Saturday is one day that you should have marked on your calendar. There are “Win and Your In” races, and the caliber of company is exceptional. The weather for Belmont is 50 degrees with a 20% chance of rain, and Keeneland will be 55 degrees with a 40% chance of storms. When you get your […]
The heat of summer is rounding third and heading for home. It won’t be long until we gather to watch the greatest Thoroughbreds in the world take the national stage for the Breeders’ Cup. But, that is off in the distance, as we have the Mid-Summer Derby at hand. A sunny day when some of […]
Injury and sickness continue to plague top 3-year-olds this year as Haskell Invitational winner Paynter, who would have been favored in the Travers Stakes, won’t make the $1 million Grade 1. The son of Awesome Again, who spent more than a week in a New Jersey veterinary clinic after spiking a fever several days after […]
Last week was an old-fashioned butt kicking… I knew the card was tough but they gave me a new definition of striking out. But as the great Harvey Pack would be first to let you know, ” That is horse racing, and tomorrow is another day.” Well that day is tomorrow, and the pick-four may […]
The widest open of this weekend’s big races for 3-year-olds is Saturday’s $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga. The 49th renewal has attracted several graded stakes winners, but the top two sophomores are headed to Monmouth on Sunday for the 45th running of the $1 million Haskell Invitational. The Jim Dandy will be loaded with an […]
Haskell Invitationals have included a Triple Crown race winner three times since 2008, but injuries have taken their toll this year. First, Kentucky Derby-Preakness victor I’ll Have Another developed swelling in his left front tendon, was scratched from the Belmont and then retired because of early tendinitis. Then Union Rags won the Belmont, but following […]
Here’s my updated ranking of the Top 10 Kentucky Derby contenders from bottom to top Dave Letterman’s style: My Adonis: One of the most experienced sophomores has hit the board seven of eight times. The son of Pleasantly Perfect was runner-up to Hansen in the Gotham at Aqueduct. He needs to step up because his […]
This weekend many eyes will be on Florida. There will be some questions that get answered one way or the other, and horseplayers will have a better glimpse of who goes on and who falls behind a bit. But, in the meantime we can buckle down and take our shot this weekend. Gulfstream Park […]
The first edition of this year’s Top 10 Kentucky Derby contenders includes several horses in the stable of top trainer Todd Pletcher. While it’s a long road to the Run for the Roses, here’s my list of the leading sophomores from bottom to top Dave Letterman’s style: Rousing Sermon: This Cal-bred with a slew of […]
Nothing like a free selection to get you thinking about racing. Here a few runners that really caught my eye, and be sure to check them against the tier levels to find your value for the weekend. Aqueduct Race #9 – #5 – Rattlesnake Bridge ( 6-1) Lezcano in the irons, and […]