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Hanson: Singling the Stephen Foster in All-Stakes Pick 5
A 50-cent all-stakes Pick 5 is one of the wagering highlights on an excellent "Downs After Dark" program Saturday night at Churchill Downs, highlighted by the Stephen Foster H. (G1) and an appearance by Triple Crown winner Justify. Here's how we'll b ...
Racing
Fleur de Lis offers Distaff berth
Nine fillies and mares will contest the $200,000 Fleur de Lis H. (G2) at Churchill Downs Saturday evening. One of five graded stakes races on the Down After Dark card, the 1 1/8-mile event serves as a “Win & You’re In” event for the $2 million B ...
Racing
New Pick 4 to enhance Royal Ascot betting options
Fans in the U.S. that have made Royal Ascot their own viewing and betting tradition over the last several years now have an exciting new way to take part in one of the racing world's great spectacles and most important meetings.
Every day of the ...
Racing
How to Bet the Stephen Foster Handicap
An excellent 11-race card is on tap on Saturday for the second “Downs After Dark” this spring at legendary .
Five graded stakes events are slated over the course of the evening headlined by the Grade 1 .
The mile and an eighth race for thr ...
Racing
How to bet the All-Stakes Pick 4 on Stephen Foster night
by SCOTT SHAPIRO
There are a plethora of multi-race sequences available to horseplayers on the Stephen Foster card Saturday evening at legendary Churchill Downs. Amongst them is an all-stakes Pick 4 that commences in Race 6 with the Wise Dan (G2 ...
Racing
Why I'm Betting River Boyne in the Rainbow Stakes
While five-horse fields aren’t usually where you look to find good betting value, if you have a strong opinion on one of the runners, why not try to capitalize?
That’s my feeling when handicapping Saturday’s $100,000 Rainbow Stakes at Santa Ani ...
Racing
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Classic berth on line in Stephen Foster
Churchill Downs will play host to a fine card, with five graded races including the $500,000 Stephen Foster H. (G1) on Saturday evening's “Downs After Dark” program. Nine are set for the 1 1/8-mile feature.
In addition, the Foster victor will earn ...
Racing
How to Bet the Regret Stakes
For a race that drew thirteen entrants, I’m surprised at how little early speed there appears to be in Saturday’s $100,000 Regret Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs .
The majority of the three-year-old fillies entered in this nine-furlong turf ...
Racing
Backyard Heaven Looks Tough in Stephen Foster Handicap
It’s certainly possible that someone could upset #6 Backyard Heaven in Saturday’s $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) going nine furlongs at Churchill Downs .
But just because it’s possible doesn’t mean that it’s likely, and indeed, Back ...
Racing
Jockey Profile - Mike Smith
Oxbow and Palace Malice had run each other into the ground. Todd Pletcher trained Revolutionary had a ton left in the tank. Orb, the Kentucky Derby winner, was in full stride. The more Mike asked from Palace Malice, the more he gave. Smith rode the ...
Racing
Feature events of the 2018 Royal Ascot meet
Royal Ascot has upped its game for 2018. Not only is the prestigious meet offering 18 Group races – eight of which are Group 1 contests – and $9.6 million in prize money, but also opportunities in the Queen Anne, Prince of Wales’s, Norfolk and Diamo ...
Racing
Oscar Performance Returns in Poker Stakes
It’s only a Grade 3 on paper, but you’re forgiven if you examine the field for Sunday’s $300,000 Poker Stakes (gr. III) at Belmont Park and mistake the one-mile race for a Grade 2 or even a Grade 1 event.
After all, the majority of the eight h ...
Racing
Thoroughbred Stakes Races Highlight Sunday Card at SunRay Park
Although it could get overlooked on this busy weekend of racing, SunRay Park in New Mexico is set to host a solid Sunday card that includes two stakes races for Thoroughbreds.
The $75,000 San Juan County Commissioners Handicap is the richest ...
Racing
Lady Aurelia leads baker’s dozen of US contenders at Royal Ascot
The stars and stripes will be waving at Royal Ascot , with a 13-strong squad led by course specialist Lady Aurelia. Not surprisingly, the emphasis is on the meeting’s sprint events, and only two American-based runners are competing as far as a mile. ...
