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Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Dornoch
It’s safe to say that Dornoch has the pedigree of a Kentucky Derby (G1) winner. Because… he literally has the pedigree of a Kentucky Derby winner.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: How talented is El Capi?
How talented is El Capi? It’s hard to say for certain. He was spectacular when debuting in a seven-furlong maiden special weight last Saturday at Aqueduct, but his performance was not without a caveat.
Racing
Meet the Contenders: 2023 Remsen Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2023 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential.
Racing
First-crop sires: Winners keep coming for Maximus Mischief
Maximus Mischief picked up his third black-type stakes winner on Nov. 22 when Carmelina stormed to a runaway victory in the $100,000 Shamrock Rose S. at Penn National.
Racing
Racing Roundtable: Kentucky Jockey Club, Golden Rod, and other Thanksgiving weekend results
This week the Roundtable discusses the winners of the Kentucky Derby and Oaks prep races at Churchill and other notable performances from the Thanksgiving weekend.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Five graduate at Churchill
Possible contenders for the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) were out in abundance during Thanksgiving week at Churchill Downs.
Racing
Catching My Eye: Opening Weekend at Fair Grounds
As racing wraps up at Churchill Downs, many non-Kentucky connections will try to snag the purses and several of Fair Grounds’ stakes days are L.A.-bred delights.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Carbone finishes fast in debut
The week before Thanksgiving is typically a quiet one as far as stakes racing goes. But Carbone made enough noise for five stakes horses when he smashed his debut on Sunday at Churchill Downs.
Racing
Racing Roundtable: Pool 1 of KDFW, first-crop sires, and top turf female
This week the Roundtable looks back at the results of Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW), explores first-crop sires with promising progeny, and debates the winner of the Eclipse Award for top turf female, potentially the most contentious award of the season.
Racing
First-crop sires: Maximus Mischief is riding a hot streak
After siring only two winners between the middle of September and the middle of October, first-crop sire Maximus Mischief is on fire again, regaining the momentum that made him the leading sire by progeny earnings through much of summer and early fall.
Racing
When a horse specifically targets a race, take notice
When handicapping high-profile graded stakes, it’s helpful to keep an eye on the racing news to determine which horses have been specifically pointed to the race and which are joining the field at the last minute.
Racing
Racing Roundtable: Breeders' Cup recap and Horse of the Year candidates
This week the Roundtable discusses the best and most disappointing performances from the Breeders' Cup World Championships along with the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year.
Racing
Catching My Eye: Three maidens and an old salt at Churchill Downs
Racing analyst Kevin Kilroy discusses a trio of maidens who caught his eye at Churchill Downs along with a five-year-old allowance winner.
Racing
2023 Breeders' Cup trainer and jockey trends
The 40th Breeders' Cup World Championships will return to Santa Anita for a record-extending 11th time in the history of the event, where a number of legendary trainers and jockeys will look to further their mark on the prestigious two-day festival.
Racing
The 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic Tipsheet
A top-notch field of 13 will travel 1 1/4 miles on the Santa Anita main oval in Saturday’s lucrative, $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic S. (G1).
Racing
2023 Breeders' Cup Betting Guide
The 2023 Breeders' Cup guide is here! The full betting guide includes Tipsheets, Expert Picks, fresh analysis, trends, and handicapping. It's your ultimate tool to prepare for the races and is available for free!
Racing
2023 Breeders' Cup post draw analysis and implications
Post positions for the 2023 Breeders’ Cup were drawn on Monday evening, finalizing the fields for the 14 championship races across Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita.
Racing
Breeders’ Cup Trends: Dirt Races
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships is nearly upon us, as The Great Race Place will play host to an incredible two days of racing on Nov. 3 and 4. There have been five editions held at Santa Anita dating back to 2012, and the picturesque venue is one of the best locations to host the Championships, in my opinion. Below are a few things to consider when handicapping the dirt races over the weekend.
Racing
How much of a connection does the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies have to the Kentucky Oaks?
Dating back to the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in 1984, just two horses have returned off victories in the race for two-year-old females to win the Kentucky Oaks the following season.
Racing
Catching My Eye: Closing Day at Keeneland
That’s a wrap on Keeneland’s fall meet, as Kentucky racing moves back to its homebase of Churchill Downs, where they’ll be through Nov. 26.
