Posts Tagged ‘Archarcharch’

It’s Post Time!

For months we have watched every prep, and read about all of the works. You have heard about the defections, excuses, and late arrivals of great efforts. But as the Hall Of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas was quoted, “people have opinions, and horses have answers.” The Kentucky Oaks may take place under conditions other […]

The 137th Derby: Pretenders, Maybes, And Contenders

by Greg Melikov

posted on May 5, 2011 in Free Picks and Tips, Handicapping, Kentucky Derby | No Comments >>

This is one tough Kentucky Derby to figure out, sort of like 2009. And there’s a good chance of rain on Saturday for the 137th edition. Remember over the past three decades only four favorites have won — all in the 21st Century. Big Brown was the last in ’08; Street Sense,’07; Smarty Jones, ’04; […]

Don’t Rely on Horse-for-the-Course Angle in Derby

by Greg Melikov

posted on May 4, 2011 in Free Picks and Tips, Handicapping, Kentucky Derby | 2 Comments >>

If you’re thinking about the horse-for-the-course angle in the Kentucky Derby, better have something more in your handicapping toolbox.   More than two dozen horses that previously won as a 2-year-old at Churchill Downs failed in the Derby. The average finish of about 50 runners with at least one race on the main track was off […]

New Kids at the Block

by Ed Meyer

posted on May 3, 2011 in General Discussion, Kentucky Derby | No Comments >>

This year, there will be five new kids on the block. It will not be the usual faces, and for the game that is a good thing. Now on deck, we will have some new batters. They are: Anna “Rosie” Napravnik – She was the first lady rider to win the Louisiana Derby, and also […]

Top Ten Derby Contenders, Updated

by Greg Melikov

posted on April 28, 2011 in Free Picks and Tips, Handicapping, Kentucky Derby | No Comments >>

Scores of upsets in major preps and injuries have muddled my Top 10 Kentucky Derby contenders. But here’s my final list from the bottom to the top: Stay Thirsty: Although the son of Bernardini ran poorly in the Florida Derby, he did defeat Wood Memorial victor Toby’s Corner in the Gotham. On April 24, he […]

Kentucky Derby Jinxes Broken in the Long Run

by Greg Melikov

posted on April 25, 2011 in Kentucky Derby, News | No Comments >>

There have been more jinxes associated with the Kentucky Derby than I care to recall. But there have been memorable curses snapped during the 21st Century worth mentioning. One of the more discussed horse jinxes ended in 2007 when Street Sense became the first 2-year-old champion to capture the Derby since Spectacular Bid in ’79. […]

Top Ten Derby Contenders, Apr 2011

by Greg Melikov

posted on April 20, 2011 in Free Picks and Tips, Handicapping, Kentucky Derby | 2 Comments >>

Upsets galore in the major preps have played havoc with my Top 10 Kentucky Derby contenders. You can count the number of favorites that scored in key preps on one hand. How the 3-year-olds work at Churchill Downs before the first Saturday in May will determine my final standings from the bottom to the top: […]

Derby Doings

by Ed Meyer

posted on April 20, 2011 in Free Picks and Tips, General Discussion, Handicapping, Kentucky Derby | 3 Comments >>

I am really starting to put things together in my noggin about what my tickets will look like. You will start hearing all sorts of  “ins and outs.” Rosie will be the first woman in the Derby since Rosemary, and Shane Sellers may make it back to the spotlight if Twinspired gets in. This is better […]

Six Seek Reversal of Fortune Against The Factor

by Greg Melikov

posted on April 12, 2011 in General Discussion, Handicapping, Kentucky Derby, News | No Comments >>

The Arkansas Derby could be called the Rebel Stakes II with six runners from the runner-up through the seventh-place finisher seeking a reversal of fortune against the winner — The Factor. The son of War Front is indeed the main factor in the $1 million Grade 1 on Saturday at Oaklawn Park, where on March […]

Risen Star Stakes Attracts 10 Sophomores

by Greg Melikov

posted on February 16, 2011 in General Discussion, Other Events | 2 Comments >>

Ten sophomores square off in Saturday’s $300,000 Risen Star Stakes, led by Rogue Romance, the morning line 3-1 favorite. The colt, who raced exclusively on turf before finishing third in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs, has been training at Gulfstream Park since the first of the year. Rogue Romance, who breaks from […]