Racing
Holiday Disguise Meets Deep Field in Dancin Renee Stakes
With its relatively hefty purse of $125,000, Saturday’s Dancin Renee Stakes at Belmont Park has attracted an impressively deep field of New York-bred fillies and mares.
In a race where quality definitely trumps quantity, just seven horses will ...
Racing
Sophs Chase Million-Dollar North America Cup, Fan Hanover; Mares Pace For Big Purse; Trotters Try To Topple ‘Hannelore’
Woodbine at Mohawk (WoMo) is the scene this Saturday, June 16. The $1-million North America Cup will introduce to the sports world the 2018 leading sophomore colt pacer and the Fan Hanover will do the same for filly pacers. Along with those ...
Racing
Goodtimes Trot Offers Forefront For Colts; Sires Stakes And All Stars Colts Gather At Tioga And Pocono
The first major stakes race on the Hambletonian Trail, the $266,000 Goodtimes Trot at Woodbine/Mohawk Park (WoMo), gathers six hopefuls to compete on the North America Cup undercard Saturday, June 16, on a weekend which features more Hambo ...
Racing
How to Bet the Fleur de Lis Handicap
It could be difficult for handicappers to have any strong opinions regarding Saturday’s $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs , but that could also mean that the odds on some of the main contenders will be enticing enough to ...
Racing
Keying Divisidero in the Wise Dan Stakes
If you want to play the classic “horse for the course” angle this weekend, look no further than #1 Divisidero in Saturday’s $200,000 Wise Dan Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill Downs .
Divisidero might not be the most consistent horse in the co ...
Racing
Baffert, Smith Team Up With Ax Man in Matt Winn Stakes
Just how many graded stakes races will trainer and jockey team up to win this year?
One week after sweeping the Triple Crown with Justify and winning the Ogden Phipps Stakes (gr. I) with Abel Tasman, Baffert and Smith will seek another big win t ...
Racing
Using Trainer Angles in Handicapping, Part 3: Blinkers
Question: What do American Pharoah, Justify, Arrogate, Bayern, Dortmund, West Coast, Mastery, and Dream Tree all have in common?
Answer: They all won Grade 1 races for Hall of Fame trainer , and furthermore, they all won their second career starts ...
Education
Maryland-breds earning spotlight on dirt and stonedust
Maryland racing typically flies below the radar except for Preakness Day and Maryland Million Day and onlookers seldom give Maryland-bred runners, trotters or pacers a second look at major events. But that could change dramatically this weekend as Ma ...
Racing
Where Justify Ranks Amongst Top Three Year Olds This Century
After an amazing stretch that began with a maiden special weight victory at Santa Anita in mid-February and concluded with a wire-to-wire one and three-quarter length win in the last Saturday it is clear that Justify is having one of the greatest t ...
Racing
North America headlines lucrative Mohawk card on Saturday
One week after thoroughbred racing fans basked in the glory of seeing Justify capture the Grade I, $1.5 Belmont Stakes to become the Sport's 13th Triple Crown winner and second in the last four years, harness racing fans will turn their attention to ...
Racing
Abel Tasman states her case in Distaff Division
Justify stole the show on Saturday in becoming our 13th Triple Crown winner. Scat Daddy colt continues to rewrite history and is arguably among the all-time best sophomores to ever run after just six lifetime races.
But there were other stan ...
Racing
Forget the Conspiracy, Justify Earned It
Shortly after Justify won the 2018 Belmont Stakes, taking home the 13th Triple Crown in history, sour grapes came about. Those sour grapes have turned into a flippant conspiracy. The conspiracy is that Restoring Hope served as Justify's offensive lin ...
Racing
Mohawk offers stellar Saturday night card
Less than an hour after Justify captured the Grade I, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes to become only the 13th Triple Crown winner in history and the second in the last four years, serious harness racing fans turned their attention to Mohawk Raceway in To ...
Racing
Flood Of Fillies Raring For August Action Contend At Pocono In Lucrative PA All Star Splits
The lucrative Pennsylvania All Stars (PAAS) series offers a quartet of $30,000 miles for glamour-girl trotters on Tuesday, June 12. The “Oaks” eligible list practically empties into these races, with 23 femmes after the best of purse money ...
