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Kentucky Downs Stakes Spot Plays for Saturday, September 7
Saturday’s 10-race card at Kentucky Downs features five stakes races worth a total of $3.2 million, and the five stakes races will all be part of an All-Stakes Late Pick 5 beginning with Race 6, the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint, and ...
Racing
Thoughts on Saturday's All-Stakes Pick 5 at Kentucky Downs
An All-Stakes 50-cent Pick 5 at Kentucky Downs on Saturday with a 14% takeout? Why, yes, please. Here's a look at the sequence.
Race 6 -- $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint
CAMBRIA ( #4 ) ( 12-1) went two-for-two over th ...
Racing
Exacta Bet of the Day for Saturday, September 7, at Kentucky Downs
This Saturday is the third and perhaps best day of the annual Kentucky Downs five-day boutique race meet . The 10-race card features five stakes races worth $3.2 million in purses, and the five stakes races will encompass an All-Stakes Late Pick 5. ...
Racing
Two horses to key in the 2019 Kentucky Turf Cup
Arklow has lost six straight races since he prevailed in the 2018 edition of the $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup (G3) at Kentucky Downs, but the son of Arch should relish the return to Southern Kentucky to defend his title.
Racing
Jockey Club Derby international scouting reports 2019
The 2019 Jockey Club Derby international scouting reports provide form analysis for foreign based runners.
Racing
How to bet the 2019 Arlington-Washington Futurity
There are no certainties in horse racing, but it seems reasonable to conclude #2 Vincent William will be tough to beat in Saturday’s $75,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity at Arlington International Racecourse.
Racing
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Speed should be dangerous in Jockey Club Oaks
If you’re searching for the speed horses entered in Saturday’s inaugural running of the $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks at Belmont Park, let me save you some trouble—there aren’t any.
Racing
How to Bet Saturday’s Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint
The Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint is a Breeders' Cup Challenge prep-race
This Saturday at Kentucky Downs features a 10-race card with five stakes races worth $3.2 million in purses, and is the perhaps best race day of the annual Kentucky ...
Racing
Use Saratoga trends to win at the 2019 Belmont Fall Meet
New York racing has returned downstate for the start of the Belmont Park Fall Championship Meet , which will offer top-notch racing throughout the late summer/early fall season.
For the average horseplayer, Belmont can be a much easier meet to win ...
Racing
Kentucky Downs Selections for Saturday, September 7
The firm turf course was a little more forward on Thursday. Four of the five sprint races were won by forward horses. There were two gate-to wire winners in the longer races, along with two victorious stalkers and one closer.
Joe Sharp and Adam Bes ...
Racing
Belmont Park Track Profile Tips and Trends
The Belmont Fall Meet is about more than just high-profile stakes races. Besides just stakes races, the Belmont meet also offers top-notch racing and wagering on all types of races , day-in-and-day-out all throughout the season. Here are some of th ...
Racing
Grand Circuit Ensues In Canada; Upsets In The Mixes
Racing to the Breeders Crown, class affairs on the Grand Circuit continue in Canada. We’re on ‘em. Back in the USA, Scioto presents its six-digit seasonal memorials. Star-studded harness racing and solid wagering opportunities from the stars to the w ...
Racing
Sizing Up Speed On The Freshman Fronts
Welcome back to the 2019 Breeders Crown Countdown (BCC), the exclusive blog that coordinates with our weekly preview harness blog at TwinSpires.com and the Hambletonian Society to find great wagering opportunities for "Crown"-eligible horses and ...
Racing
Why I'm betting Spanish Mission in the Jockey Club Derby
David Simcock doesn’t send runners across the Atlantic very often, but since 2011 he’s compiled a 5-for-19 record in North America. That’s why we're excited to see Simcock send #9 Spanish Mission to contest the inaugural running of the $1 million Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park.
Racing
Belmont Fall Championship Meet Begins Friday
The Belmont Park Fall Meet is called the “Championship Meet” for a good reason. It is because Belmont Park runs the largest amount of important fall stakes races that lead up to the Breeders’ Cup , and also includes so many different classes of st ...
