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How to bet the Saturday juvenile turf stakes
Gulfstream Park (c) Lauren King/Adam Coglianese Photography
A total of five stakes races will be held for two-year-olds over the lawn on Saturday. I previously covered the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Stakes on Brisnet.com and will now take aim a ...
Racing
How to bet the 2018 Spinaway Stakes
A dozen fillies will look to earn an automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Saturday in the $350,000 Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga, a "Win & You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge race.
By far the most intriguing entrant is # ...
Racing
Shapiro explores a $40 bet for the Woodward Stakes
by Scott Shapiro
The 2018 Woodward Stakes (G1) did not attract anyone near the talent of last year’s winner and Horse of the Year Gun Runner, but it certainly is a challenging analytical puzzle for handicappers to unpack.
The $750,000 event ru ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Off the turf again
by Dick Powell
The weather on Thursday was exactly like expected when writing yesterday’s column on Saratoga . Unfortunately, the skies opened up at 9:30 p.m. (ET) last night and then more storms hit the area overnight. The result was a fast mai ...
Racing
Exploring Pool 2 of the Breeders’ Cup Future Wager
Breeders' Cup at Del Mar in 2017 (c) Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com
by Scott Shapiro
The Breeders’ Cup kicked off future wagering for its event with pools on the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and Distaff (G1) last week, and this week b ...
Racing
Kentucky Downs Selections – September 1, 2018
Kentucky Downs (c) Bob Newell/Horsephotos.com
by Joe Kristufek
Leading up to Saturday’s opener at Kentucky Downs , the forecast calls for rain, so my opinions are tilted to off-the-pace types, particularly in the races at a mile and farthe ...
Racing
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Fine trio headlines Del Mar Debutante
Bellafina winning the Sorrento (c) Benoit Photo
Saturday’s $300,000 Del Mar Debutante (G1) drew just five but what it lacks in quantity, it sure makes up for with quality. A trio of the best-looking fillies at the meeting will square off in th ...
Racing
Baffert’s Already Got Two Kentucky Derby Prospects
The beginning of September officially marks Breeders' Cup Season, but when the greatest 3-year-old trainer on the planet unleashes a couple of stellar 2-year-olds, it might already be Kentucky Derby Season. Bob Baffert already has two excellent Derby ...
Racing
Grand Circuit Weekend Sends Top Casts Of Divisions To Post; Yonkers Trot, PASS Champs And Freshmen Fire For Big Cash
This Labor Day Weekend in the USA, our two blogs are very busy in Canada as well as in the holiday country below it. So much so, that we have put some “picks” that would have been included in features on a slower week, on the horses-to-watc ...
Racing
Battle Of Sexes Ensues In Maple Leaf Trot At Mohawk; Messenger Stakes More Of A Contest Than Most Predict
Here are the races for week three of the 2018 Breeders Crown Countdown, the exclusive blog that coordinates with our weekly harness blog at TwinSpires.com and the Hambletonian Society to find great wagering opportunities for "Crown" eligible hors ...
Racing
Breeders Crown Top Fives
Aug. 30—Sept. 6
(NE) = Not Eligible – can Supplement
TWO-YEAR OLD COLT TROT (no change)
1. DON’T LET’EM
2. GREEN MANALISHI S
3. GREENSHOE
4. GERRY
5. SWANDRE THE GIANT
TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT (no chan ...
Racing
Del Mar and Saratoga 2yos Analysis: Grade 1s Close Out the Meets
Although we’re nearing the conclusions of the 2018 summer meets at Del Mar and Saratoga , there’s still plenty of top-notch juvenile racing still to come. In fact, the meets are going to end with a bang in that respect!
Saturday will see fill ...
Racing
Harness action heats up this weekend
As fans of the National Football League count down to the outset of the season next Thursday night, harness racing fans will have ample races to occupy their time as many of the sport's best trotters and pacers will compete in stakes at Yonkers Racew ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Week Seven Begins
by Dick Powell
Brutally hot day at the Spa as the last week of racing begins. If it were any hotter, there might have been reason to cancel, but at least there was a bit of a breeze. Unfortunately, it was in the horse’s faces in the homestretch ...