Racing
Cold Soph-Trotting Exacta Pays $59; Elim Triactor Elements Perfect For $58; Top Win Prices At $19, $14
Favorites in the Canadian stakes elims at Woodbine/Mohawk (WoMo) faired well, though we picked up a few good exotics on the main blog and on our Hambletonian Trail blog. Also, our horses-to-watch list maintained a 38-percent across-the-boar ...
Racing
Gronkowski rallies fast for game Belmont Stakes second
Gronkowski nearly caught Justify in the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes (c) Photos by Z
Leading up to the Kentucky Derby (G1), the buzz surrounding European Road to the Kentucky Derby leader GRONKOWSKI rose to a crescendo. It only got loud ...
Racing
Justify captures Belmont Stakes 150 to become 13th Triple Crown winner
Justify prevails in Belmont Stakes 150 under jockey Mike Smith to sweep the Triple Crown (c) Photos by Z
Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner JUSTIFY more than lived up to expectations on Saturday when capturing the 150th running ...
Racing
Belmont Stakes 2018 News & Notes
Justify goes for Triple Crown glory in the third and final jewel of the famed series, the Belmont Stakes (G1), and TwinSpires.com has everything a fan could want or need to enjoy the 150th edition of the "Test of the Champion" all in one place!
...
Racing
Belmont Stakes highlights stellar card
While most of the public's attention was focused on the 150th edition of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday afternoon as Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Justify went in quest of becoming the 13th horse to sweep the Triple Crown series, serious and no ...
Racing
How to play the All-Grade 1 stakes Pick 4 on Belmont Stakes Day
by SCOTT SHAPIRO
There are a slew of options on the wagering menu for horizontal horseplayers this week at Belmont Park, but it is hard to match the quality of the all-Grade 1 Pick 4 that begins with the $700,000 Just a Game and concludes with t ...
Racing
Belmont Stakes Day Plays
Justify bids to become the 13 th winner of the U.S. Triple Crown and the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes highlights a dynamite 13-race card that includes 10 stakes. Here are some of my strongest opinions:
Race 4, Acorn Stakes (G1)
#3 Monomoy ...
Racing
Wagering plans for Belmont Stakes Day
You can find top-three selections from myself and esteemed colleagues for seven of Saturday's stakes in the Belmont Stakes Betting Guide . Below are more in-depth, pre-scratch opinions on how I'm wagering the program.
Race 2 -- Easy Goer
M ...
Racing
Pedigree fun facts for the 2018 Belmont Stakes
If some pedigrees are more obviously stamina-oriented than others, all of the Belmont S . (G1) contenders have ancestral connections to winners who have passed the “Test of the Champion.”
Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) star Justify ...
Racing
2018 Belmont Stakes one-liners
The history-making 2018 Triple Crown trail will come to its final destination in the 150th running of the Belmont S . (G1). Whether it culminates in a blaze of glory or an anticlimax, we’ll long remember how a chestnut meteor by the name of Justify ...
Racing
Updated thoughts on Gronkowski, European Road to Kentucky Derby winner, in Belmont Stakes
In case you’re wondering about my thoughts on Belmont S. (G1) contender Gronkowski , I’d written a scouting report (a compare and contrast with Mendelssohn) for Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, and the points about the challenges of ...
Racing
Irish shipper Alexios Komnenos among price horses of interest on Belmont Stakes undercard
Remember Waltzing Matilda, the Irish raider who scored a 22-1 upset in the 2015 New York S. (G2) for Tommy Stack? It might be ambitious to argue that history can echo itself in different circumstances in Saturday’s Manhattan H. (G1), but #4 ALEXIOS ...
Racing
Hanson: Thoughts on Friday's late Pick 4 at Belmont Park
Here are some thoughts on Friday's Late Pick 4 at Belmont Park, which carries a guaranteed pool of $500,000.
Race 8 -- True North (G2)
Imperial Hint (#3) was nearly champion sprinter last year but settled for a clear second in the Breeders' ...
