Pair; Adios Groups Applauds Public Choices
There were ups and downs on the three-day betting campaign but some fine winners and exotics came through in our features, freshman section and horses-to-watch list.
Here’s how everything went:
Thursday, July 26
A bettor’s story ...
Racing
Meadows and Meadowlands offer top Saturday cards
Saturday afternoon the main event for standardbred racing fans was the latest edition of the diluted Adios Pace at the Meadows while trotting fans focused their attention on the action at the Meadowlands later that evening. Heading into the $400,000 ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Jim Dandy
By DICK POWELL
So, it rained most of the night with thunderstorms rolling through the Saratoga area. But they stopped in the morning and the sun started drying things out. The day began with the main track listed as Muddy, the Mellon turf course ...
Racing
Making Money around Unique Bella in the Clement L. Hirsch
By SCOTT SHAPIRO
The Clement L. Hirsch (G1) came up very weak outside of 2-5 morning line favorite Unique Bella , so as a horseplayer the question becomes how to make money around the star Don Alberto Stable filly.
The daughter of Tapit has ...
Racing
How to play the $8,000 Place Payout on Haskell Day
With the cancellation of racing at Lone Star Park last weekend, there is now an $8,000 bonus in the TwinSpires Place Payout , which will be conducted on Sunday's 14-race Haskell Invitational (G1) program at Monmouth Park.
Opt in and wager $5 Pla ...
Racing
Poet's Word Rallies to Victory in King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes
By virtue of his hard-fought victory, Poet’s Word received a “Win and You’re In” berth to the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. I) at Churchill Downs , though only time will tell if his connections choose to accept the invitation. With two straight Gro ...
Racing
Betting the Late Pick 4 at Saratoga
By SCOTT SHAPIRO
The second Saturday of the Saratoga meeting includes four graded stakes races, three of which are included in the late Pick 4 that commences with the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap in Race 8.
Here are my thoughts:
...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Stormy Friday
By DICK POWELL
This is getting ridiculous! Crazy weather hit Saratoga again Friday afternoon with thunder, lightning and heavy rain. Then, the sun came out. Then it started storming again and it might continue into the night. I live about 10 mil ...
Racing
How to Bet the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot
Although Saturday’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (G1) is shaping up as a chalkfest, there’s still one overpriced horse eligible to go close, and make the Ascot feature worth betting.
But first, we’ll have to sort through the principals in ...
Racing
‘Little Pharoah’ and other maidens of interest at Del Mar
The Bing Crosby (G1), featuring TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) hero ROY H, is the headliner Saturday at Del Mar. A strong field has been assembled in what could prove to be a really good one.
But a trio of maiden special weight events are ...
Racing
Saratoga Stakes Plays for Saturday
A quartet of graded stakes races will take place on Saturday at Saratoga. Here is what I expect:
Amsterdam (G3)
Seven sophomores will dash six panels on the main strip in a strong field. Four in the cast are exiting a try in the deep Woody St ...
Racing
How to bet the Bing Crosby at Del Mar
by SCOTT SHAPIRO
A solid rendition of the Bing Crosby (G1) headlines a strong 10-race card on Saturday afternoon at the Del Mar.
The $300,000 event run at three-quarters of a mile over the main track drew a field of 11 led by 2017 ...
Racing
American Pharoah's Sister Headlines Three Strong Maiden Races Saturday at Del Mar
Maiden special weight events are not for everyone, but they are some of my favorite races to handicap, especially at the boutique summer meetings in California and New York.
A trio of protected non-winner races are a part of the ten-race card on ...
Racing
Harrington offers Governor's Day card
While many harness racing enthusiasts are accustomed to seeing the sport's best trotters and pacers compete on weekends, local standardbred fans were given a treat on Thursday evening when Harrington Raceway hosted its annual, lucrative Governor's Da ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Wet & Off the Turf
By DICK POWELL
Heavy rain hit Saratoga Wednesday night and into Thursday morning resulting in a very wet main track and not only was there no turf racing but the steeplechase that was scheduled for race 1 was postponed until Monday.
The actio ...
Racing
Unique Bella Stands Out in Clement L. Hirsch Stakes
She’s been almost unstoppable, winning eight of her eleven starts. Her rare defeats have come under extenuating circumstances. She’s got blazing early speed and can carry it around two turns, and she’s already won twice at the Grade 1 level.
That’ ...