Racing
How to Bet the Woodward Stakes
When I examine the entries for Saturday’s $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga , I am surprised—or maybe astonished is a better word—by the lack of front-runners and genuine speed horses in the field.
Although the nine-furlong race has ...
Racing
Why I'm Keying Restless Rider in the Spinaway Stakes
The East Coast, Midwest, and West Coast will all be well represented in Saturday’s $350,000 Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga , so there’s no guarantee that the East Coast’s first major prize for two-year-old fillies will be won by a local runn ...
Racing
Brown import the key in Late Pick 4 at Saratoga
by John Mucciola
An intriguing late sequence on the Thursday card at Saratoga has me thinking Pick 4. A pair of juvenile races, led by the P.G. Johnson Stakes, help comprise the last four events. And with a bit of luck, I think it could pay wel ...
Racing
How to attack wagering at Kentucky Downs
by Joe Kristufek
Full fields of talented horses on grass and low takeout rates. When it comes to racing, wagering and, most importantly, profit potential, those are a few of my favorite things!
Hidden in Franklin, Kentucky, but just miles from ...
Racing
Keeler Johnson's Breeders' Cup Distaff Top 10: Abel Tasman Stays On Top
Since posting my first Top 10 list of contenders for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I) , the complexion of the race has changed significantly.
The retirement of Unique Bella was certainly a blow, as was the injury that knocked the pr ...
Racing
No Unique Bella Opens Distaff Division
Even after Unique Bella's retirement, the Distaff Division remains solid. Abel Tasman, Elate, and 3-year-old fillies Monomoy Girl, Wonder Gadot, and Eskimo Kisses should make for a great Breeders' Cup Distaff. With Unique Bella's participation, the ...
Racing
Betting the $18,000 Place Payout at Canterbury
TwinSpires.com players who opt in and bet at least $50 on either Wednesday or Thursday this week (any track) will qualify to participate in Friday night's $18,000 Place Payout at Canterbury Park , which has a mandatory payout.
Once qualified, p ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Week Six Wrap Up
by DICK POWELL
If week six seemed a bit strange, it was. With all the big stakes races scheduled, you would think that the two leading trainers, Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher, would dominate. Not only did they not dominate, but the week saw an am ...
Racing
Shapiro’s Double Pick 6 Carryover Analysis at Saratoga Wednesday
By SCOTT SHAPIRO
After a dark day on Tuesday, racing resumes on Wednesday for the final six days of the summer meeting at Saratoga. With that comes a two-day Pick 6 carryover of $291K, in large part due to the wire-to-wire win by Blue Belt at od ...
Racing
Stars of the future in spotlight during final week of Saratoga
A meet hindered often by inclement weather, Saratoga wraps up its 2018 season this week with a generally favorable forecast. As is customary, juveniles will play a significant role in the stakes action with a pair of turf features midweek, the $150,0 ...
Racing
Out Cap Da Shap at Del Mar on August 29
by SCOTT SHAPIRO
The final week of the Del Mar summer meeting gets started tomorrow and that means one last chance to "Out Cap Da Shap."
After failing to connect on the late Pick 4 over the first 6 Wednesday's "Where the Turf Meets the Su ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Week 6 Ends
by DICK POWELL
Sunday's thunderstorms went south last evening so the Saratoga area dodged that weather bullet. Week 6 saw the last five days with Fast and Firm conditions and we hope it stays that way. Next week, the rail on the Mellon turf cour ...
Racing
Whitmore Rides the Rail to Victory in Forego Stakes
City of Light, despite his unfortunate trip, gamely stayed within shouting range of Whitmore through the run down the homestretch and ultimately settled for second place, 1 ½ lengths behind the winner and a nose in front of the late-running Limousin ...
Racing
Breeders Cup: 2019 Santa Anita, 2020 Keeneland, and 2021 Del Mar
The Breeders' Cup set the sites for the next three years. Santa Anita has hosted the Breeders' Cup nine previous times. In 2019, Santa Anita hosts for the tenth time. Keeneland got the chance to host the Breeders' Cup in 2015 when American Pharoah do ...