Racing
Handicapping Friday’s Late Pick 4 at Belmont Park
The True North (G2) kicks off a $500,000 guaranteed Pick 4 Friday at Belmont Park (races 8-11) and I will take a swing at the sequence.
Race 8
#3 Imperial Hint shows a pair of sharp works since faltering as the favorite in the Churchill Dow ...
Racing
Potential value plays at Belmont Park Friday
A strong 11-race card, including five stakes, will be offered the day before the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes and I’ll recommend a few horses today at a decent price on the morning line.
Race 2
Inside posts have fared well in turf sprints th ...
Racing
International scouting report for 2018 Belmont Gold Cup, New York Stakes
The European raiding party for Friday’s $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup (G2) is only half of the size of last year’s six-strong phalanx that swept the superfecta , but all are Group performers, and one in particular brings a rich vein of form.
Even t ...
Racing
How to Bet the Ogden Phipps Stakes
On paper, the key to handicapping Saturday’s $750,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park might be determining whether #6 Abel Tasman is ready to rebound from a sub-par showing in her most recent start.
Certainly Abel Tasman is by fa ...
Racing
Mohawk offers solid Saturday night card
Not long after thoroughbred racing fans have had the chance to digest the results of Saturday's 150th Belmont Stakes as Justify seeks to become the sport's 13th Triple Crown winner on the latter portion of a stellar, stakes-filled card, harness racin ...
Racing
Mucciolo’s Spot Plays for Friday of Belmont Stakes week
The 150th Belmont Stakes is on Saturday where Justify will hope to seal the deal in his Triple Crown bid.
But the Friday card is a great one with 11 races on the slate including five stakes, four of which are graded. I have highlighted a few run ...
Racing
Playing a six race show parlay on Belmont Stakes day
A fun, but sneaky challenge of a wager...one bump in the road and you are out of the bet!
by Dick Powell
On Belmont Stakes day TwinSpires will have a $5,000 prize to split among players who can withstand the parlay journey, starting with race ...
Racing
Looking for Value in the Belmont Stakes
On my personal fair odds line, I have Justify listed as a 6-5 shot, meaning that at 6-5 or higher I think he would represent betting value and perhaps even be worthy of a win bet. But at lower odds—such as his 4-5 morning line price—Justify becomes ...
Racing
How to bet the Belmont Stakes if against Justify
by Scott Shapiro
Yesterday I wrote a piece on how to bet the Belmont Stakes (G1) if you think Justify will become the 13th Thoroughbred to win the Triple Crown, which you can find here .
However, there is certainly a case to be made for tak ...
Racing
Handicapping Thursday's stakes action at Belmont
The three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival kicks off with a dynamite nine-race card Thursday including a trio of stakes for females (races 6-8).
Here are my thoughts on the sequence:
Race 6, Astoria
None of the eight juvenile fillies hav ...
Racing
Eliminations Erupt In Canada As Top Soph And Aged Affairs Headline; Graduates Take The Stage In A Bundle At Tioga
The big guns are locked and loaded on the second weekend in June with elimination features topped by the North America Cup. The first of the biggest glamour-boys-and-girls (the Fan Hanover) events is ready to fire at the new year-round (Woo ...
Racing
Major Test For Hopeful Trotting Colts In Goodtimes Elims At Woodbine/Mohawk
The first of the Grand Circuit stakes events on the Hambletonian Trail, the Goodtimes Trot, attracted 21 total glamour boys and 12 total Hambletonian hopefuls collected into two eliminations on the Friday, June 8 program at Woodbine Mohawk ...
Racing
Speed Makes Lull Dangerous in Just a Game Stakes
She won’t be the most popular choice in the wagering, but I have the feeling that #4 Lull might get out in front and forget to stop in Saturday’s $700,000 Just a Game Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park .
When this talented daughter of War Front g ...
Racing
Belmont Day Pick 4 strategies with different takes on Justify
Belmont Day has become the finest collection of races on the calendar in my opinion. It will play host to 10 stakes races, including a staggering six Grade-1 tilts led by the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes .
Justify will lead a talented field postwa ...
Racing
How to bet the Belmont Stakes if you think Justify can’t Lose
By DICK POWELL
Having an odds-on favorite like JUSTIFY can make betting this year’s Belmont Stakes problematic. But, not impossible.