Racing
2023 Breeders' Cup: 10 observations from pre-entries
Pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita were released on Wednesday. From all appearances, the 14 races are coming up strong.
Racing
When turf turns soft, look for longshot speed horses
When heavy rain strikes and a turf course becomes soft, consider upgrading the chances of frontrunners and speed horses. It can reap lucrative dividends.
Racing
Racing Roundtable: British Champions Day, Breeders' Cup memories, and the best of U.S. racing
This week the Roundtable reflects on British Champions Day at Ascot, the top performances in the U.S. from the weekend, and past memories of the Breeders' Cup.
Racing
The Science of Horse Racing: When Is Pedigree Useful?
Understanding the influence of sire and dam and the right time to consider pedigree can make that information a useful part of your handicapping routine and give you more data to help you decide where to put your wagering dollar.
Racing
Keeler Johnson's 2023 Picks and Plays third quarter ROI report
With three quarters down and one quarter remaining in 2023, it’s time to check in on the performance of my daily Picks and Plays and carryover analysis columns for TwinSpires Edge.
Racing
Catching My Eye: Mighty Hearts and Raw Talent at Keeneland
A fantastic card at Keeneland on Saturday was punctuated time and again by a triumphant favorite, winning each of the final six races, including the sensational $600,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1). The raw talent of freshman Dornoch and the gallant heart of both Lindy and First Mission were on full display.
Racing
Dubai World Cup winners in Breeders’ Cup Classic: Close, but no cigar
The relationship between the Dubai World Cup (G1) and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) was forged early on, with a pattern set by Hall of Famer Cigar.
Racing
First-crop sires: Second stakes winner for Maximus Mischief
TwinSpires.com will follow prominent first-crop sires whose two-year-olds are hitting the track this season. This installment is the third on 2018 Remsen (G2) winner Maximus Mischief.
Racing
Breeders' Cup Rankings 2023: Future Stars Friday
A handful of races will be held on the opening-day portion of the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Santa Anita on Nov. 3. European imports have endured a bevy of success in these tilts, especially in the events that have been contested on the turf, but my focus for this piece will be on the U.S.-based contenders.
Racing
Pedigree profile: Muth
When the speedy Muth successfully stretched out over 1 1/16 miles to dominate the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita by 3 3/4 lengths, it came as no surprise to pedigree handicappers.
Racing
When chalky outcomes appears likely, consider the superfecta
Some bettors avoid playing races that seem likely to unfold in predictable fashion, because the payoffs are bound to be small. But sometimes the most likely outcome can pay surprisingly well, particularly if you embrace exotic wagers like the superfecta.
Racing
Catching My Eye: Keeneland Breeders' Cup preps from Saturday, Oct. 7
On Saturday, Keeneland had two "Win and You’re In” events, but connections used each of the five graded stakes as prep races for the first weekend in November.
Racing
Tournament Strategy: TwinSpires $2,500 NHC Qualifier Feeders Oct. 7 and 8
TwinSpires has a new handicapping tournament, the TwinSpires $5,000 NHC Qualifier, offering two seats to the National Horseplayers Championship, which will take place Nov. 25. In order to participate, you have to finish in the top 10% of one of the seven feeder tournaments, and there are two taking place this weekend. If you have a TwinSpires account, opt in to play on Oct. 7 or Oct. 8, 2023.
Racing
The Jury: Expert picks, bets and fades for Oct. 7, 2023 [VIDEO]
Racing analysts Ashley Anderson, James Scully and Scott Shapiro handicap Keeneland opening weekend and more! We have promo codes exclusively for our Jury viewers later into the show.
Wagering
Meet the Contenders: 2023 Champagne Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2023 Champagne Stakes. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well.
Racing
Meet the Contenders: 2023 American Pharoah Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2023 American Pharoah Stakes. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well.
Racing
The 2023 Breeders’ Futurity Tipsheet
A total of nine two-year-olds will go postward in the $600,000 Breeders’ Futurity S. (G1) on Saturday. The winner will receive an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.
Racing
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023
Dick Powell offers his selections and analysis for Thursday's card at Presque Isle Downs.
Racing
Meet the Contenders: 2023 Breeders' Futurity
Meet the horses running in the 2023 Breeders' Futurity. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well.