Racing
Marley's Freedom Impresses in Ballerina Stakes
Her final time of 1:21.39 may be more indicative of how big a race she ran. It was the fastest of three Grade 1 races held over seven furlongs on Saturday at Saratoga, missing the 40-year-old track record by less than one second while producing a 100 ...
Racing
Spot Plays for Saratoga on August 27
No need to have the post-Travers weekend blues. TwinSpires.com is offering two $500 splits every Monday at the Spa. Bet $25 or more in at least three (3) races and split $500. Cash one Win wager of at least $15 on the card and split another $500. C ...
Racing
Accelerate tops Breeders’ Cup Future Wager Classic pool, Monomoy Girl favored in Distaff pool
Accelerate (c) Benoit Photo
Pacific Classic (G1) hero Accelerate (#1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) queen Monomoy Girl (#14) were each bet down to 3-1 during the inaugural Classic and Distaff pools of the Breeders’ Cup Future Wager .
...
Racing
Plenty of harness action on Sunday afternoon and evening
Less than three weeks before the start of the National Football League season when most harness racing fans opt to stay home on Sundays, many of them found something appealing about the afternoon and evening cards at numerous tracks on Sunday. At Yo ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Travers Hangover
by Dick Powell
The Travers Stakes (G1) is over and there was a bit of a letdown today. The racing was good but the humidity is back and it is supposed to warm up with hazy, hot and humid conditions. For now, it is fast and firm.
Tomorrow is ...
Racing
Catalina Cruiser Wins Again in Pat O'Brien Stakes
It was a tremendous performance, and one that has stamped Catalina Cruiser as the early favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, but let’s not overlook the solid effort turned in by Battle of Midway . The son of Smart Strike was bound to be a bit r ...
Racing
Fast Finish Secures Sword Dancer Victory for Glorious Empire
Channel Maker tried gamely to stay on even terms, but the :45.59 final half-mile was much too quick to close into, and he had to settle for second place. But by the same token, none of the late runners could get within two lengths of Channel Maker, w ...
Racing
Travers Stakes Fallout: No 3-Year-Old Classic Contender Emerges
Catholic Boy and Mendelssohn ran one-two in the 2018 Travers Stakes. Offering 5/1 odds, Catholic Boy buried Mendelssohn. Mendelssohn beat everyone else, making up for his horrible race in the Kentucky Derby. Catholic Boy was so impressive that some h ...
Racing
Surface Switch No Issue for Catholic Boy in Travers Stakes
Turf to dirt? No problem!
A switch in racing surfaces might be tricky for some horses to handle, but it certainly wasn’t an issue for Catholic Boy , who utilized his exceptional talent and stamina to crush nine rivals in Saturday’s $1,250,000 Tr ...
Racing
Our Grand Circuit Mohawk Choices Contribute To Low Prices As Favorites Romp; Messenger Elims Short On Prices, Promising For Upset In Final
The Grand Circuit headed north and the freshman divisions were in flight there, as well as with our special section. Setups for big events next week were all in play and the public was dead-on in all but a few.
Here’s how it all came down:
...
Racing
Mohawk and Yonkers offer ample elims
Hours after thoroughbred racing fans attempted to grasp the importance and depth of the Travers Stakes and undercard at Saratoga Race Course, harness racing enthusiasts focused their attention on Mohawk Park and Yonkers Raceway which offered numerous ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Travers Day
by Dick Powell
What a spectacular day to be at Saratoga . Beautiful weather and fantastic weather.
Race 1 was a maiden special weight event for juveniles going six furlongs on the main track. Dallas Stewart wins 6 percent with his debut runne ...
Racing
Abel Tasman Edges Elate in Thrilling Personal Ensign Stakes
No matter how you slice it, this was a strong race that should come back fast on the speed figure scales. Just look at the gap between Elate and the third-place finisher Wow Cat —9 ¾ lengths. You can argue that Elate might have run the better race s ...
