Scully: Singles bookend Pick 4 play on Downs After Dark program
James Scully recommends a Pick 4 play on Saturday's Downs After Dark program.
Wagering
James Scully
James Scully is a passionate sports analyst who grew up traveling to various sporting events around the country. James follows the NFL and NCAA, but also plays golf and other sports as time allows. Whether it be pro or college football, basketball, baseball…James can share solid insight with actionable information. When James isn’t watching sports, he can be found handicapping horse racing and playing golf. Twitter: @James_Scully111
Breeders' Cup Classic Preview: Pacific Classic, Travers reinforce early projections
We previewed the major role three-year-olds were poised to play in our first installment of the Breeders’ Cup Classic preview last month, and Arabian Knight and Arcangelo established themselves as the probable top two betting choices with respective wins in the Pacific Classic (G1) and Travers (G1).
Breeders Cup
First-crop sires: Flameaway passing speed to offspring
Unheralded when entering stud in 2020, Flameaway has made an immediate impact with his first crop, putting himself among leading freshman sires.
Pedigree
Three-Year-Olds rule early Classic projections
The Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) landscape changed when the presumed favorite, Cody’s Wish, faltered on the stretch-out to 1 1/8 miles in the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga, checking in fourth at odds-on. Three-year-olds appear poised to play a serious role in the Classic outcome.
Breeders Cup
Training to Win: Mutli-race ticket construction with James Scully [VIDEO]
When it comes to multi-race bets, also known as horizontal wagers, good ticket construction involves budget and strategy.
Education
Training to Win: Graded Stakes race analyzation with James Scully [VIDEO]
Graded stakes are specialized races - the highest levels in Thoroughbred racing - and bettors have many factors to consider when handicapping.
Analysis
Scully: Pick 3 plays with Belmont Derby
The $750,000 Belmont Derby (G1) heads four stakes at Belmont Park Saturday, and I’m keen to play English invader The Foxes, who cuts back to a favorable 1 1/4-mile trip in his U.S. debut.
Wagering
Scully: Handicapping All-Stakes Pick 4 on Stephen Foster Day
Newly reinstated to Grade 1 status, Saturday’s $1 million Stephen Foster (G1) drew a fine field of eight, including seven graded winners this year, and serves as the third leg in an all-stakes Pick 4 that kicks off in the eighth race.
Racing
Scully: Playing against favorites in Belmont Stakes
Four-time Belmont winner Todd Pletcher will send out the top two morning line choices in Saturday’s $1.5 Belmont (G1), Forte and Tapit Trice, and I’ll take a stand against both at short odds.
Belmont Stakes
Brisnet Speed Rating Report for 2023 Belmont Stakes
Post positions for the 155th running of the $1.5 million Belmont S. (G1) will be drawn Tuesday, and nine are considered probable for the 1 1/2-mile “Test of the Champion.” Let’s examine their credentials and Brisnet Speed ratings.
Belmont Stakes
Scully: All-Stakes Pick 4 play Friday at Belmont Park
The $600,000 New York (G1) for turf distaffers kicks off an all-stakes Pick 4 sequence at Belmont Park on Friday, and I will put together a ticket on a reasonable budget, taking a stand by singling a pair of races.
Wagering
Scully: Wonder Again anchors Thursday Pick 3 play at Belmont Park
Thursday kicks off Belmont Stakes week, and the $200,000 Wonder Again (G2) highlights a pair of stakes on the 10-race program. I single both stakes in a Pick 3 ticket.
Wagering
Forte, Tapit Trice head nine-horse Belmont Stakes
Four-time Belmont (G1) winner Todd Pletcher holds a strong hand in Saturday’s 155th running of the $1.5 million Belmont, the final leg of the American Triple Crown. The Hall of Fame trainer is responsible for the top two choices on the morning line in the nine-horse field, Forte and Tapit Trice.
Belmont Stakes
Stats and storylines for 2023 Belmont Stakes
The 155th running of the $1.5 million Belmont S. (G1) on June 10 will wrap up the Triple Crown. Known as the “Test of the Champion,” the Belmont is the oldest and longest race in the Triple Crown series.
Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes Report: Forte, National Treasure head probables
The seven-horse Preakness field lacked pace, and National Treasure took advantage. Let's examine the probables for the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes on June 10.
Belmont Stakes
Scully: Late Pick 4 play on Preakness Day
The 148th running of the $1.5 million Preakness anchors a guaranteed $2 million Late Pick 4 at Pimlico, and I will take a swing at the sequence.
Preakness Stakes
Scully: All-Stakes Pick 5 play at Pimlico Friday
Pimlico will offer six Pick 5s on Friday, including a special two-day wager, and the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) for three-year-old fillies anchors an all-stakes Pick 5 sequence that begins in Race 9.
Preakness Stakes
Brisnet Speed Rating report for 2023 Preakness
Only a couple of days remain until Monday’s post position draw for the 148th running of the $1.5 million Preakness at Pimlico on May 20. Let's examine Brisnet Speed ratings for the contenders
Triple Crown
This key moment is vital for Mage to win the Preakness Stakes
Mage will enter Saturday’s $1.5 million Preakness at Pimlico off a one-length victory under the Twin Spires, and four of the last 11 Kentucky Derby winners have come right back to add the second leg of the Triple Crown 14 days later.
Preakness Stakes
Preakness Report: Mage brings late kick to Pimlico
Mage closed fast to win the Kentucky Derby, notching his second win from only four starts. Inexperience and a tendency for slow starts proved no obstacle for the Gustavo Delgado-trained colt, who took advantage of a hot pace to score by a length.
Preakness Stakes
Mage – Kentucky Derby Context
Mage launched an eye-catching, sweeping move past Forte on the far turn of the Florida Derby (G1) to strike the front in upper stretch, eventually winding up second to the odds-on favorite in only his third start.
Kentucky Derby
Angel of Empire – Kentucky Derby Context
An off-the-pace runner, Angel of Empire displayed a terrific turn of foot in the Arkansas Derby (G1), surging from sixth to reach the lead by the top of the stretch, and the up-and-coming colt established himself as a serious Kentucky Derby contender while notching his first triple-digit Brisnet Speed rating (101)
Pedigree
Tapit Trice – Kentucky Derby Context
A powerful late runner, Tapit Trice will bring a four-race win streak into the Kentucky Derby, including stakes tallies in the Blue Grass (G1) and Tampa Bay Derby (G3).
Kentucky Derby
Derma Sotogake – Kentucky Derby Context
One of two Japanese horses in the Kentucky Derby field, Derma Sotogake established himself as a contender recording a fast win in the UAE Derby (G2), leading all the way to score by 5 1/2 lengths.
Kentucky Derby
Brisnet Speed Rating Report for 2023 Kentucky Derby
Brisnet Speed ratings provide a measure of how fast horses have run in their preceding races and serve as a valuable handicapping tool for Saturday’s 149th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs
Kentucky Derby
Cyclone Mischief – Kentucky Derby Context
Cyclone Mischief will be expected to show speed if he makes the Kentucky Derby field. Last seen finishing third in the Florida Derby (G1), the bay colt still needs a defection in the days leading up to the post position draw on May 1
Kentucky Derby
Continuar – Kentucky Derby Context
An expected deep closer, Continuar will seek to improve upon a late-running third in the UAE Derby (G2) when he starts in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Derby
Skinner – Kentucky Derby Context
A late runner, Skinner enters the Kentucky Derby on the upswing for a Kentucky Derby-winning trainer.
Kentucky Derby
Wild On Ice – Kentucky Derby Context
Wild On Ice earned the qualifying points for a Kentucky Derby bid when recording a 35-1 upset in the Sunland Derby (G3) in late March, rallying from just off the pace to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths.
Kentucky Derby
Sun Thunder – Kentucky Derby Context
Sun Thunder will need the right set up; the one-dimensional late runner will be rallying from off the pace in the Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky Derby