Post Horse Jockey Trainer Morning Line Odds 1 Daddy Long Legs Colm O’Donoghue Aidan O’Brien 30-1 2 Optimizer Jon Court D. Wayne Lukas 50-1 3 Take Charge Indy Calvin Borel Patrick Byrne 15-1 4 Union Rags Julien Leparoux Michael Matz 9-2 5 Dullahan Kent Desourmeaux Dale Romans 8-1 6 Bodemeister Mike Smith Bob Baffert […]
Handicapping the Kentucky Derby isn’t an easy task, especially this year when the 138th renewal is fairly wide open with quite a few contenders. You must have a battle plan. I start by eliminating runners, based on credentials and recent form, plus some variables each year. The Pretenders include runners that have not won a […]
Giant’s Causeway–Dream Of Summer Trainer: Mike Harrington Jockey: Joel Rosario Owner: Heinz Steinmann Record: 8 – 4 – 2 – 2 Earnings: $869,000 Last Race: Santa Anita Derby, 2nd Creative Cause narrowly lost the Santa Anita Derby to I’ll Have Another, and this west coast invader is out to prove […]
By GREG MELIKOV If you’re thinking about the horse-for-the-course angle in the Kentucky Derby, better have something more in your handicapping toolbox by Saturday. More than two dozen horses that previously won as a 2-year-old at Churchill Downs failed in the Derby. The average finish of more than 50 runners with at least one race […]
Empire Maker–Untouched Talent Trainer: Bob Baffert Jockey: Mike Smith Owner: Zayat Stables Record: 4 – 2 – 2 – 0 Earnings: $704,800 Last Race: Arkansas Derby, 1st After posting a dominating win in the Arkansas Derby last time out and whispers began circulating of being made the early Derby favorite, critics of […]
Each year, I await a package in the mail. It comes from a gent who is a real racing fan. You will see him at the big events, and he even married his bride at the Breeders’ Cup. You could say he kinda enjoys the races. This labor of love has been passed from his late father […]
Tapit–Stormy Sunday Trainer: Mike Maker Jockey: Ramon Dominguez Owner: Dr. Kendall Hansen & Sky Chai Racing Record: 6 – 4 – 2 – 0 Earnings: $1,623,305 Last Race: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, 2nd Hansen is by far the richest horse in the field; he’s stacked up over $1.6 million in earnings, largely […]