Racing
Arlington Trip Notes and Horses to Watch (August 30 – September 2)
The following are trip notes for horses who had tough trips the week of August 30 – September 2 at Arlington Park , and/or who figure to improve in their next races. Add these runners to your horses to watch list, and bet them back next time out if ...
Racing
Basin charges clear to win 2019 Hopeful Stakes
No one is comparing Basin to Affirmed just yet, but the Steve Asmussen-trained colt has made a positive impression in his first three starts, and his dominant triumph in the 2019 Hopeful Stakes (G1) suggests he might be on the verge of a very productive racing career.
Racing
Analyzing a wild edition of the Del Mar Futurity
Whether the 2019 Del Mar Futurity (G1) produces another top runner is open to debate. Anyone who watched the summer feature for 2-year-olds on Labor Day had to come away befuddled by its unusual result.
Racing
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint top 5: It's time to dance
Ranking the top contenders for the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita is harder than it sounds.
Racing
Hoosier Park Harness Race of the Week September 4
The 2nd Race at Hoosier Park on Wednesday is a one-mile trotting affair for sophomore fillies. The $12,500 event is for fillies who have not won an Indiana Sires Stakes contest this campaign, and a competitive field of six is entered.
Don’ ...
Racing
Dick Powell’s Australian Pick of the Week for September 4
Race 6 at Seymour (Australia A) on Wednesday night is a maiden benchmark 58 handicap for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, going a mile around one sweeping left-handed turn. The track is expected to be “Soft 5” so it should be fair to everyo ...
Racing
Kentucky Downs Selections for Thursday, September 5
The August 31 opening day card at Kentucky Downs ran to
profile.
The rail was out 30 feet. Eight races were run over at least
a mile of ground, with five being won by closers; two by stalkers; and one by a
presser. There were only two sprints, w ...
Racing
Basin, Nucky pave their way to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
A pair of two-year-olds moved one-step closer to a start in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) with sharp Grade 1 tallies on Labor Day. At Saratoga, six went postward in the $350,000 Hopeful S. (G1) and Steve Asmussen was responsible for half o ...
Racing
Half-mile ovals take center stage on Labor Day
On the day that marked the unofficial end of summer, a pair of half-mile harness ovals in relative close proximity to one another and several prominent beaches presented competitive cards highlighting overnight races for older horses. Labor Day Mond ...
Racing
Ellis Park Spot Plays for Monday, September 2
Free picks for Ellis Park by Joe Kristufek
Race 4
#5 Dance Rhythms (6/1 ML)
A model of consistency in turf sprints, she’s held her
own against tough competition this entire year. She has a pair of 2019 wins to
her credit, includ ...
Racing
Yonkers and Mohawk offer stellar cards on Labor Day weekend
While many Americans were headed to the beaches for the final, unofficial weekend of summer to savor Labor Day, harness racing enthusiasts turned their attention to a pair of ovals on Saturday night that offered several lucrative stakes on the last d ...
Racing
Gimpanzee Jogs, Bettor’s Wish Beat, Golden Tricks, Lather Up; Top Weekly Prices $17, $14
By Frank Cotolo
Thursday, Aug. 29
At Philly in the afternoon we went after two young colt pacers in sires-stakes action. We finished third to an 8-1 shot with Tell Them Lou ($6.00) and then fourth to the public’s second choice with Hey Run Me ...
Racing
How to Bet the 2019 Spinaway Stakes
An exciting field of seven juvenile fillies will contest Sunday’s $350,000 Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course . The seven-furlong feature is a loaded affair with some superb prospects for both the short and long term, including four filli ...
Racing
How to Bet the 2019 Sapling Stakes
Eight juveniles will travel one-mile on the Monmouth Park main surface in Sunday’s $100,000 Sapling Stakes. The cast boasts a few impressive maiden winners in what looks like an intriguing betting event.