Racing
Catching my eye: Closing week of Churchill Downs’ September meet
Kevin Kilroy discusses a few standout horses that caught his eye on the closing weekend of Churchill Downs' September meet.
Racing
Betting Strategies: Building tickets with the market in mind
In terms of building multi-race tickets, we are betting into the races blindly, meaning we do not have any tote information about where the money is going and who might be underlays or overlays. Therefore, a lot of horseplayers end up writing tickets that simply reflect their opinions of who could win, forgetting about the notion of value.
Racing
Racing Roundtable: Penn Derby Day and Churchill Downs After Dark
The Roundtable gang of James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson are back to comment on the weekend action highlighted by Pennsylvania Derby Day at Parx and Downs After Dark at Churchill Downs.
Racing
Identifying versatile sires can lead to lucrative payoffs
When a male racehorse enjoys success racing over a particular surface (dirt, turf, or synthetic), it’s easy to assume his progeny will follow suit. But sometimes they prove more versatile than expected.
Racing
How to bet With, and Against, Yesternight in the Dogwood Stakes
A well-matched field of nine sophomore fillies will vie in the $300,000 Dogwood S. (G3) at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Racing
When betting lightly raced juveniles, analyze the horses they’ve run against
When handicapping lightly raced juveniles who have only run one or two times, it’s helpful to examine the quality of horses they’ve competed against to get a feel for which runners are coming out of high-quality races.
Racing
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Maiden Watch: Private Desire posts fast win
Seven weeks out from the 2023 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, possible Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) contenders continue to emerge from maiden special weights around the country.
Racing
Betting Intelligence: Dea Matrona vs. Dazzling Star in Natalma Stakes
In an alternate universe, Dea Matrona might have been the Godolphin shipper in Saturday’s Natalma (G1) at Woodbine, rather than the one making her North American debut for Chad Brown.
Racing
When juveniles return from Royal Ascot, they’re often ready to win
It’s common to see American juveniles show promise when debuting stateside, fall to defeat at Royal Ascot, and then bounce back like nothing happened when they return to the United States.
Racing
Catching My Eye: Closing Day at Colonial Downs
Kevin Kilroy goes over horses of interest as he analyzes closing day at Colonial Downs.
Features
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2023
Dick Powell offers his selections and analysis for Wednesday's card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Racing Round Table: Thoughts on Tamara and turf racing
Following a busy weekend in Kentucky, Virginia, California, and Europe, James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson reflect on it all in this week's Racing Roundtable.
Racing
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Maiden Watch: Slider breaks through at Del Mar
At this time of year, you can usually count on at least one juvenile per week to deliver an exciting maiden victory. Last week, the excitement came courtesy of a bay colt named Slider.
Breeders Cup
Sunday Juvenile Stakes Plays for Kentucky Downs
A pair of $500,000 stakes races for two-year-olds will highlight the action at Kentucky Downs on Sunday.
Wagering
Stakes Spot Plays for Colonial Downs Sept. 9
A total of six stakes races on the green will take center stage during a big afternoon of action at Colonial Downs. Here are a trio of horses that I will be using on the fantastic card.
Wagering
Exotics Wagers for the Virginia Derby
A talented field of 11 three-year-olds will go 1 1/8 miles on the Colonial Downs lawn in Saturday’s $500,000 Virginia Derby (G3).
Wagering
When favorites are out of form, up-and-comers can surprise
An accomplished racehorse in subpar form can be vulnerable against up-and-coming but less accomplished rivals.
Racing
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Maiden Watch: Locked finishes fast at Saratoga
We won’t mince words: on Friday at Saratoga, Locked posted one of the most impressive maiden victories by any horse in the past few years.
Breeders Cup
How to bet the 2023 Spinaway Stakes
A fantastic field of 10 two-year-old fillies will run seven panels on the Saratoga main surface in Sunday’s $300,000 Spinaway S. (G1).
Wagering
How to bet With, and Against, Geaux Rocket Ride in the Pacific Classic
An outstanding field of 11, including a trio of fantastic sophomores, will vie in Saturday’s $1 million Pacific Classic S. (G1) at Del Mar.
Analysis
Saturday Stakes Selections for Colonial Downs
A handful of black-type events on the turf for the Virginians will highlight a big Saturday of racing at Colonial Downs.
