It is never too early to start thinking Breeders’ Cup. California gets center stage, and hopefully we can expect the weather to more than cooperate. For starters, I would take a glance over the charts. It always helps to get a foothold on what the past has shown. For this handicapper, you can never put enough […]
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 […]
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 […]
Another year, and the history books of racing have been put away. I’ll Have Another held up better than anyone expected. Bodemeister and Paynter get the Bridesmaid awards, and Union Rags finally got his trip. Steve Cauthen will be the busiest man in the world next May. It will be the 35th anniversary, and every […]
Coming in shocking style this morning, Belmont Stakes favorite I’ll Have Another scratched from the Belmont Stakes tomorrow, officially ending his pursuit of the Triple Crown. In an interview, trainer Doug O’Neil cited tendonitis in his front left leg that was severe enough to keep him from running for history. O’Neil also shared that they […]
The weather should be perfect, the seats filled to capacity, and all that is left to do is break from the gate at 6:40 p.m. ET. I’ll Have Another is a 1 1/2 miles away from immortality. Union Rags has had some well deserved time off since the Derby, and Dullahan is working like a […]
The 144th Belmont Stakes: Pretenders, Maybes and Contenders I’ll Have Another undoubtedly will be heavily favored in the 144th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, like seven of the past 11 horses since 1979 that had a shot at immortality. But those odds-on favorites failed to visit the winner’s circle at the end of 1 ½ miles. […]
If we were having an adult beverage, the bartender would be calling “last call.” The same can be said for Thoroughbred racing, where only a handful of preps still wait until the runners meet at the Derby starting gate. So, time is clicking away and you better catch all of the action you can to be […]