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Churchill Downs releases 2018/2019 Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule
The Road to the Kentucky Derby (RTKD) schedule made up of points races toward a starting berth in the 2019 Kentucky Derby (G1) has been unveiled by Churchill Downs . The 2018/2019 series is comprised of 35 races, with 19 making up the “Prep Seas ...
Racing
Harrington Raceway set to host Bobby Quillen Memorial
Very few thoroughbred or standardbred tracks offer their best event of the season on a Monday, but such will be the case next Monday at Harrington Raceway if the southern Delaware half-mile oval is spared the brunt and remnants of Hurricane Florence ...
Racing
Kentucky Downs Selections – September 12, 2018
By JOE KRISTUFEK
Despite being rated “good” on Saturday, the turf seemed closer to firm than yielding -- I walked it myself. The races played out exactly to profile. Of the seven sprints, three were won by pace pressers, three by stalkers and on ...
Racing
Huge Weekend of Racing Set for September 15-16 at Woodbine
On the weekend of September 15-16, the attention of the racing world will turn to Woodbine in Canada, where a top-class series of eight stakes races worth nearly $2.2 million will take center stage.
Among the highlights of this action-packed w ...
Racing
Harrah's Philadelphia offers seven Liberty Bell
While many sports enthusiasts were watching the full slate of opening Sunday games in the NFL, harness racing fans turned their attention to the home of the idle NFL champions as Harrah's Philadelphia offered seven Liberty Bell divisions for sophomor ...
Racing
Let's Catch Up With American Pharoah
Santa Anita runs the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Saturday, Sep. 29. I thought it might be a good idea to check in on the horse that broke the 37-years Triple Crown drought. American Pharoah currently stands at Coolmore . Chec ...
Racing
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Breeders' Cup Among Highlights of September and Fall Meets at Churchill Downs
Starting this Friday and continuing through the end of November, Churchill Downs racetrack—home of the Kentucky Derby—will host a pair of race meets that will showcase some of the most accomplished older horses and the most promising young runne ...
Racing
Keeler Johnson's Breeders' Cup Sprint Top 10: Will a 3yo Prevail?
With the 2018 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs rapidly approaching—it’s just eight weeks away—the fields for the 14 championship races are starting to take shape.
At the moment, it appears that the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) will be among ...
Racing
BOOM ! Pair Of Upsets Pay $68, $14, Plus Three More Grand Circuit Winners At Mohawk; $36 Tops Three ‘Countdown’ Scores
Breeders Crown-eligible horses are battling for bucks at the biggest venues in North America and our exclusive blog, Breeders Crown Countdown (BCC), has been repeatedly scoring for TwinSpires players. This past week three more horses from t ...
Racing
Scioto Downs, Mohawk and Yonkers offer solid Saturday cards
On the eve of the first full slate of NFL games, harness racing enthusiasts kicked off their weekend by watching a bevy of stakes and solid overnight events at Mohawk Park, Scioto Downs and Yonkers Raceway, a trio of tracks of varying sized ovals. S ...
Racing
Kentucky Downs Selections – September 9, 2018
Kentucky Downs (c) Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com
by Joe Kristufek
Sunday represents the second to last card of the Kentucky Downs meet. Thursday is closing day, and Churchill Downs opens Friday. With rain the forecast, I’ll continue to l ...
Racing
A look at Saturday's Early Pick 4 at Kentucky Downs
On the most important of the five Kentucky Downs cards this month, we'll take a swing at the Early Pick 4 (Races 2-5, 14% takeout) before five stakes, four of which are Grade 3s, round out the 10-race program.
Race 2
#2 TAXMAN (3-1) was not ...
Racing
Betting opportunities abound on Kentucky Turf Cup Day
The $750,000 Kentucky Turf Cup (G3) is the headliner and Kentucky Downs features another strong program filled with competitive races on Saturday. A total of five stakes worth a combined $2.7 million will be offered and there’s seldom a short field a ...
Racing
Plenty of stakes action at Scioto Downs and Mohawk this weekend
While many sports enthusiasts are gearing up for a full slate of NFL games on Sunday afternoon and evening, harness racing fans will focus their attention of the bevy of stakes taking place at a quartet of ovals this weekend. Saturday night Scioto D ...
Racing
Game Winner vs. Mind Control: Who’s More Likely to Win the Kentucky Derby?
On Labor Day, the summer race meets at Del Mar and Saratoga came to a climax with the running of the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) and the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I), the first two Grade 1 events of the year for two-year-old males.
As a result, Game Winne ...
Racing
Mucciolo: Kentucky Downs Stakes Selections
Kentucky Downs (c) Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com
Five lucrative stakes races help make up half of a fine card at Kentucky Downs on Saturday.
Here are my selections:
RACE 6 – KENTUCKY DOWNS JUVENILE TURF SPRINT
The Wesley Ward duo of ...