Analysis
Catching My Eye: Closing Weekend at Ellis Park
These are names we know and it’s no surprise to see them saddle a big maiden-winner over closing weekend at Ellis Park.
Analysis
Racing Roundtable: Arcangelo, Echo Zulu, and rebound candidates from Travers weekend
James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson comment on what we learned from the Travers (G1) and other action from the weekend at Saratoga.
Racing
Improving horses can turn the tables on seemingly superior rivals
Just because one horse beats another the first time they face off doesn’t mean the outcome won’t be reversed in subsequent meetings. The history of horse racing is replete with examples.
Racing
Saratoga: Recent trends in Week 8 Saturday stakes
The eighth and final Saturday of the 2023 Saratoga season features three graded stakes, two of which are relatively new additions to the Spa calendar.
Analysis
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Maiden Watch: Fierceness stuns at Saratoga
Did we see the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner debut at Saratoga last Friday?
Breeders Cup
How to bet the Ellis Park Turf Stakes
A deep field of 11 fillies and mares will run 1 1/16 miles on the Ellis Park lawn in Sunday’s $125,000 Ellis Park Turf S.
Wagering
How to bet the Rancho Bernardo Handicap
A total of eight fillies and mares will travel 6 1/2 furlongs on the Del Mar dirt in Sunday’s $125,000 Rancho Bernardo H. (G3).
Wagering
Betting With, and Against, Anarchist in the Pat O'Brien Stakes
A deep field of 11 will travel seven-eighths on the Del Mar main strip in Saturday’s $250,000 Pat O’Brien S. (G2).
Wagering
Catching My Eye: Cox Bags Five Over the Weekend at Ellis
Cox racked up five more wins with nine starters, putting him at 18 wins and in position to win his fifth Ellis Park trainers' title since 2015.
Analysis
Horses debuting in stakes can win and pay nicely
Once in a while, you’ll see an unraced horse enter a stakes. You might assume an inexperienced first-time starter is overmatched against stakes-caliber rivals, but that isn’t always the case.
Education
Saratoga: Recent trends in Week 7 Saturday stakes
The biggest Saturday of the Saratoga season this week features five Grade 1 stakes, led by the $1.25 million Travers (G1).
Analysis
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, Aug. 21, 2023
Dick Powell gives his selections and analysis for Presque Isle Downs for Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. Find out more!
Wagering
Look for horses beaten by talented rivals; they can offer nice odds
In many horse races, there is a tendency among bettors to favor horses who enter in winning form. But a horse who ran well in defeat against a talented rival can be just as likely to factor.
Education
Catching My Eye: A Perfect Day for Brian Lynch
With a 10-race card including six stakes races on the dirt, this past Sunday at Ellis Park was set up for a great day of racing. The fields were stacked from top to bottom and the horses brought their best efforts resulting in thrilling finishes race after race. As a fan of the sport and a gambler, at one point all I could think was why is anyone watching or wagering on any other track?
Analysis
Training to Win: Graded Stakes race analyzation with James Scully [VIDEO]
Graded stakes are specialized races - the highest levels in Thoroughbred racing - and bettors have many factors to consider when handicapping.
Education
Saratoga: Recent trends in Week 6 Saturday stakes
Three-year-old fillies will be in the spotlight for the sixth Saturday of the Saratoga meet on Aug. 19. The time-honored $600,000 Alabama (G1) over 1 1/4 miles on the main track is the feature.
Analysis
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, Aug. 14, 2023
Dick Powell offers his selections and analysis for Monday's card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
When elite speed horses duel, consider the possibility one will falter
What happens when the two best horses in a race are pacesetters with lots of early speed? The answer isn’t always what you expect.
Education
Racing Roundtable: Forte, Elite Power underscore champion status
James Scully and Kellie Reilly weigh in on Forte's victory in the Jim Dandy (G2), weekend developments in the sprint division, and more.
Features
When betting with stats, make sure they're up to date
Bettors who employ statistics in their handicapping should ask themselves from time to time whether their favorite angles are still relevant, or if the data is telling a new story.
Education
Catching My Eye: Saratoga and Ellis Park July 28 - 31
Kevin Kilroy shares the performances at both Saratoga and Ellis Park that caught his eye this past weekend.