If you think Justify will win, forget win, place and show bets. Not enough reward for the risk. It looks ...
Racing
How to bet the Belmont Stakes if you like Justify to win
by Scott Shapiro
In just a few days, Justify will try to become the 13th three-year-old to capture Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown. The Bob Baffert trainee drew the rail and is listed as the 4-5 favorite in the 150th running of the $1.5 millio ...
Racing
Low weight spread could drag down Bolt d'Oro's chances in Met Mile
Aside from select spots like the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), there appears to be a larger enthusiasm gap of running accomplished three-year-olds against older males at a mile or over on dirt during the course of the year ...
Racing
Belmont Stakes: My 2018 Belmont Stakes Picks
think he's a tired horse. He beat his competition in the Preakness Stakes on sheer will. That could work in a 1 3/16 mile race. That won't work in a 1 1/2 mile race. Justify is a good race horse. You must be a special race horse to win the Triple Cr ...
Racing
Hi Happy winning the Pan American Stakes (gr. II) - Photo by Lauren King/Adam Coglianese Photography
How to Bet the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Stakes
Handicapping major turf races in New York is often a question of identifying the horse with the most brilliant burst of acceleration, since slow early paces tend to place a premium on the ability to finish fast down the homestretch.
With this in m ...
Racing
Keying Bee Jersey in the Metropolitan Handicap
If you’re looking for a great betting race to play this Saturday, look no further than the $1.2 million Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park .
The historic “Met Mile” has drawn eleven starters, but lacks a clear standout. As a result, ...
Racing
Monomoy Girl Stands Out in Acorn Stakes
With a purse of $700,000 and a prominent place on the racing calendar, the Acorn Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park is one of the most prestigious events in the country for three-year-old fillies.
Held at one mile around one turn, you can usually co ...
Racing
Mask Seeks Rebound in Easy Goer Stakes
It might not offer the spotlight and prestige of the Belmont Stakes , but Saturday’s $150,000 Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont Park is a pretty good consolation prize for three-year-olds that weren’t quite good enough to run in the “Test of Champio ...
Racing
Shapiros' Fair Odds Line for the 150th Running of the Belmont Stakes
Last week I did a preliminary Fair Odds line for the 150 th running of the , but after further research and the post-position draw here is my final rendition:
#1 Justify (Even money) - The undefeated dual Classic winner obviously has a ton goi ...
Racing
Justify will bid for Triple Crown from rail post
Justify will try to become Thoroughbred racing’s 13 th winner of the American Triple Crown, and join Seattle Slew (1977) as only the second undefeated victor, when he lines up for Saturday’s 150 th running of the Belmont Stakes . The well-built ch ...
Racing
Thursday Afternoon Spot Plays at Belmont Park
Thursday afternoon starts the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in Elmont, New York.
The New York Racing Association has a massive three days of thoroughbred racing in store headlined by attempt at history in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.
With ...
Racing
150th Belmont Stakes Field
150TH BELMONT STAKES
PP
HORSE
TRAINER
JOCKEY
ML ODDS
...
Racing
Currier & Ives Classically Contribute Along The ‘Trail’ With Divisions At The Meadows; Some Colts At Buffalo
Hambletonian Trail action aplenty during the weekdays for sharp bettors as the Meadows offers fillies and colts top dollars in the traditional trotting series, the Currier & Ives (C & I).
The fillies meet in three divisions o ...
Racing
Belmont Stakes: Top 5 That Failed
Stakes. He, like Real Quiet, had the Test of Champions won. It turned out that Birdstone was just slightly better at 1 1/2 miles than Smarty Jones. Even if Stewart Elliott had waited to move Smarty, would have mattered? Maybe. Maybe, not. The 5 Be ...
Racing
Harness action survives the elements
Harness racing fans and their accompanying owners and trainers were asked to battle through the elements over the weekend at two tracks along the east coast deluged by several heavy rain showers, but conditions were much clearer when action resumed o ...
Racing
Powell reviews turf action from Penn National to Epsom Derby
by DICK POWELL
Racetracks take a big risk when they schedule their major races on the turf for their biggest day of racing. But, despite rain in nearby areas, Penn National completed a great day of racing on Saturday over firm turf.