Racing
Kentucky Downs Selections – September 8, 2018
Kentucky Downs (c) Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com
by Joe Kristufek
Speed held better on the second day of the abbreviated Kentucky Downs meet. Only one horse wired the field, but four of the 10 winners pressed the early pace. Three closed f ...
Racing
Pick 4 play for British Columbia Derby Day at Hastings
The C$150,000 British Columbia Derby (Can-G3) highlights a huge day of racing at Hastings Park on Saturday. The Vancouver, Canada, venue will play host to 10 races in total, with six of the stakes variety.
The late Pick 4 (Races 7-10) offers big f ...
Racing
Picks for the Korea Sprint and Cup at Seoul, South Korea
Wild Dude (c) Ross Holburt/Korean Racing Authority
by Dick Powell
Race 8 on Saturday night is the $354,840 Korea Sprint Cup (Kor-G1). It has attracted 13 runners going about six furlongs on the sand track at Seoul, South Korea, and the impo ...
Racing
Friday and Saturday Spot Plays at Los Alamitos
The Los Alamitos County Fair began Thursday and all four stakes races during the 12-day meet will be conducted on Saturdays. The $75,000 E.B. Johnston , a one-mile test for California-bred three-year-olds and up, and the $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis f ...
Racing
Keeler Johnson's (Way Too Early) 2019 Kentucky Derby Top 10
7. Endorsed
There was plenty to like about Endorsed’s maiden victory at Saratoga. After breaking slowly, he was urged to get back into the race and never really got a chance to relax, but despite this challenging setup, he produced a powerful fi ...
Racing
Mucciolo: Opening Day plays at Belmont Park
Belmont Park (c) NYRA/Brittlan Wall/Adam Coglianese Photography
It’s never a joyous occasion when the racing at Saratoga concludes. The dynamic session was sensational once again in 2018 but another great one begins when the Belmont Fall Cham ...
Racing
Candy Ride Sires Another Grade 1 Winner
Candy Ride sired another Grade 1 victor after Game Winner took the 2018 Del Mar Futurity. The former Pacific Classic winner trained by Ronald McAnally has become one of the top sires in the United States. Lane's End's stud fee for Candy Ride is only ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: 2018 Meet Wrap-Up
Saratoga (c) Spencer Tulis/Horsephotos.com
by Dick Powell
This is a deep dive into the 2018 Saratoga meet for trainers Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher, as well as jockeys Irad Ortiz Jr., Javier Castellano and Jose Ortiz.
CHAD BROWN
...
Racing
Third start at Kentucky Downs could be the charm in Old Friends
Kentucky Downs (c) Bob Newell/Horsephotos.com
The $250,000 Old Friends heads a nice 10-race program from Kentucky Downs on Thursday and there appears to be plenty of speed in the 12-horse field.
Parlor ( #10) packs a solid turn ...
Racing
Big Bucks For Soph Trotters All Weekend; Mohawk Elims For Frosh Finals; Grand Circuit Stakes Made Of Money
Before we pick up the Grand Circuit at Mohawk, we offer sires stakes and older trotters in New York on Friday. Saturday is a big night in Canada with elims for next week’s lucrative finals for freshman colt-and-filly trotters. Simcoe Stakes host some ...
Racing
Fillies Firing For Fame At Yonkers, Mohawk In Search Of Berths With The Best
Here are the races for week four 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" elig ...
Racing
Breeders Crown Top Fives
(NE) = Not Eligible – can Supplement
Sept. 6—Sept. 12
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
...
Racing
Kentucky Downs Selections -- September 6, 2018
by JOE KRISTUFEK
The Kentucky Downs turf course played true to form on opening day Saturday. A little give in the ground aided off the pace types, particularly in the routes. Speed held a little better in the sprints, which is typical ...
Racing
Why I'm Betting Bandua in the Dueling Grounds Derby
There are plenty of talented horses entered in Sunday's $400,000 Exacta Systems Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs , but to be perfectly honest, I never seriously considered picking anyone but #6 Bandua to win.
My reasoning is simple. Ke ...
Racing
Harness action was hot over Labor Day weekend
While many Americans often head to the beaches or prepare for elaborate cookouts for Labor Day weekend, often dubbed the unofficial end of summer, harness racing fans had plenty of reason to bypass the beaches and barbecues and head to the track. Mo ...
Racing
Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint Could Have Breeders' Cup Implications
If you’re excited about the inaugural scheduled to be held in November at Churchill Downs , then you won’t want to miss Saturday’s $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs .
The 6 ½-furlong event is a perfect prep ...
Racing
Why I'm Betting Oscar Nominated in the Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes
Although most racecourses in North America are pretty similar in shape and size, Kentucky Downs is a unique and challenging exception.
The European-style course is vaguely shaped like an oval, but the first turn is significantly sharper than t ...