Racing
Del Mar 2yos Analysis: Baffert Set to Debut Chasing Yesterday, Roadster
The first week of summer racing at Del Mar is complete, and suffice to say there was lots of noteworthy action on the juvenile racing front, with plenty more to come this week.
With the main juvenile stakes races coming a bit later in the meet ...
Racing
Betting Longshot Golden Brown in the Haskell Invitational
The recent retirement of Triple Crown winner Justify means that several rich prizes for three-year-olds will be up for grabs this summer, including Sunday’s $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park .
The nine-furlong race—a "Win ...
Racing
Saratoga 2yos Analysis: Pletcher Off to Fast Start, Loaded for Week Two
Saratoga certainly knows how to open with a bang!
For racing fans and bettors, one of the main highlights of Saratoga is the numerous races for two-year-olds held throughout the summer, so it was delightful to see a large number of these races ...
Racing
Using the free space in Friday’s Late Pick 4
Dual Grade-1 placed Hofburg looms an imposing figure in the $100,000 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga on Friday. The talented sophomore seems poised for a huge second-half of 2018 and looms as a towering presence in this spot.
Since I think Hofburg is ...
Racing
Late Pick 4 Analysis for Saturday Afternoon at Del Mar- July 28th
The second Saturday of the 2018 Del Mar summer meeting offers racing fans several great wagering opportunities, including a late Pick 4 that commences in Race 7 with the $150,000 California Dreamin and concludes with a maiden special weight event ov ...
Racing
Will a Top 3 Year Old Emerge From Haskell or Jim Dandy?
might be just as talented as Good Magic. That doesn't mean Bravazo should emerge as a top 3-year-old after this race. What's wrong with Core Beliefs? The Quality Road runner took home the Ohio Derby after chasing fast fractions. What was impressive ...
Racing
Cracksman Seeks Redemption in King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Isn’t it funny how fast things can change in the sport of horse racing?
Barely more than a month ago, Cracksman was the toast of Europe’s racing scene, a three-time Group 1 winner viewed as a budding superstar and a nearly unbeatable force for t ...
Racing
Forceful Adios Final Field, Three Splits Divide Fillies In Adioo Volo At The Meadows; Harrington Handles Lucrative Delaware Divisions
Next on the features agenda is another focus on the glamour-boy pacers with the Adios Pace at the Meadows. The event’s low-key sister event, the Adioo Volo, co-stars on the big July 28 afternoon program.
The night before the Adios, t ...
Racing
Fillies Fire For Berths In Hambletonian Oaks Elims; Colts Dig Deep In Last Preps At The Meadows And The Meadowlands
The fillies finally fight for their spot in the Hambletonian Oaks this Saturday, July 28 with a total of 17 entries competing in two eliminations at the Meadowlands Racetrack. Alongside the fillies, the colts contest in two divisions of the ...
Racing
Does Justify Belong in Horse Racing's Pantheon?
believe Justify doesn't belong in the Pantheon. The first is the obvious: Justify never beat a single older horse. Let's not look past this fact. Winning a Triple Crown is fantastic, but winning a Triple Crown often isn't enough. Citation won 32 of ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Week Two Begins
By DICK POWELL
I hate to obsess about the weather up here but I will anyway. If you are playing Saratoga from around the country, checking the forecast is almost meaningless. Rain was forecast and it did rain in the area. But, it hardly rained i ...
Racing
How to Bet the Bing Crosby Stakes
A champion will return to the races on Saturday at Del Mar , but his presence certainly hasn’t scared away any opposition.
The horse in question is #3 Roy H , named champion male sprinter of 2017 following a near-perfect 5-for-6 campaign that cu ...
Racing
How to Bet the Jim Dandy Stakes
Saturday’s $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga may have attracted a small field—just five starters—but what it’s lacking in quantity it makes up for in quality.
Four of the five entrants competed in the series, with the probable fa ...
Racing
Why I'm Betting Switzerland in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap
Nowadays, it’s hard to believe that Switzerland ever had a reputation as a “money burner”—a horse who frequently suffers defeats at short prices.
Indeed, for a time, Switzerland was viewed as the king of money burners. The son of Speightstown sh ...
Racing
Speed Horses Could Have Advantage in Amsterdam Stakes
There are plenty of reasons why bettors might be drawn to the chances of # 3 Engage and #5 Strike Power in Saturday’s $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes (gr. III) at Saratoga .