Racing
Whitmore earns Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile berth with Forego triumph
Whitmore wins the Forego (c) NYRA/Chelsea Durand/Adam Coglianese Photography
Robert LaPenta et al’s WHITMORE was overlooked some in the $600,000 Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday when going off at more than 8-1 odds. However, th ...
Racing
Baffert firsters vie at Del Mar
Conditioner Bob Baffert has endured a fine Del Mar meeting to this point. He has saddled no fewer than eight winners to date, and six of those have come from first-time starters at the juvenile ranks.
Those winners have earned BRIS Speed numbe ...
Racing
Scully’s Travers Day Spot Plays
Thirteen races, including seven stakes, will be offered on today’s Travers Day program and here are some of my opinions:
Race 3
I’m playing three separate Pick 5 tickets with #8 SILVER DUST (7-2 morning line) singled on all – planning to ...
Racing
Thoughts on the $1 million Guaranteed Late Pick 4 on Travers Day
I'll join colleagues Scott Shapiro and James Scully , and many others, in taking a shot at Saturday's $1 million guaranteed Pick 4 at Saratoga that includes a quartet of Grade 1s.
Race 8 -- Ballerina
#2 IVY BELL (5-1) might be the forg ...
Racing
Hanson: Playing the Early Pick 5 on Travers Day
One of the best betting cards of the year, Travers Day at Saratoga kicks off with a challenging Early Pick 5. Having enjoyed success with the same wager 12 months ago , we'll take a crack at it again.
Race 1
Interestingly, trainer Chad Brow ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: New York Showcase Day
by Dick Powell
Beautiful weather continued and the times on the turf courses are beginning to get faster as the wet turf has firmed up in the sun. Like yesterday, we had a main track listed as fast and both turf courses were good and the racing w ...
Racing
Scully: Playing the Late Pick 4 on Travers Day
Saratoga (Adam Coglianese Photography/NYRA)
The $1.25 million Travers (G1) anchors a $1 million guaranteed All-Stakes Pick 4 (Races 8-11) at Saratoga , and the same sequence last year featured a pair of winning favorites and a $231.25 return ...
Racing
Attacking Travers Day
Saratoga (Horsephotos.com/Jamie Newell)
by Joe Kristufek
Digging deep into the seven graded stakes that compromise Travers Day at Saratoga , I unearthed a mixture of potential slam dunks, races where I think I can narrow and others where ...
Racing
Roaring Lion Dominates Older Rivals in Juddmonte International
Roaring Lion’s authoritative victory makes it clear that he’s improving as the season progresses, which is further reflected by the fact that he received a career-best 127 Racing Post Rating for his performance. He also seems to have found a home as ...
Racing
A Slew of Wagering Opportunities Available on Travers Day
Saratoga (Horsephotos.com/Spencer Tulis)
by Scott Shapiro
The Travers Stakes (G1) and the horizontal sequences that surround the " Mid-Summer Derby " will draw the most attention on Saturday’s massive day of racing at Saratoga ...
Racing
Friday Spot Plays at Saratoga
The spotlight falls upon New York-bred horses Friday at Saratoga as all 11 races are restricted include six stakes. Here are some horses of interest:
Race 7
Cairo Prince is off to a fast start at stud with seven two-year-old winners from his ...
Racing
Price Horses to Consider on the Travers Day Card at Saratoga
Logical horses are likely to win the majority of Grade 1 events at Saratoga on Saturday afternoon, but it is also possible that the “graveyard of favorites” will produce a longshot or two on the Travers Stakes Day card.
Here are a few runners tha ...
Racing
How to Bet the Travers
Saturday’s $1.25 million Travers (G1) will miss the star presence of Justify but the Triple Crown winner’s retirement makes the “Mid-Summer Derby” a more compelling betting race. A nice field of 11 has been entered including ...
Racing
Top standardbreds set for action this weekend
While many thoroughbred racing enthusiasts will be focused on Saturday's Grade I stakes-filled card at Saratoga Race Course highlighted by the $1.25 million Travers, often dubbed the Midsummer Derby, harness racing fans will have ample quality trotte ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Fast and Firm!
by Dick Powell
It was so gorgeous this morning on the Saratoga backstretch, I had to break out a vest to stay warm. The humidity has dropped and this is what we think of when we dream about Saratoga. Today saw a fast main track and both turf co ...
