Youngsters are primed for the Southwest Stakes Monday at Oaklawn Park and the President’s Day headliner has lured a full and lucky cast of 13. Four have won stakes and a number have been stakes placed. The $500,000 Grade 3 mile and a sixteenth Southwest Stakes has been a good gauge over the years. The […] More
Oaklawn Park claimers are coveted this meeting for a number of reasons but one of them is that there is some back class to build on. Jet Over has bounced around to a few barns but he has been a wanted commodity. He was claimed from Robertino Diodoro for $7,500 by Karl Broberg in January […] More
The El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Saturday is contentious and the winner will put 10 points in his pocket on his way to possibly starting in the Kentucky Derby. The Grade 3 nine-furlong fixture will be run on the synthetic surface and the $200,000 test has options for bettors. This race has not […] More
Like many in the horseracing industry, trainer Todd Pletcher was pretty much born into the sport and is far from an overnight sensation. He started working for his father, Jake, as a hot walker when he was just seven years of age. Todd Pletcher continued his love affair with horses throughout high school. In the […] More
McCraken set a track record in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Saturday and he stamped himself as a legitimate player in the Kentucky Derby lottery. The Grade 3 mile and a sixteenth Sam Davis serves as a stepping stone to the Tampa Bay Derby and those that excel in these races have a […] More
Tapit has untapped potential and that is saying a lot considering he has been America’s leading sire the last 3 years. One of the reasons that Tapit has untapped potential is the way he came to being and his parentage. Tapit is by Pulpit, who was a multiple Grade 2 winning runner having won the […] More
The Sam Davis Stakes earns the spotlight Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs and Kentucky Derby dreamers will be looking to earn 10 points toward qualifying for the classic. This is an early prep for the Kentucky Derby but maybe more importantly, it’s a springboard to the Tampa Bay Derby. Five have exited the Grade 3 […] More
Jorge Navarro wins races in bunches and he basically has been doing it since he took out his racing license. Jorge Navarro is not your normal overnight success. He gained useful knowledge from his stepfather, long-time Florida trainer Julian Canet, who won the 1996 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs back in the day […] More
There are several clever handicapping ways to succeed in horseracing and when it gets down to the nitty gritty, it’s all about what works for you. All betting theories don’t use the same tools to get where they are going. Racing fans generally don’t bet alike or don’t handicap alike but all have some semblance […] More
Kentucky Derby hopefuls were advancing over the weekend with wins in the Wither Stakes, the Holy Bull Stakes and the Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Which ones will go on is unknown at this time but there were clearly some questions answered around the country on February 4. El Areeb, Irish War Cry and Royal Mo […] More
The Robert Lewis Stakes enticed five at Santa Anita on Saturday and the winner will take that needed step toward the Kentucky Derby. He will also earn 10 qualifying points toward that goal. Officially called the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, this mile and a sixteenth event is named for Bob Baffert’s prominent now deceased owner […] More
Classic Empire tops the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday but he sure didn’t scare anybody away. Classic Empire has eight rivals in the $350,000 Grade 2 mile and a sixteenth feature with 62% of the purse going to the winning owner. This race is named for a true superstar. Holy Bull was […] More