Their credentials are obvious. Engage won the Futurity Stakes (gr. III) l ...
Racing
How to play the TwinSpires Weekday Showdown
Show betting is generally not the preferred way for players to make serious money, but TwinSpires.com is making that part of the wagering menu a bit more fun and worthwhile with the Weekday Showdown during the Saratoga and Del Mar meets.
Ever ...
Racing
Real Good Deal Stakes Headlines Friday Twilight Card at Del Mar
The weekend stakes action gets started at 6:30 PM Local Time on Friday evening at Del Mar with the $150,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for California-Bred or California Sired three-year-olds.
The seven-furlong dash over the main track drew a group of ...
Racing
Shapiro: Handicapping Double Pick 6 Carryover at the Spa
By SCOTT SHAPIRO
After an exciting first four days that included Monomoy Girl all but solidifying the three-year-old filly championship with a dominant win in the Grade 1 Coaching Club Oaks, horseplayers get a great wagering opportunity to kick ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Week One Wrap-Up
By DICK POWELL
Four days of racing.
Three at Fast/Firm; one at Sloppy (sealed)/Soft.
Chad Brown had seven winners. Four were favored and three were not. Four were ridden by Javier Castellano.
Todd Pletcher had four winners. Three were f ...
Racing
Out Cap Da Shap at Del Mar on July 25
by SCOTT SHAPIRO
The second week of the “Out Cap Da Shap” promo at TwinSpires.com is upon us after eight customers were able to piece together a challenging late Pick 4 that paid $888.65 for 50-cents on Opening Day. The octet each earned an ad ...
Racing
Prince of Wales Day Handicapping Blog
Prince of Wales favorite Wonder Gadot may have turned the corner with a romping 4 ¾-length victory in the Queen’s Plate.
A multiple stakes winner at age 2, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro had arguably shown an aversion to the winner’s circle in h ...
Racing
Governor's Day set for Thursday evening
With the Meadowlands Pace card and the Hambletonian Day card at the Meadowlands taking center stage this summer, harness racing enthusiasts throughout the Mid-Atlantic region typically look forward to the upcoming, lucrative Governor's Day card this ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Rainy Monday
by DICK POWELL
So much for dodging raindrops.
The rains came overnight and continued into this morning. There was a small possibility that some of the turf races could stay on but a couple of deluges later in the morning took care o ...
Racing
Keeler Johnson's Breeders' Cup Sprint Top 10 – 7/27/18
As part of my ongoing “” series, I decided this week to rank my Top 10 contenders for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
Given the large number of talented sprinters in North America, this was not an easy list to compile ...
Racing
Time to Revisit Handicap Division After Catalina Cruiser’s Win
Accelerate was supposed to blow out his competition in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap this past Saturday at Del Mar. That didn't happen. Not because Accelerate didn't perform to his best. It didn't happen because Accelerate didn't perform at all. Li ...
Racing
Monday’s Late Pick 4 at Saratoga
The Caress Stakes for fillies and mares sprinting on the lawn highlights a nine-race card on the first Monday of the Saratoga meeting.
I think this could be a really good sequence to take a swing at with the potential for square prices in every le ...
Racing
Ocean Downs and Pocono Downs offer Sunday night cards
During a weekend in which heavy rains wreaked havoc with numerous outdoor activities throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, Ocean Downs and Pocono Downs offered full cards on Sunday evening amid completely opposite conditions. Just prior to the midway ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Monomoy Girl clinches a championship, get in 'Stride' on Monday
by DICK POWELL
If you saw the radar last evening here, it was odds-on that today would be a washout. There was a huge “Nor’Easter” coming up the coast and it looked like no area would be spared. These are the storms we usually get in the winter a ...
Racing
Frosh-Frolic Price Best Of All At $59; Hambo-Trail Colt Pays $20; Adios Pace Field Set
The Freshman Frolic section exploded with prices across the board in only fifteen races. A DQ resulted in the top win price, $59.00 and all percentages were astounding. We hit a 20-percent win average and an across-the-board average of 67 p ...
Racing
Meadows and Saratoga offer solid Saturday cards
Harness racing enthusiasts are accustomed to seeing the best trotters and pacers compete in the evening, but on Saturday they were treated to a blend of action as the Meadows hosted two eliminations for the Del Miller Adios along with a quarter of Pe ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Fast times at the Spa
by Dick Powell
The weather yesterday was fantastic and today was even better. Expected heat and humidity held off and there was a stiff breeze blowing down the homestretch. The temperature was in the low 80s and it felt great.