Racing
Mucciolo’s Canterbury Park Spot Plays
by John Mucciolo
A trio of turf stakes races leads a nine-race program at Canterbury Park on Saturday. And it’s a good time to take advantage of the Full Card Bet Back offered on the card.
Here is a quartet of runners that I am tabbing for s ...
Racing
Shapiro’s All-Grade 1 Pick 4 on Travers Day 2018
by Scott Shapiro
There are a plethora of opportunities on the wagering menu for Travers Day at Saratoga , including a $1 million guaranteed All-Grade 1 Pick 4 that commences in Race 8 with the Ballerina Stakes (G1) and concludes with the featu ...
Racing
How to Bet the Ballerina Stakes
There certainly aren’t many speed horses entered in the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) on Saturday at Saratoga , which means that the pace of the seven-furlong race could be on the slow side.
It might not be as slow as last year, when By the ...
Racing
Shapiro’s top four horses in the Travers
by Scott Shapiro
The 2018 Travers Stakes (G1) is one of the more compelling renditions in some time. The " Mid-Summer Derby " drew a field of 11 and presents horseplayers with several ways to go in the 1 1/4-mile event contested over the Sarat ...
Racing
How to Bet the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes
The first graded stakes race on the Travers Day card is the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1.) The event formerly known as the King’s Bishop Stakes is contested at seven furlongs over the main track.
The field is led by the impressive winner of the Dw ...
Racing
Spot Plays for Breeders’ Cup Challenge contests at Saratoga and Del Mar
A total of five Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races will be held this Saturday, with four coming at Saratoga . The “Win and You’re In Events” are very competitive but I have some strong opinions on a few of them.
Forego Stakes (G1)
A fr ...
Racing
Why I'm Betting Sadler's Joy in the Sword Dancer Stakes
I’ll be the first to admit that #10 Sadler’s Joy isn’t really a horse you can rely on as, say, a single in an expensive multi-race wager. But regardless, I think he’s the most likely winner of Saturday’s $1,000,000 Sword Dancer Stakes (gr. I) at ...
Racing
Breeders' Cup Winners Meet in Pat O'Brien Stakes
Who would have guessed that a Grade 2 sprint race would wind up being perhaps the best race of the entire Del Mar summer meet?
It’s not something I would have figured, but Saturday’s $200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes (gr. II) —a “ Win and You’re In ...
Racing
Canadians Greet Grand Circuit Events At Mohawk; The Messenger Pace Draws Enough For Elims Sans Most Stars
Our search of great betting opportunities is never ending and when it succeeds it’s as good as pari-mutuels success gets. This week we hit the North American harness tracks as we make our way to the end of this season, which is usually earm ...
Racing
Atlanta Returns For Dominant Role In Casual Breeze; Older Trotters Split In Maple Leaf Trot Elims In Canada
Here are the races for week two of the 2018 Breeders Crown Countdown, the exclusive blog that coordinates with our weekly harness blog at TwinSpires.com and the Hambletonian Society to find great wagering opportunities for "Crown" eligi ...
Racing
How to Bet the Travers Stakes
No matter how you slice it, Saturday’s $1,250,000 Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga is the best race of this coming weekend.
With its hefty purse, huge field, challenging 1 ¼-mile distance, and competitive list of entrants, the Travers Stakes ...
Racing
Why I'm Betting Elate in the Personal Ensign Stakes
On paper, it’s not hard to reach the conclusion that Saturday’s $700,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga is essentially a match race between #1 Abel Tasman and #6 Elate .
That’s certainly an exciting prospect considering the fant ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Rain continues
by Dick Powell
Rain hit the Saratoga area overnight and it was enough to force Races 3, 4 and 6 to be switched to the main track, which is listed as fast. Both turf courses are listed as good and the temporary rail has been taken down on each.
...
Racing
Riskaverse play Thursday at Saratoga
It’s Travers Week at the Spa and Thursday’s 10-race program includes the $100,000 Riskaverse, a one-mile restricted stakes on turf for three-year-old fillies.
