Now that the calendars have been flipped over to July, it’s time for my list of the Top 10 performances by a Thoroughbred in the United States during the first half of 2020. When there were just a handful of tracks conducting live racing for several weeks earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, […]
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Saturday, Belmont serves up a graded stakes pick 4 feast racing fans and horseplayers should consume with delight. Portions aren’t overly generous—there are fields of 8-9-8-8 runners in races 8 through 11, respectively–but the quality is exceptional. Think fine dining versus all-you-can-eat buffet. Michelin stars not tires. The Grade 3 Poker pops the seal on […]
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Tiz the Law won the Belmont Stakes Saturday like a good thing should. He comfortably stalked the early pace, moved up effortlessly, responded when asked in the lane and drew off to win decisively. He was much the best against a less than stellar bunch and there’s little reason to expect any of those foes […]
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As a result of Tiz the Law’s emphatic triumph in last Saturday’s 152nd running of the Grade I Belmont Stakes, he solidified his position atop this week’s NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Poll. It was nearly unanimous. I think it should have been unanimous. Tiz the Law received 28 first-place votes last week, while Honor A.P. garnered […]
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Race 1 The Silver Wokingham Handicap – 6 Furlongs #3 Count D’orsay – likes to get his toe in, had a nice pipe-opener, and Tim Easterby is a past master with this sort of horse. #12 Woven an interesting one, too, at a nice price. Add #3 Magical wish to the mix at 10-1, given […]
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On any date, at any distance, we’re fortunate to have the Belmont Stakes this year. By the time the race is over, we may count ourselves fortunate in another aspect: We may get to see an eventual Triple Crown winner in action. We know, we know, it’s early, and if we do see a sweep […]
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Race 1 – The Palace of Holyrod house handicap – 5 furlongs #3 Golden Dragon 10-1 has some very good juvenile form. Probably a bit over-priced considering what he’s done. Same goes for #8 Classy Moon 15-1, who’s having his first run since being gelded. Race 2 – The G3 Albany 6 furlongs Wide-open looking […]
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This Sunday is Father’s Day. Not only that, it would have been my father’s 91st birthday if he had not passed away on June 1, 2017. I miss my dad so much. I do. My dad loved horse racing. He also loved baseball, basketball and football. But horse racing was his favorite sport. His love […]
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Race 1) The Silver Royal Hunt cup – 1 Mile on the straightaway #14 Salayal 12-1 — relatively unexposed, open to improvement, off a good weight, and trainer in good form. Add to that Nazeef won the Duke of Cambridge yesterday!!! Bit of a crap-shoot this race (divided Hunt Cup), though. #17 Maydanny 10-1 Crowley […]
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Many, as expected, perceived last Saturday’s Grade I Santa Anita Derby as a two-horse race between 1-2 favorite and 2-1 second betting choice Honor A.P. What happened? They did indeed run one-two. In Santa Anita’s Grade II San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 7, Authentic won by 2 1/4 lengths. […]
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Now we know why the Kentucky Derby traditionally is run on the first Saturday in May, the Preakness two Saturday’s later and the Belmont on the first Saturday in June. Because that’s how long most 3-year-old stars that have been most successful since Jan. 1 are ripest. And not a moment longer. We were […]
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Saturday is Derby Day. Ok, not that one. This derby will be in Arcadia, Ca, at Santa Anita instead of at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, KY. We’ve got to wait a bit longer for that showdown. At this point, as bat-excrement crazy as 2020 has been, we’ll settle for handicapping and wagering on any derby […]
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Is this Saturday’s Grade I Santa Anita Derby a two-horse race between Authentic and Honor A.P.? Many no doubt are going to see it that way. But viewing a race that way sometimes can backfire. CAUTION: There are times when neither horse wins what many perceive to be a two-horse race. One need only go […]
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Last week’s selection came up a bit short as Laura’s Light got a great trip sitting second and capitalized on the fast pace that Mike Smith set on Parkour to take home the Grade III honeymoon Stakes. Speaking of Mike Smith, he will be the jockey on this week’s play. I will head to the […]
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Last week, in this space we suggested horseplayers take a stand against heavily favored Maxfield in the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs. We were wrong. Get used to it. If you’re playing the horses, you’re going to be wrong way more often than you’re going to be right. Sports bettors need to back the […]
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