HAWKISH ...
Racing
How to plot a Belmont Stakes wagering strategy with Justify as odds-on favorite
Justify trains for the Belmont Stakes at Churchill Downs (Horsephotos.com)
How to navigate betting the Belmont stakes with Justify at odds-on
"Justify is blazing a path unique in the annals of modern racing."
How one approaches ...
Racing
Holy Helena, Fahan Mura Bring Win Streaks to New York Stakes
Two fillies with win streaks against vastly different levels of competition will face off in Friday’s $600,000 New York Stakes (gr. II) going 1 ¼ miles over the inner turf course at Belmont Park .
Holy Helena is 3-for-3 this year and enters t ...
Racing
Top Sprinters Face Off in True North Stakes
Some of the best male sprinters in the country are set to face off in the June 8th $250,000 True North Stakes (gr. II) , one of five stakes races scheduled for the Friday card at Belmont Park .
In fact, every one of the eight starters in this si ...
Racing
Soph-Stakes Winners And $57 Place Pacer In Public Upset; ‘Battle’ Victor At Northfield; ‘Gemini’ Wins 12th-Straight
Live horses paid in 38-percent across-the-board finishes in our horses-to-watch list (H2W) and they were prevalent in all of our features as we opened June. And the Hambletonian Trail trotters continued to prove the divisions are ...
Racing
Chad Brown Sends Out Three in Wonder Again Stakes
Belmont Stakes week at Belmont Park is always a memorable time packed with top-notch stakes races, and the action this year gets started on Thursday with an excellent card highlighted by the $200,000 Wonder Again Stakes (gr. III) for three-yea ...
Racing
Shapiro: How to play Churchill's mandatory Single 6 jackpot payout
by SCOTT SHAPIRO
With $695,728 in the Single 6 jackpot pool after Friday, the management of Churchill Downs has opted to make the first "Downs After Dark" card a bit more interesting. $300,000 of the carryover pool will be part of a mandatory pa ...
Racing
2018 Epsom Derby one-liners
With hopes of a Triple Crown in the balance on both sides of the Atlantic, undefeated 2000 Guineas (G1) hero Saxon Warrior aims to justify favoritism in the Derby (G1) at Epsom. The Aidan O’Brien star faces 11 challengers, in addition to the questi ...
Racing
The 2018 Belmont Stakes Betting Guide
2018 Belmont Stakes Betting Guide
A free handicapping reference for Belmont Stakes bets!
This free PDF download will help prepare any level of horse player with smart Belmont Stakes bets. The guide will cover picks and plays, but also has a ...
Racing
Saxon Warrior imposing, but balancing play in Epsom Derby
Ever since an impressive victory in last month's 2000 Guineas (G1), SAXON WARRIOR has been heavily backed to take the second jewel in the English Triple Crown, Saturday's Epsom Derby (G1), and has been talked of as being that rare individual that c ...
Racing
Spot Plays for "Downs After Dark"
The first “Downs After Dark” card of 2018 is on Saturday in Louisville and the racing office at put together an extremely strong 11-race card that is headlined by the Grade 3 Aristides run at six panels over the main track.
There are several race ...
Racing
How to bet the Belmont Stakes Festival weekend
by DICK POWELL
Three days of racing, 18 total stakes races. Six Grade 1s, four Grade 2s, five Grade 3s -- from 5 1/2 furlongs all the way to the 150th running of "Test of the Champion;" the Belmont Stakes (G1), at 1 1/2 miles.
If yo ...
Racing
How to Bet the Beholder Mile
Saturday’s feature at is the $400,000 Grade 1 Beholder Mile.The race named for the star Richard Mandella trainee only drew a field of six, but it does not lack star power given the presence of Unique Bella, Vale Dori and Paradise Woods.
Don Albe ...
Racing
Betting horses in their race following the Oaks/Derby
by Scott Shapiro
The Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) is clearly the goal for top three-year-olds. However, the majority of these horses fail to live up to expectations at Churchill Downs. The question for handicappers, then, becomes ho ...