ANALYSIS
The unbeaten Liberate (#2) (2- ...
Racing
New Hong Kong racing season ready to Bloom
by J. Keeler Johnson
The summer race meets at Del Mar and Saratoga will wrap up on Monday, but if you’re a fan of international racing, a suitable replacement is on the horizon. Following a seven-week break, the much-anticipated 2019-20 racing ...
Racing
Ellis Park Spot Plays for Sunday, September 1
Race 4 – PALMER’S WAY (#5) (6-1)
Live on the tote on the drop in his third career start last out at Churchill Downs , he ran to the action, scoring a sharp, stalk and pounce victory . Off 10 weeks, he resurfaces in a logical spot off a series of ...
Racing
History points away from proven stars in 2019 Hopeful Stakes
Technically speaking, the Sanford Stakes (G3) and Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) at Saratoga were designed to be local springboards toward the $350,000 Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1) , the track's feature race on Labor Day.
But when was the last ...
Racing
Keying a 6-1 shot in the 2019 Spinaway Stakes
#6 Risky Mischief might not be the fastest filly on paper in Sunday’s $350,000 Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga , but I believe this daughter of Into Mischief might be better than she appears at first glance.
Although Risky Mischief’s debut v ...
Racing
Exacta Bet of the Day for Saturday, August 31 at Kentucky Downs
This Saturday is the first day of the annual Kentucky Downs five-day boutique race meet that features massive purses and the big fields that go along with them. The opening-day feature on the 10-race card is Race 8, the $750,000 Tourist Mile Stakes ...
Racing
Kentucky Downs Selections for Saturday, August 31
Saturday’s Franklin, Kentucky, forecast calls for sunny skies and high of 90 degrees. Historically when the Kentucky Downs turf course is bone dry, it can strongly favor speed, particularly in sprint races.
“The turf course has never looked better ...
Racing
How to bet the exotics in the 2019 Prioress Stakes
Following Break Even’s comfortable triumph on the Coronation Cup—in which she posted fractions of :21.03 and :43.50 before holding off the deep-closing next-out stakes winner Eyeinthesky by a length—Cox could have wheeled her back three weeks later f ...
Racing
Why I'm betting Tom's d'Etat in the Woodward Stakes
Tom’s d’Etat’s tactical speed should come in handy on Saturday. There isn’t an abundance of pace in this nine-horse field, so Tom’s d’Etat should secure a comfortable outside stalking position while breaking from post nine. This could be particularly ...
Racing
Chad Brown holds strong hand in Glens Fall Stakes
There isn’t much speed entered in Saturday’s $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes (G2) at Saratoga, which could be the ticket to success for #8 Night of England.
Racing
How to Bet the 2019 Woodward Stakes
Nine will go postward in Saturday’s $750,000 Woodward Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course . The 1 1/8-mile feature has attracted a well-matched field led by defending champ Yoshida (#7) (5-2) .
ANALYSIS
Mr. Buff (#1) (8-1) is plenty quick fro ...
Racing
2019 Kentucky Downs Handicapping Preview
The 2019 Kentucky Downs meet is ready to begin with five rich racing dates scheduled from August 31 to September 12. Expect big fields and big purses for all of the five days, because Kentucky Downs averages 11 starters per race and leads the natio ...
Racing
Ellis Park Spot Plays for Friday, August 30
Race 6 – URBAN INSIGHT (#1) (5-2)
Having an opinion against favored horses in any given race can be a big advantage, if you’re right obviously. I’m willing to take a stand against both Cosmic Code (#4) (9-5), a router cutting back with blinkers ...
Racing
Harness Stakes In The East; Maple Leaf Trot, Canadian Pacing Derby Fields
The Grand Circuit continues in Canada with lucrative finals starring some of the most competitive fields in a few seasons, especially in the older ranks.
Racing
Kentucky Downs 2019 Meet Preview
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 Nashville, Tennessee, ...