Racing
Game Winner Rallies to Victory in Del Mar Futurity
On every level, Game Winner’s performance was strong. His final time of 1:23.18 for seven furlongs was quite fast for Del Mar and produced a Beyer speed figure of 93, one of the highest earned by any two-year-old in the nation so far this year. Furth ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Week 7 Wrap-Up
by DICK POWELL
Sixty-five races were run in the final week of Saratoga (one was a steeplechase). Only four came off the turf and the average field size was 8.43. The average win price was $11.35. Twenty-one favorites won the 65 races for a win p ...
Racing
Handicapping Wednesday's Show-Place-Win $1,500 split
The Show-Place-Win opportunity is back as Indiana Grand will present a pair of $200,000 grass stakes for three-year-olds on Wednesday
Opt in and become eligible to split $1,500 in cash . Place a winning $20 Show bet on Race 7 (4:53 p.m. EDT) at I ...
Racing
Mind Control Posts Upset Victory in Hopeful Stakes
By winning the season’s first Grade 1 race for two-year-old males, Mind Control has stamped himself as one of the East Coast top contender for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and—by extension—the 2019 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) . And although ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Closing Day
by Dick Powell
The Saratoga 2018 racing season concluded on Monday. Amazingly, the heat and humidity were back with a vengeance and it was extremely uncomfortable for all involved. Many horses were having water poured on them in the paddock eve ...
Racing
Sky Full of Stars Gamely Prevails in T. Von Zastrow Stutenpreis
Needless to say, it was a gutsy performance from Sky Full of Stars, though it’s fair to question the quality of the rivals she defeated. Star Rock has primarily been a listed race and handicap competitor in Great Britian with her previous career-best ...
Racing
From Last to First, Sippican Harbor Wins the Spinaway
The previously unbeaten Restless Rider , entering off an impressive win in the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs, produced a mild rally from mid-pack to finish second by a neck over the late-running longshot Cassies Dreamer , who—like Sippican Ha ...
Racing
Frosh Fires For $81 Win; Longest Shot In PASS Frosh Quartet At $34; Forecasted Upset Spot On As McWicked Blows Lazarus N Away
Just as our weekly preview blog concluded its exclusive freshman-contenders section, the big score of the following blog not only beat the top price of all the frolicking frosh groups of this season but it made the filly paying $81.50 the c ...
Racing
Instagrand headlines Breeders’ Cup Future Wager Juvenile pool, ‘All Other Sires’ tops Juvenile Sires pool
Instagrand winning the Best Pal Stakes (G2) (c) Benoit Photo
Grade 2 winner Instagrand (#8) and the “All Other Sires” closed as favorites in their respective pools when the second of three Breeders’ Cup Future Wagers closed on Sunday.
I ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Final Sunday of the 2018 meet
by Dick Powell
Fast and firm. Perfect weather. Why can’t Saratoga be like this every day?
Because if it was, it wouldn’t be Saratoga.
A dozen races were carded again today but at least the first-race post time was 12:30 p.m. (ET). Saturda ...
Racing
Yoshida Tries Dirt, Rallies to Victory in Woodward Stakes
For Yoshida, the victory was the biggest of his career and opened up new options for the future. The Bill Mott-trained four-year-old now looms as a major contender for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) on dirt in November at Churchill Downs, a race ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Woodward Day
by Dick Powell
Woodward Stakes Day started out a little chilly but the sun came out and it was a perfect day at Saratoga . The main track is still listed as fast but the two turf courses were both listed as good.
Race 1 was a seven-furlong ...
Racing
How to bet the Hopeful Stakes
Mucho (c) Teresa Genaro
A field of eight will contest the $350,000 Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga , the meet-closing feature on Labor Day. The winner figures to come from a group of five: Sanford (G3) victor Sombeyay (#1) and last-out graduat ...
Racing
How to bet the Del Mar Futurity
Roadster (c) Benoit Photo
by Scott Shapiro
The closing day card at Del Mar is headlined by the Del Mar Futurity (G1) . The seven-furlong event conducted over the main track has been dominated by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert dating back to t ...
Racing
Scully: Kentucky Downs stakes picks on Opening Day
Kentucky Downs (c) Bob Newell/Horsephotos.com
Today is the first of five cards at Kentucky Downs and the 10-race program includes four stakes. Here are some of my thoughts:
Get your bet back on every stakes race up to $5 if the horse you ...
Racing
Saratoga Diary: Chad Brown ties record
by Dick Powell
The last Friday of the meet was a perfect, cloudy day with temperatures in the 70s. The humidity has left town, temporarily, and I wore a long-sleeve shirt. The main track was listed as fast, the inner turf course was good with the ...
Racing
Godolphin Might Finally Win the Breeders' Cup Classic
finished last, Godolphin put him back on the turf. He ran well on the turf his 3-year-old season. This year, he's run well on the dirt. We can forgive Thunder Snow for his awful showing in the Juddmonte International . Not only was it his first r ...
Racing
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
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