With Saratoga and Del Mar closed down, the major Breeders’ Cup preps that will be offered this weekend will mostly occur in Ireland. Five ‘win and you’re in’ races will be run across the pond. Three will run at Leopardstown and 2 will be staged at the Curragh. The Willis Champions Juvenile Stakes winner will get […] More
With the Hopeful and Del Mar Futurity in the books, juveniles set sights on the Kentucky Derby right now. As it is every single year, the picture at this point is extremely fuzzy. First, let’s take a look at how the Hopeful Stakes juveniles did in relation to a future date in the Kentucky Derby. […] More
Everybody loves the big events but to be frank, equine claimers stir the drink day in and day out at every track in the country. I’ve never been a super aggressive Grade 1 kind of a handicapper. Over the decades, I have felt very comfortable to leave the big races to the opinioned writers who […] More
Shaman Ghost disappeared in the Woodward Stakes last Saturday at Saratoga but it was not easy. The James Jerkens student was mid-pack early, moved fourth at the top of the lane, but he powered home for the score. The way Shaman Ghost disappeared in the Woodward was not kind on the hearts of those that […] More
The Hopeful Stakes closes the curtain on the Saratoga stand on Monday and a progressing field of 7 will try to take that first step toward possible glory in next year’s Kentucky Derby. The Hopeful Stakes, aptly named because of what the future may bring, is a ‘win and you’re in’ part of the Breeders’ […] More
Six seek glory in the Del Mar Futurity as the winner will try to follow in the footsteps of the last pair of Del Mar Futurity heroes. American Pharoah took this fixture in 2014 and went on to win the Triple Crown and Nyquist won this race last year and eventually won the Kentucky Derby. […] More
‘Win and you’re in’ is part of how the drama unfolds as these prep races are designated as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. There are 16 ‘win and you’re in’ races in September and 3 are on tap this weekend. On Saturday, September 3 at Baden Baden in Germany, the ‘win and you’re in’ races […] More
The Del Mar Debutante highlights the weekend and fans are probably looking at a short and sweet field. The Del Mar Debutante is carded for 2-year-old fillies at 7 furlongs, offers a $300,000 purse and will feature stakes winner Champagne Room and American Pharoah’s full-sister American Cleopatra. American Gal is one of a number of […] More
Arrogate shocked the Travers Field at Saratoga last weekend and it just put an exclamation point on what a difference a year makes. Last year, Bob Baffert’s trainee American Pharoah tasted defeat in the $1.25 million mile and a quarter Travers, but last weekend Baffert saddled Arrogate. The way Arrogate shocked the field puts him in […] More
Trainer Chad Brown is sizzling and winning in bunches at Saratoga and his future is extremely bright. He grew up in northern New York and last week he celebrated his 1,000th training success. Brown is the leading conditioner at Saratoga currently. He has won with 34 of his 132 starters for a 26% clip and […] More
Thanks to 14 well-matched runners, the Travers Stakes highlights a stellar card at Saratoga on Saturday and bettors have tons of options. All of the races Saturday are loaded with quality. Pace always has, and always will, make the race, and this year’s $1.25 million mile and a quarter Travers Stakes is no different. Those that […] More
Face it, Flavien Prat is making all the right moves at Del Mar because he is an up-and-coming talented rider and not a flash in the pan. Through last Monday, Prat is the leader in the clubhouse at Del Mar. He has won with 28 of his 146 mounts so far and is ahead of the […] More
