Is War of Will Vulnerable in the Risen Star?

Wed Feb 13 2019J. Keeler Johnson

If horses always ran to form and everyone always received a perfect trip, handicapping races would be easy. Certainly handicapping Saturday’s $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) at Fair Grounds would offer no meaningful challenge. After all, d ...
2019 Kentucky Derby: Eight Unraced Nominees to Remember

Tue Feb 12 2019J. Keeler Johnson

It seems hard to believe, but last year at this time, Triple Crown winner Justify was still a week away from his career debut. Perhaps emboldened by the extraordinary success of the colt who shattered the “Apollo Curse,” seventy unraced horses h ...
Derby, Oaks Contenders Face Off on Saturday at Fair Grounds

Tue Feb 12 2019J. Keeler Johnson

Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders will shine at Fair Grounds on February 16, a busy day of racing that includes four graded stakes races at the New Orleans racetrack. The highlight of the day is unquestionably the $400,000 R ...
San Vicente runner-up Dessman a colt that will be heard from

Tue Feb 12 2019Dick Powell

The San Vicente (G2) was run on Sunday afternoon on a wet, sealed track at Santa Anita. The sprint distance means that most of the horses pointed for the Kentucky Derby (G1) skip the race, but when you are Bob Baffert and have so many good three ...
Sharp scores highlight trio of Sunday cards

Mon Feb 11 2019Ted Black

Harness racing enthusiasts had plenty of action to follow on Sunday afternoon and evening as Miami Valley, Rosecroft and Pompano Park each had something to offer. Just before the midway point of the Sunday card at Miami Valley, Hominy Hill (Trace Te ...
Keeler Johnson's Kentucky Derby Top 10: Network Effect Rejoins the List

Mon Feb 11 2019J. Keeler Johnson

Last week was relatively quiet on the Road to the Kentucky Derby , so there hasn’t been much change to my Kentucky Derby Top 10. I guess that’s to be expected since half the horses on my list haven’t even run yet this year. That includes Netwo ...

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Kentucky Derby Pedigree Profile: Well Defined

Mon Feb 11 2019Kellie Reilly

Stonehedge, LLC’s Well Defined broke best and led at every call in a gate-to-wire tally in the Sam F. Davis S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday. The gelded Florida-bred picked up 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby following his im ...
Sparky Ville Wears Down Dessman in San Vicente Stakes

Mon Feb 11 2019J. Keeler Johnson

“Going into the far turn, I was in tight, but I had to wait because I thought those horses were moving a little early,” Joel Rosario told Santa Anita publicity after the race. “When we left the quarter pole, I asked him and he really picked it up. I ...
Two Triple Crown nominees to keep an eye on ahead of the Kentucky Derby

Mon Feb 11 2019Vance Hanson

A little over a year ago in this space I compiled a list of six horses to watch in advance of the 2018 Kentucky Derby (G1) . The group was comprised of recent Triple Crown nominees with little-to-no stakes experience who seemingly possessed plent ...
Rosecroft, Pompano and Northfield offer solid Sunday cards

Mon Feb 11 2019Ted Black

One week after the New England Patriots upended the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 53, many harness racing enthusiasts were focused on the Sunday cards that unfolded at Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland, Pompano Park in Florida and Northfield Park near C ...
Mutuel field tops Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Game Winner favored among individual interests

Sun Feb 10 2019Jen Caldwell

The mutuel field (#24) topped the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) when Pool 2 closed on Sunday at 6 p.m. (ET). The field, which includes "All Other 3-Year-Olds" not listed as individual selections, closed at its morning-line odds of 5-2 . ...
Well Defined Sprints Away From Rivals in Sam F. Davis Stakes

Sun Feb 10 2019J. Keeler Johnson

The $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) at Tampa Bay Downs was supposed to feature a fast pace and a speed duel between a few of the prominent front-runners in the field. But Well Defined simply laughed at that notion, waltzing along on an un ...
Super Score At Monticello pays $81; Cal-Expo Produces $39 Winner; Watch List Pays 54 Percent Across The Board

Sun Feb 10 2019TwinSpires Staff

It was one of those great weeks for our suggested contenders, with solid numbers, a continuance of early-season high two-digit winners and across-the-board gems from our selected features, Power Plays and horses-to-watch (H2W) list. Let’s go over our ...