With the sun and ...
Racing
Del Mar Late Pick 5 play for San Diego Handicap Day
Saturday's Late Pick 5 at Del Mar includes a pair of competitive Grade 2 stakes and several overnight events with no apparent standouts. It's a tough sequence, but one I'll take a shot at with the following ticket.
Race 6 -- Allowance
Just tw ...
Racing
Plenty of options in well-matched Sanford
The $150,000 Sanford S. (G3) for juveniles is not the main attraction at Saratoga on Saturday. That distinction belongs to the $500,000 Diana S. (G1) for the fillies and mares on turf in the following race.
But from a betting standpoint, the Sanfo ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: July 20 recap, 'Money' the Diana play
by DICK POWELL
Racing has been conducted at Saratoga Race Course since 1864 but I can’t imagine a more glorious day than the 2018 opening. A crystal blue sky, bright sunshine and perfect temperature attracted a huge crowd that kept pouring in all ...
Racing
How to play Saturday's Late Pick 4 at Saratoga
by SCOTT SHAPIRO
The first Saturday afternoon card of the 2018 Saratoga meet is a strong one and as usual includes a Pick 4 over the final four races. The sequence includes the Sanford (G3) and the Diana (G1) and kicks off with a 5 1/2-furlong d ...
Racing
Hambletonian Future-Bet #2 Presents Choices, Adds Filly To Classic Mix
Round two for wagering on the 93rd Hambletonian winner is open today through Sunday at 10 p.m. (EDT) July 22.
Bettors will get two more chances to pick the Hambletonian winner before the race is actually held Saturday, Aug. 4, at The Mea ...
Racing
How to Bet the Double
We’ll explain the terminology, introduce you to the different types of bets, and provide tips on how to effectively structure your tickets.
Education
Opening-Day Plays at Saratoga
Saratoga’s opener features a pair of stakes races and I’ll focus upon a runner from the Schuylerville (G3) for multi-race wagers, #2 Nonna Madeline . Todd Pletcher won 15 2-year-old races at the Spa last year and Nonna Madeline adds John Velazquez o ...
Racing
A Pair of Turf Stakes Races Headline Sunday Card at Del Mar
The first week of the Del Mar Summer meeting concludes with a pair of two-turn stakes races run over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
The feature is the Grade 2 Eddie Read is for three-year-olds and upward and is conducted at a mile and an eighth. ...
Racing
Del Mar 2yos Analysis for July 20-22, 2018
The Del Mar summer meet kicked off on Wednesday, which means it’s time to start watching the track’s many high-class races for two-year-olds in search of 2019 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders.
We’ve already seen one promisin ...
Racing
Itsinthepost, Hunt Square Off in Eddie Read Stakes
If you like grass racing and large, competitive fields, then you won’t want to miss the $250,000 Eddie Read Stakes (gr. II) on Sunday at Del Mar .
Held at nine furlongs, the Eddie Read has attracted eleven starters that pretty much represent a ...
Racing
Powell's Saratoga Diary: Going 'Wild' for Opening Day
by DICK POWELL
It took longer than expected but I am officially excited about Friday’s Opening Day of the Saratoga Race Course. We all look forward to the start of the meet but we know how much work is involved to have a chance. I know; it’s not ...
Racing
Vettori Kin Ships In for Woodbine's Nijinsky Stakes
Although the attention of most racing fans this weekend will be focused on Del Mar and Saratoga , it could also pay to keep an eye on what transpires in Sunday’s $175,000 Nijinsky Stakes (gr. II) at Woodbine .
The 1 ½-mile turf race coul ...
Racing
Early Pick 4 the focus on Saratoga’s Opening Day
The much-anticipated meeting at Saratoga Race Course kicks off on Friday with a 10-race card, including a pair of Grade 3 affairs. I will try and get off on the right foot by tackling the early Pick-4.
I have long been a believer that many conditi ...
Racing
Saratoga 2yos Analysis
Get ready! The much-anticipated Saratoga meet opens on Friday, and with the opening of Saratoga comes another fantastic summer of top-notch two-year-old racing.
Will we see the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner in action? Or the 201 ...