I like Sweet Sting (#8) .
A daughter of turf champion Perfect Sting and a half-s ...
Racing
Deep Field Assembles for Forego Stakes
If you’re looking for a future winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile or Breeders’ Cup Sprint , you are strongly advised to check out the field for Saturday’s $600,000 Forego Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga .
The prestigious seven-furlong even ...
Racing
Breeders Crown Top Fives
Aug. 23—Aug. 29
(NE) = Not Eligible – can Supplement
TWO-YEAR OLD COLT TROT (no change)
1. DON’T LET’EM
2. GREEN MANALISHI S
3. GREENSHOE
4. GERRY
5. SWANDRE THE GIANT
TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT (no change) ...
Racing
Classic, Distaff featured in Breeders' Cup Future Wager Pool 1
Fans of Future Wagering will have an opportunity to back their early opinions on the upcoming Breeders’ Cup World Championships when three separate Breeders’ Cup Future Wagers (BCFW) will be held in advance of the two-day fixture, scheduled for Novem ...
Racing
International Intrigue: An Early Look at the Breeders' Cup Mile and Turf
With ten weeks remaining until the Breeders’ Cup , the prospective fields for the championship races are starting to take shape, including the always-competitive lineups for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. I) and the Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. I) ...
Racing
Battaash, Blue Point Face Off in Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes
The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (gr. I) has been run on ten occasions, and thus far, no horse based in Europe has prevailed in the rich turf sprint.
Whether that changes in November at Churchill Downs remains to be seen, but on Friday we’ll get ...
Racing
Wonder Gadot Looks for Travers Stakes Glory
Saratoga drew for the Traves Stakes on Tuesday. Good Magic shows up as the morning line favorite at 2-1. Trainer Chad Brown also saddles the second choice on the morning line, Gronkowski. Gronk's been on the shelf since his second place finish in the ...
Racing
Keeler Johnson's Breeders' Cup Classic Top 10: Accelerate Moves to the Top
The retirement of Triple Crown winner Justify has certainly had a significant impact on the landscape for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Churchill Downs .
Justify was a clear early choice to win the Classic, and in his absence, com ...
Racing
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Berth Up for Grabs in Yorkshire Oaks
The major U.S.-based contenders for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. I) are already well established, with Sistercharlie leading the charge. On Thursday, we’ll get a look at possible contenders from Europe when eight fillies and ...
Racing
How to Bet the Juddmonte International
Unlike in North America, where it’s becoming increasingly rare for three-year-old males to face older horses before the Breeders’ Cup , summer showdowns between sophomores and older veterans are still common in Europe, with Wednesday’s Juddmonte ...
Racing
Breeders' Cup "Win & You're In" Challenge Races highlight Travers Day undercard
With all-sources handle exceeding $45 million each of the last two years, Travers Day at Saratoga is one of the more popular betting cards of the year. Don't miss a minute of the action this Saturday, August 25.
The highlight, of course, is the ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Week Five Wrap-Up
by DICK POWELL
Two more weeks of racing to go as five weeks (28 days of racing) have been completed. Week five saw stormy weather, again, and the usual amount of races being switched to the main track. Field sizes continue to lag and betting is ...
Racing
Juveniles to Watch from Saratoga Saturday
It was a big day of racing with some powerful showings at Saratoga last Saturday, led by a romp in the featured Alabama (G1) by Eskimo Kisses. In the race prior, once-beaten Rushing Fall put in a sublime performance to dominate a fine field in the gr ...
Racing
Out Cap Da Shap at Del Mar on August 22
by SCOTT SHAPIRO
Just two Wednesday's left at the Del Mar summer meeting and I have yet to connect in the "Out Cap Da Shap" Late Pick 4 promo.
Last week, 35 Twin Spires horseplayers were able to piece together the last 4 races on th ...