Racing
Forbidden Trade Vs Gimpanzee—Yonkers Trot Showdown; Bettor’s Wish Ready
Welcome to the 2019 Breeders Crown Countdown (BCC), the exclusive blog that coordinates with our weekly preview harness blog at TwinSpires.com.
Racing
Ocean Downs offers quartet of stakes
With the nearby tourist season winding to a close as the unofficial end of summer, Labor Day Monday, fast approaches, Ocean Downs, a half-mile harness racing over five miles west of Ocean City, is putting the finishing touches on its meet with a quar ...
Racing
2019 Breeders' Cup: John Sadler's contingent coming up strong
Trainer John Sadler is enjoying a banner season, with 13 graded stakes victories. Sadler has a half-dozen potential Breeders’ Cup contenders in his stable, including four that might compete in the Classic.
Racing
5 runners hindered by the slow rail on Travers Day
While the the Travers Day equine exploits have received plenty of press, significant focus has been placed on the way Saratoga’s main track played during the busy afternoon.
Racing
Hoosier Park Harness Race of the Week for August 28
The 7th Race on Wednesday at Hoosier Park is Leg 6 of the Indiana Sires Stakes. The one-mile trot for sophomore fillies is the feature on a 12-race card and carries a substantial $91,000 purse.
Don’t forget to get your GAIT INSURANCE before th ...
Racing
Breeders' Cup Classic Top 12: Your guess is as good as mine
If you have any clue which horse will emerge victorious in the November 2 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita, I applaud you. You’re one step ahead of me and perhaps 95% of the remaining handicapping world.
Racing
Come Dancing punches her Breeders’ Cup ticket with Ballerina romp
Blue Devil Racing Stable’s homebred COME DANCING earned an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) following a superb 3 1/2-length romp in Saturday’s $480,000 Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga . The Kentucky-bred got ...
Racing
Dick Powell’s Australian Pick of the Week for August 28
Race 8 at Wagga (Australia A) on Wednesday night is a maiden special weight for older horses going six furlongs and all but the four females (who get a four-pound break in the weights) carry 130 pounds. Please note that all horses in the Southern Hem ...
Racing
Blink and You'll Miss It! Kentucky Downs All-Turf Racing Season Starts on Aug. 31
Blink and you'll miss it! High stakes turf racing is returning to Kentucky Downs , but you'll have only five racing days over the course of just two weeks to get in on the racing and wagering at the turf-only oasis located within shouting distance o ...
Racing
Arlington Trip Notes and Horses to Watch (August 22-25)
The following are trip notes for horses who had tough trips the week of August 22-25 at Arlington , and/or who figure to improve in their next races. Add these runners to your horses to watch list, and bet them back next time out if they land in ...
Racing
Stakes elims highlight Mohawk, Yonkers Saturday night cards
While much of the nation's attention was focused on the Grade I Travers Stakes and supporting graded stakes card at Saratoga Race Course earlier that day, harness racing enthusiasts had keen interest in watching a bevy of stakes elims at Mohawk Park ...
Racing
Majority Mutuels Grab Grand Circuit Events, Bettor’s Wish, Gimpanzee Romp; Top Win Prices For Week $29, $23
Sunday, Aug. 18
The Tioga stakes included two obvious public choice, which we endorsed: McWicked ($2.70, $2.20, $2.10) and Shartin N ($2.10, n/p, n/s). The Empire Breeders Classics for soph pacers gave us two fifth-place finishers, World On Edge ( ...
Racing
Saratoga Scouting Report: Kentucky Horses for Sunday, August 25
With Churchill Downs coming off perhaps their strongest spring meet in history, the horses based in Kentucky should perform even better than they have in years past.
Chances are, in many cases, they won’t get the respect they deserve. There is v ...
Racing
Ellis Park Spot Plays for Sunday, August 25
Race 4 – BLAME RO (#7) (7-2)
Compromised by an extreme outside post and a very wide run on the turn for home, this three-year-old son of Blame ran deceivingly well in the debut. Adding blinkers for the follow-up start, he set the pace before ev ...
