Meet Bandua, Ireland's Belmont Stakes Contender

Tue May 29 2018J. Keeler Johnson

It's the question being asked by most handicappers when they see his name among the list of possible starters for the Belmont Stakes —“Who in the world is Bandua ?” Who in the world, indeed, since unlike most Belmont Stakes contenders, Bandua ...
Run styles & the Belmont Stakes

Tue May 29 2018James Scully

The Belmont Stakes will be contested over a 1 ½-mile distance many participants will never see again. Stamina matters, but the extended distance leads to a false impression it benefits late runners. Barring an early duel, Belmont Stakes horses w ...
Justify Could be More Vulnerable in the Belmont than Anyone Believes

Tue May 29 2018D.S. Williamson

Justify heads to the Belmont Stakes with a chance to become the second Triple Crown winner since 2015. That's somewhat amazing considering that until American Pharoah won the Crown, horse racing fans had waited for 37 years. Can Justify do it? No dou ...
Harrington offers memorable Memorial Day card

Mon May 28 2018Ted Black

Monday might have meant the Memorial Day holiday for many Americans but harness racing fans may have made the journey to Harrington Raceway for the live card. In the opening race on the Monday card, Cinder Block (Mike Cole) left to secure good early ...
Why the Belmont Stakes is the Best Triple Crown Race to Bet

Mon May 28 2018D.S. Williamson

For years, the Kentucky Derby was the best Triple Crown race to bet. In some ways, the Derby is still the best race to bet. The Derby superfecta paid huge. However, the exacta and trifecta weren't nearly as large as they could have been. Not only tha ...
Hanson: Playing Pimlico's Rainbow 6 mandatory payout

Mon May 28 2018Vance Hanson

Memorial Day marks the closing day of the brief 2018 Pimlico meet, and aside from Justify's thrilling win through the fog in the Preakness (G1) last weekend, it's been a spell of racing negatively affected by weather. More than half a foot of rain fe ...

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Maiden Special Weight to Maiden Claiming: A Classic Class Drop

Mon May 28 2018J. Keeler Johnson

In the sport of horse racing, you’ll often hear handicappers refer to horses that are “dropping in class.” The definition of dropping in class is simple—it means that a given horse is going to be facing easier competition than in his previous star ...
Three Double-Digit Winners At Hawthorne; Camluck Classic Conquered With Valued Favorite; Choices Strewn Across The Board

Mon May 28 2018TwinSpires Staff

Two days of the weekend holiday were jammed with features and horses to watch (H2W) and our contenders were busy finishing in all three payoff spots—four if you count those pesky superfecta finishers. Also, another week of sharp Hambletonian Trail fi ...
Royal Ascot on the horizon: Lady Aurelia, Yoshida tune up while European preps offer clues

Mon May 28 2018Kellie Reilly

If Memorial Day weekend marks the virtual beginning of summer, Royal Ascot isn’t far behind, and the meeting’s marquee events are beginning to take shape. American-based performers will be in the spotlight on the June 19 opener. Defending champion ...
Shapiro’s Memorial Day 2018 Spot Plays

Sun May 27 2018TwinSpires Staff

by Scott Shapiro Before anything, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to all who have died while serving in the Armed Forces for the United States of America. With the Memorial Day holiday comes an extra day of racing to end the week. The ...
Keying Grecian Fire in the All American Stakes

Sat May 26 2018J. Keeler Johnson

Could handicapping Monday’s $100,000 All American Stakes (gr. III) on the Tapeta track at Golden Gate Fields be as simple as backing the horse trained by Jerry Hollendorfer? The Hall of Fame trainer has long dominated racing at Golden Gate Fie ...
A look at how Justify and his challengers are coming up to the 2018 Belmont Stakes

Sat May 26 2018Kellie Reilly

  With two weeks left to go until JUSTIFY puts his Triple Crown hopes to the test in the June 9 Belmont Stakes (G1), it’s time to take stock of how the field is shaping up. Unbeaten Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) hero Jus ...
Belmont's Memorial Day Card Packed With State-Bred Stakes Races

Fri May 25 2018J. Keeler Johnson

If you thought that the upcoming racing action on Saturday and Sunday at Belmont Park seemed a bit thin in terms of stakes races, you’re correct, but that’s because Belmont is saving most of the weekend action for Memorial Day. Six of the ten ...