Analysis
Sometimes, it pays to excuse a disappointing first race
If a young horse disappoints when well-bet in their first start, it can pay to take a forgiving view of the performance and assume they’ll run better second-time out.
Education
Racing Roundtable: Haskell, CCA Oaks, and Nest
James Scully and Kellie Reilly opine on the major stakes action from the weekend in our latest Racing Roundtable.
Analysis
Catching My Eye: DeVaux scores Haskell undercard upset, Saratoga nail-biter
On Saturday over a 20-minute span, Cherie DeVaux sent out two upset winners in as exciting of races as you can find, as Shotgun Hottie took the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher S. on the Haskell undercard at Monmouth and Taking Candy nosed out two fellow three-year-old flyers in a salty first-level allowance across Saratoga’s inner turf.
Analysis
Unpredictable two-year-olds provide opportunities to beat favorites
Horseplayers should be careful betting on heavily favored two-year-olds, especially during the summer when early-maturing types with flashy form lines tackle tougher races.
Racing
Del Mar: Trends to know for the 2023 summer meet
Let’s dig into some data from recent Del Mar meets to find potentially valuable trainer, jockey, and track bias stats to keep in mind when handicapping this summer.
Wagering
Racing Roundtable: Saratoga upsets abound, Haskell preview
Ashley Anderson and James Scully gather at the Roundtable to discuss some stakes action from the opening week at Saratoga and provide their early thoughts for Saturday's $1 million Haskell S. (G1) at Monmouth Park.
Analysis
Two-year-old season overview: What to look for as the Breeders' Cup approaches
What’s the best way to analyze lightly raced juveniles and find winners as summer and fall progress toward the Breeders’ Cup? We’ve compiled a few tips to aid your handicapping:
Analysis
Why seemingly good trips can actually be bad
In horse racing, the simplest form of a “bad trip” is racing wide and losing ground against a rail-skimming rival. But on the other hand, saving ground doesn’t automatically constitute a good trip.
Analysis
Keeler Johnson's 2023 picks and plays midyear ROI report
We recently crossed the halfway point in 2023, which means it’s time for a midyear check on the performance of my daily Picks and Plays and carryover analysis columns for TwinSpires Edge.
Racing
Racing Roundtable: Belmont Derby and Oaks, Idiomatic
James Scully, Ashley Anderson, and Vance Hanson gather along the roundtable to discuss the results from a pair of Grade 1 turf events for three-year-olds, the Belmont Derby and Belmont Oaks, and Delaware H. (G2) winner Idiomatic's rise in the older female dirt division.
Analysis
Catching My Eye: The Asmussen Barn Storms Ellis Park
In 64 starts since the Churchill Downs meet moved over to Ellis Park on June 10, Amussen won 22 races (34%).
Analysis
When high-class horses lose off layoffs, betting opportunities can arise
When a high-profile racehorse suffers a defeat in their first run off a layoff, it’s tempting to forgive the misfire and assume they were a bit rusty. But that isn’t always the right betting strategy.
Analysis
Pedigree clues for juveniles in Bashford Manor, Debutante Stakes at Ellis Park
Sunday’s card at Ellis Park wraps up Stephen Foster weekend with five more stakes, including two for promising juveniles. Let’s look for pedigree clues in the Debutante S. and Bashford Manor S.
Pedigree
Betting intelligence: Stephen Foster Day at Ellis Park
Weather could be a major factor on the blockbuster Stephen Foster Day card at Ellis Park. If the stormy forecast verifies, we’re looking at a wet main track, and at best, a rain-affected turf course. With that in mind, here are contenders to consider beyond the obvious favorites.
Wagering
Final weekend of Ellis Park: Track profile, vulnerable favorites, and high impact jockeys
It’s the final week of the Churchill Downs meet at Ellis Park. Two trends have been present from the outset.
Analysis
Royal Ascot 2023: Top 10 takeaways
While the proliferation of longshots was a recurring theme of Royal Ascot 2023, there’s much more to be gleaned from the five action-packed days. Here’s my synthesis, in top 10 style.
Royal Ascot
Catching My Eye: Ellis Park June 22-25
This week on Catching My Eye, we’ll look to polish off a few efforts that maybe don't look so impressive on the page, but considering the track bias at Ellis Park, they were really valiant efforts.
Analysis
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