Racing
Scully’s Travers Day Handicapping Blog
My betting strategy for the 150 th running of the Travers Stakes involves two horses. Tacitus is the most likely winner on paper, a horse who appears on the verge of putting it all together with a major win, but he’s been his own worst enemy at time ...
Racing
How to bet the Travers Day all-stakes Pick 4
If you enjoy playing multi-race wagers, you won’t want to miss out on the all-stakes Pick 4 on Saturday, August 22 at Saratoga .
The challenging sequence culminates with the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) and figures to produce a hefty pay ...
Racing
Dick Powell’s Top Picks for the 2019 Travers Stakes at Saratoga
The $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) will be run for the 150th time on Saturday at historic Saratoga Race Course. Amazingly, it will be run going 1 1/4 miles on the main track under sunny skies since the volatile weather that has been pelting the ar ...
Racing
Saratoga Scouting Report: Kentucky Horses & Travers Day Stakes Selections for Saturday, August 24
With Churchill Downs coming off perhaps their strongest spring meet in history, the horses based in Kentucky should perform even better than they have in years past.
Chances are, in many cases, they won’t get the respect they deserve. There is v ...
Racing
Ellis Park Spot Plays for Saturday, August 24
Race 3 – SEVEN NATION ARMY (#5) (5-2)
First or second in five of his last six starts and the one time he wasn’t, he has an excuse. Off slowly losing four lengths at the start of his June 23 allowance start at Churchill Downs , he rushed up in th ...
Racing
How to bet the 2019 Travers Stakes
With division leader Maximum Security, champion 2-year-old Game Winner and classic winners Country House, War of Will and Sir Winston all absent from Saturday’s $1 million Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, the Midsummer Derby is shaping up to be a strange race.
Racing
How to Bet the 2019 Sword Dancer at Saratoga
Nine will travel 1 1/2 miles on the Saratoga inner turf course in Saturday’s $850,000 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1). The lucrative grassy endeavor is a “Win & You’re In” contest that offers a berth in the starting gate for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G ...
Racing
Exacta Bet of the Day for Saturday, August 24 at Saratoga
Exacta Box of the day for Saratoga
This Saturday at Saratoga is the biggest day of the biggest race meet of the summer season – Travers Day.
Saratoga’s Saturday program features a 13-race card headlined by “The Mid-Summer Derby,” the Travers ...
Racing
How to Bet the 2019 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga
A spectacular field showcasing some of the top fillies and mares in training will vie in Saturday’s $700,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga . The nine-furlong affair attracted four Grade 1 heroines in what is the top race of the Distaff div ...
Racing
Spot Plays for 2019 Travers Day at Saratoga
Spot Plays for Saratoga’s Travers Day card will begin in the 5TH Race on Saturday. Where else are you going to get three straight Grade 1s going seven furlongs?
Race 5 is the Forego Stakes (G1) for older horses going seven furlongs on a main tra ...
Racing
Churchill Downs releases Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule
It’s that time of year again—the 2019-2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby will kick off with the $200,000 Iroquois Stakes (G3) on September 14, according to the official schedule released by Churchill Downs.
Racing
Shancelot's speed stands out in H. Allen Jerkens Stakes
H. Allen Jerkens conditioned some fast horses during his Hall of Fame career, but I’m not sure any displayed as much raw speed as #1 Shancelot, who will be favored to win the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Saratoga.
Racing
How to Bet the 2019 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga
Seven fillies and mares will travel seven-eighths on the Saratoga main surface in Saturday’s $500,000 Ballerina Stakes (G1). The field is led by Grade 1 winners Separationofpowers and Mia Mischief, the one-two finishers of the 2018 Test Stakes (G1) ...
Racing
Why I'm betting Come Dancing in the Ballerina Stakes
Several accomplished female sprinters will square off in Saturday’s $500,000 Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, but they’re all running for second behind the lightly raced 5-year-old #2 Come Dancing.
Racing
Grand Circuit Rolls Into Canada; Filly And Mare Trotters Battle For Berths; Frosh-Fillies Chasing Cash; Gimpanzee Returns!