Racing
Del Mar Late Pick 4 Analysis- Saturday July 21st
The first Saturday afternoon late Pick 4 of the 2018 Del Mar summer meeting is a good one.
The four-race sequence that commences in Race 7 and concludes with the finale in Race 10 gets rolling with the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap followed by an ex ...
Racing
How to Bet the Sanford Stakes
Question: Which trainer has enjoyed the most success in two-year-old races at Saratoga over the last few years?
The answer, as you might expect, is Todd Pletcher. With his annual arsenal of well-bred young runners, Pletcher has been the leadin ...
Racing
Meadows Holds Adios Elims; Saratoga Stakes-Heavy Saturday; Freshman Frolic With Full Agenda
Post-Meadowlands Pace weekend has a Saturday-heavy race menu for features. However, the action begins, as usual with this blog, on Thursday. Our TwinSpires exclusive harness feature, Freshman Frolic, begins July 19 and is jam-packed with be ...
Racing
Sires Stakes Gathers Colts and Fillies In Two States; Grand Circuit Groups At Meadowlands
With one week until final preparations for the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks, hopeful colts and fillies go in several Hambletonian Trial events this weekend including fillies in two divisions of the $121,500 New York Sires Stakes (NYSS ...
Racing
The Meadows hosts Del Miller Adios elims
While the Meadowlands in New Jersey may have garnered the spotlight last weekend among harness racing enthusiasts, many standardbred fans will turn their attention slightly west this weekend when The Meadows, a five-eighths mile oval near Pittsburgh, ...
Racing
Proctor's Ledge Worth Playing in Diana Stakes
Saturday’s $500,000 Diana Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga is a race that truly deserves its Grade 1 status. Three of the seven starters have won at this level already, and three more have prevailed multiple times at the Grade 2/Grade 3 level.
Not s ...
Racing
How to Bet the Osunitas Stakes at Del Mar
The stakes action continues on Friday afternoon at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club with a competitive and challenging rendition of the $75,000 Osunitas Stakes on tap.
The mile and a sixteenth restricted event for fillies and mares is headlined by t ...
Racing
Late Pick 4 Play on Del Mar opener
Excitement surrounds Del Mar’s opener and the Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds highlights a challenging 10-race program. TwinSpires is offering an opening-day contest on the Late Pick 4, “Out Cap Da Shap,” where players will try to outperform han ...
Racing
How to Bet the Lake George Stakes
The wait is over! The much-anticipated 2018 Saratoga summer meet kicks off on Friday, with the feature race of the afternoon being the $150,000 Lake George Stakes (gr. III) for three-year-old fillies going 8.5 furlongs on the Mellon turf course. ...
Racing
Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou Clash in CCA Oaks
For the Mother Goose, my money was on Road to Victory, the only horse to have ever beaten Monomoy Girl. Obviously, I didn't cash. Midnight Bisou won the way she's supposed to, track the leaders and then blow by them. She can also close from the clo ...
Racing
Synthetic to Dirt: A Valuable, Overlooked Angle
Although the glory days of synthetic racetracks seem to be over in North America—tracks like Santa Anita, Del Mar, and Keeneland have all gone back to dirt in recent years—many synthetic racing surfaces remain installed at tracks across the continen ...
Education
Saratoga Preview
by DICK POWELL
Chad or Todd? Irad or Jose?
These are the questions facing us as the 2018 Saratoga meet begins on Friday from the historic race course in Saratoga Springs.
The past three years have seen a neck-and-neck battle for the H. Al ...
Racing
Out Cap Da Shap on Del Mar’s Opening Day
By SCOTT SHAPIRO
Wednesday is Opening Day at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and that should mean a massive late Pick 4 pool where the “Turf Meets the Surf.”
Twin Spires is bringing back 2016’s favorite contest where players get a chance to “o ...
Racing
Mucciolo’s Opening Day Plays at Del Mar
The always exciting Del Mar summer season will kick-off Wednesday with a 10-race card. The $100,000 Oceanside serves as the feature, with an overflow field of 16 competitive sophomores entered for the one-mile turf affair.
I have tabbed a handful ...
Racing
Ocean Downs offers two nights of Maryland Sire Stakes finals
Beach goers in Ocean City often find their ideal place to cool off and unveil their afternoon tans to be five miles west at Ocean Downs in Berlin and over the past two nights the half-mile oval offered a quartet of Maryland Sire Stakes finals for thr ...
Racing