Racing
Breeders' Cup Classic Top 5
Accelerate dominated his foes in the Pacific Classic. It wasn't even close. It was such a beat down that I thought it necessary to come out with my first Breeders' Cup Classic Top 5. Yes, like Mike Watchmaker at DRF , Accelerate has jumped to number ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: End of Week Five
by DICK POWELL
Monday finished up week five and it was a really nice day at the Spa. Usually, a day like today would not be noticeable but the way the weather has been this meet, it sticks out. A larger-than-normal Monday crowd showed up due to ...
Racing
Spot Plays for Saratoga on August 20
The start of the work week don't have to be a drag, especially with Saratoga running. TwinSpires.com is offering two $500 splits every Monday at the Spa. Bet $25 or more in at least three (3) races and split $500. Cash one Win wager of at least $15 o ...
Racing
Maryland-bred shine on dirt, turf and stonedust
On the weekend that Laurel Park hosted Maryland Pride Day which featured four stakes for Maryland-breds on both urf and dirt and included the latest two inductees for the Maryland-bred Hall of Fame, a trio of standardbreds the state has produced also ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Hofburg out of Travers
by Dick Powell
The big buzz going around the track today was the announcement that Curlin Stakes winner Hofburg would not contest Saturday’s Travers Stakes (G1) due to spiking a fever.
The son of Tapit, who figured to be the second betti ...
Racing
Double ‘Zweig’ Scores With $27, $17 Winners, $53 Cold Exacta; Courtly Choice Tops Division; H2Ws In Money 50 Percent
Our Hambletonian Trail scores were matched with wins at Tioga this weekend with some of the same horses that merely contributed to exotic scores on the first Saturday in August. Upsets came through with glorious prices. As well, the newest ...
Racing
Accelerate Completes Rare Triple in Pacific Classic
Accelerate’s final time of 2:01.83 might seem modest at first glance, but the Del Mar main track did not seem to be playing particularly fast on Saturday, and as a result, Accelerate was assigned impressive speed figures—a 114 BRIS and a 115 Beyer. ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Alabama Stakes Day
by Dick Powell
Torrential rain hit the Saratoga area last night after the races and turned the track into a muddy mess. The track crew worked relentlessly and the main track started out as muddy (harrowed). Four turf races were taken off but th ...
Racing
Upset pick, two-deep horizontal approach in Pacific Classic
The $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) features a probable odds-on favorite in Accelerate . The top-ranked older horse in the weekly NTRA Poll, the five-year-old employed stalk-and-pounce tactics to post impressive wins in the Gold Cup at Santa Anit ...
Racing
Derby and Oaks dreams alive at Ellis Park
by JOE KRISTUFEK
The Road to the Kentucky Derby doesn't officially launch until the horses leave the starting gate for the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs on September 15, but the dream begins long before that.
Sunday at Ellis Park ...
Racing
A look at the Pacific Classic Day Late Pick 5
Befitting its most important day of the summer meet, Del Mar 's Late Pick 5 Saturday encompasses two Grade 1s, two allowances, and an open maiden for juveniles with several promising sorts. Here are thoughts on the sequence.
Race 7 -- N2X Allowa ...
Racing
Handicapping Saturday’s Show-Place-Win Turf Split
TwinSpires is offering players a share of a $5,000 bonus today for cashing a $25 Show bet on the Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine (5:45 ET), a $25 Place bet on the Race 10 at Saratoga (6:18 ET) and a $25 Win bet on the Del Mar Handicap (7:30 ET). Select ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Three more off the turf
by Dick Powell
Everything looked good for today based on a forecast of afternoon showers getting worse into the evening. But around 10:30 a.m. (ET), a light rain began and it seems like there will be no risks taken with the turf courses these day ...
Racing
Winx returns in the Winx Stakes at Randwick tonight
The world’s highest rated horse, Winx , launches her seven-year-old campaign at Randwick tonight at 1 a.m. (EDT).
The superstar lines up as a two-time defending champion of the Warwick (G2), now dubbed the Winx (G1), and trainer Chris Waller is ...
Racing
Singling Baffert juvenile in Del Mar Pick 4
by John Mucciolo
The $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) is the marquee event at Del Mar on Saturday as the signature race of the meeting. Eight will go postward in the splendid 10-furlong event.
But the race preceding it might make or break m ...
Racing