The Grand Circuit goes north, offering elims and stakes on a busy Aug. 24, while Yonkers sets up for next week’s soph classics, the Messenger. Lots of state-bred action starts the week and TwinSpires’ horses-to-watch (H2W) list again offers a cast of ...
Racing
Soph Colts Highlighted; Speedy Subjects Line Up At Meadows For Lucrative Sires-Stakes Battles; Yonkers Offers One Of Two Messenger Elims To Bet
Welcome to the 2019 Breeders Crown Countdown (BCC), the exclusive blog that coordinates with our weekly preview harness blog at TwinSpires.com and the Hambletonian Society to find great wagering opportunities for "Crown"-eligible horses and their ...
Racing
Enable, Magical meet again in Yorkshire Oaks
Bettors looking to play the Yorkshire Oaks probably shouldn’t invest heavily in trying to beat Enable. All form points to Enable as a near-certain winner, with Magical a clear runner-up, though these two will so thoroughly dominate the wagering that ...
Racing
Older pacers take center stage
While much of the attention this weekend will be on the Grade I Travers Stakes for three-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course and the eliminations for the Grade I Messenger Stakes for three-year-old pacers at Yonkers Raceway, many of the sport's best ol ...
Racing
Dick Powell’s Australian Pick of the Week for August 21
Race 2 at Hawkesbury (Australia A) on Wednesday night is a maiden for three-year-olds going five furlongs. Please note that all horses in the Southern Hemisphere had their birthday on August 1 so you will not see any more races for two-year-olds. The ...
Racing
Ellis Park Spot Plays for Friday, August 23
Race 4 – #4 ISLAND LOVE (9-2)
By City Zip out of the stakes-placed Empire Maker mare Bahama Bound, this Victoria Oliver debuter has turf influences in the pedigree. She has some sneaky fast works and James Graham, one down to Corey Lanerie in th ...
Racing
Arlington Trip Notes and Horses to Watch (August 15-18)
The following are trip notes for horses who had tough trips the week of August 15-18 at Arlington , and/or who figure to improve in their next races. Add these runners to your horses to watch list, and bet them back next time out if they land in ...
Racing
Prince Earl, back from layoff, enters Breeders' Cup Mile picture
Old Bones Racing Stable and Todd Marshall's Prince Earl returned from a layoff exceeding eight months to capture the $200,000 Del Mar Mile (G2) on Sunday. The four-year-old was three-parts clear under the wire when clocking eight panels in 1:33. ...
Racing
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Top 10: Sistercharlie still on top
Although we’re still 2 1/2 months away from the 2019 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, a clear favorite has already emerged for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
Racing
Tacitus and company can make the most of a Travers lacking star power
The disappointing racing season in the three-year-old division will continue this weekend at Saratoga with the meet’s signature race, the Travers Stakes (G1), drawing a sub-par field for its 2019 running that will include almost none of this year ...
Racing
Saratoga Scouting Report: Kentucky horses for August 21-23
With Churchill Downs coming off perhaps their strongest spring meet in history, the horses based in Kentucky should perform even better than they have in years past.
Chances are, in many cases, they won't get the respect they deserve. There is ...
Racing
Bet-Backs Bountiful: Greenshoe, Bettor’s Wish, Swandre The Giant Soar; Powerful Place Prices Ignite $87, $47 Exactas
Monday, Aug. 12
The second Gold Cup & Saucer trial at Charlottestown was won by a 15-1 shot. Our choice, Lisburn (26-1) was fourth, making the final.
Thursday, Aug. 15
Indiana Sires Stakes (INSS) for soph-colt trotters presented Hambo-el ...
Racing
Highlighting juvenile prospects in Ellis Park Sunday stakes
A pair of $100,000 stakes races for two-year-olds will take place at Ellis Park on Sunday. The Juvenile for the boys attracted seven and boasts a few interesting youngsters for now, and potentially, the future.