Racing
How to bet the Beholder Mile
Champion Unique Bella leads a compact but talented field of six to the post in Saturday’s $400,000 Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
MUNNY SPUNT (#1) – Former claimer was outrun in a recent allowance dash and looks up against it. Mu ...
Racing
Mucciolo: How to bet the Penn Mile
by JOHN MUCCIOLO
A fine field of eight sophomores will take aim at the lucrative, $500,000 Penn Mile (G2) at Penn National on Saturday evening. The turf test is growing rapidly in popularity and attracted some sharp runners for this event.
#1 ...
Racing
Powell: How to bet the Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs
by DICK POWELL
It seems like only yesterday when ARISTIDES won the first running of the Kentucky Derby (G1). But here we are, 143 years later, and trying to make some sense out of a six-furlong sprint named after him. Since 2004, it has been run ...
Racing
Defections could yield mild surprise in Epsom Oaks
Unlike Saturday's Epsom Derby (G1) for the colts, there's a general suspicion that Friday's Epsom Oaks (G1) does not contain the crème de la crème of the leading middle-distance three-year-old fillies in England and Ireland.
The defections of the ...
Racing
Sophs ‘Somewhere’ Prep For ‘Cup’; Graduates Go North; Chicago Steps Up Stakes; Indiana Sophs Soar
As we leave May behind, June begins with more serious approaches for glamour-boy-and-girl pacers. Aside from two events—the Graduate and Battle Of Lake Erie—all of the sport’s major features during the first weekend in June are sophomore-re ...
Racing
Monticello Hosts Fillies In Four Sires Stakes Divisions; Few Eligible In Meadowlands Finals
With the major stakes on the Hambletonian Trail looming in the approaching month, hopefuls continue their preps on local circuits in sires stakes action over the first weekend of June with “Oaks” contenders competing in four divisions of th ...
Racing
Rosecroft offers four Maryland Sire Stakes finals on closing night
Wednesday evening may have marked the final program of the Rosecroft Raceway winter-spring meet, but for numerous owners, trainers and drivers with trotters and pacers competing in their respective Maryland Sire Stakes finals and overnight events it ...
Racing
Keying Hawkish in the Penn Mile Stakes
The $500,000 Penn Mile Stakes (gr. II) at Penn National has only been run five times, but with a list of winners that includes the Breeders’ Cup champions Bobby’s Kitten and Catch a Glimpse, the one-mile turf race has already stamped itself as a ...
Racing
2018 Belmont Stakes BRIS Speed Rating Report
Known as the “Test of the Champion,” the Belmont Stakes serves as the third jewel in the American Triple Crown and Justify will try to complete the sweep at its demanding 1 ½-mile distance. The well-built chestnut colt is unbeaten from five start ...
Racing
Tin Badge Faces State-Breds in Gray's Lake Stakes
The three races offer an opportunity for the best three-year-old Thoroughbreds in North America to showcase their talents in front of a worldwide audience.
In contrast, the audience will be much smaller for Saturday’s $63,150 Gray’s Lake Stakes ...
Racing
Terrific Field Assembles for Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo
There’s plenty of top-class racing action going on around the world this weekend, but arguably no race can offer a field as competitive and talented as the one that will line up to contest Sunday’s Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-I) at in .
Held at 1,600 met ...
Racing
Keying the Favorites in the Mighty Beau Stakes
While handicapping Saturday’s $75,000 Mighty Beau Stakes at Churchill Downs , it’s not hard to come to the conclusion that the race is essentially a showdown between three horses.
Held over five furlongs on the turf course, the Mighty Beau drew ...
Racing
Wilbo Should Receive Winning Trip in Aristides Stakes
The field for the $100,000 Aristides Stakes (gr. III) on Saturday at Churchill Downs might not be huge, but it’s certainly not lacking in early speed.
Four of the seven horses entered in this six-furlong sprint— #1 Smart Spree , #2 Shadow Tra ...
Racing
Keying Justify in the Belmont Could Produce Better Payoffs Than You Think
So let’s say you’re convinced that the unbeaten Justify will keep his perfect record intact with a victory in the June 9th Belmont Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park, in the process becoming the thirteenth horse to sweep the Triple Crown.
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Racing