Night Time (#1) (5-1) drew the ...
Racing
Saratoga Scouting Report: Kentucky Horses for Sunday, August 18
With Churchill Downs coming off perhaps their strongest spring meet in history, the horses based in Kentucky should perform even better than they have in years past.
Chances are, in many cases, they won’t get the respect they deserve. There is v ...
Racing
Ellis Park Pick 3 plays for Sunday, August 18
A strong 10-race card will be hosted by Ellis Park on Sunday with a pair of stakes events for juveniles on tap. The co-features are the $100,000 Ellis Park Juvenile and $100,000 Ellis Park Debutante. While I will cover those races with more detail ...
Racing
Quip the key in all-stakes Del Mar Pick 3
Unfortunately, there is no all-graded stakes Pick 4 on the latter half of Saturday's Del Mar program. Instead, we'll concentrate on the Pick 3 that runs from the Torrey Pines (G3) through the Pacific Classic (G1) and look to beat seemingly vulnerable ...
Racing
Handicapping Saturday’s cross-country Pick 5
Five graded stakes races from Saratoga and Del Mar comprise today’s cross-country Pick 5 wager. Here are my thoughts on the sequence and a couple of tickets I will play:
Leg 1, Lake Placid (Race 9 Saratoga)
After showing solid class while sti ...
Racing
Promising Two-Year-Olds take center stage at Ellis Park
The Road to both the 2020 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) doesn’t officially begin until September 14 at Churchill Downs , but Sunday’s pair of juvenile stakes at Ellis Park do serve as a direct entrance ramp to the journey that is ab ...
Racing
Saratoga Scouting Report: Kentucky Horses for Saturday, August 17
With Churchill Downs coming off perhaps their strongest spring meet in history, the horses based in Kentucky should perform even better than they have in years past.
Chances are, in many cases, they won’t get the respect they deserve. There is v ...
Racing
Ellis Park Spot Plays for Saturday, August 17
In a battle with current leaders James Graham, Tyler Baze and Miguel Mena for the Ellis Park riding title , Corey Lanerie could make a bold move on Saturday.
Lanerie is absolutely loaded with live mounts, several of which I picked to win. Let’s f ...
Racing
Letmeno steps up in TwinSpires Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes
Trainer Ian Wilkes isn’t known for sending out ready-to-win first-time starters, which is why his 2-year-old #2 Letmeno looms as an intriguing contender in Saturday’s $100,000 TwinSpires Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes at Ellis Park.
Racing
Pacific Classic one of several Del Mar BC preps Saturday
It will be a classic East vs. West story when Del Mar hosts an exciting afternoon of Breeders’ Cup prep races Saturday.
Racing
Avie's Flatter can take the spotlight in Breeders' Stakes
The third time might be the charm for #7 Avie’s Flatter in the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine , the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.
Avie’s Flatter performed admirably without a victory in the first two legs of the challenging ...
Racing
Why I'm betting Varenka in the Lake Placid Stakes
Handicappers have grown accustomed to watching trainer Chad Brown dominate North America’s major turf races for fillies and mares. But victory might not be a certainty for Brown’s fillies in Saturday’s $200,000 Lake Placid Stakes (G2) at Saratoga.
Racing
TwinSpires to sponsor Sunday's Ellis Park Juvenile and Ellis Park Debutante
TwinSpires, the industry leader in online and mobile wagering on horse racing, has become the title sponsor of Ellis Park's pair of 2-year-old stakes.
The $100,000 TwinSpires Ellis Park Juvenile and $100,000 TwinSpires Ellis Park Debutante, will b ...
Racing
Why Point of Honor won't lose the Alabama Stakes
A mile and a quarter is a distance fillies and mares rarely run on dirt in North America, which makes the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga an intriguing handicapping challenge.
Racing
How to Bet the 2019 Pacific Classic
by J. Keeler Johnson
Saturday’s renewal of the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar might not be the strongest in recent memory, but this 1 1/4-mile “Win & You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) is still shaping up ...
Racing