Three major Kentucky Derby prep races were contested Saturday and what we learned about this season’s crop could fill a…well…could fill a Kentucky Derby superfecta ticket. The Wood Memorial at Aqueduct featured an unbeaten favorite in the Chad Brown-trained Shagaf against seven foes, including second choice Outwork–a Todd Pletcher student and mere one-time loser […]
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Following his demolition of nine Xpressbet Florida Derby foes Saturday, Reddam Racing’s Nyquist now is unbeaten in seven lifetime starts and finally has vaulted to the head of the 2016 Kentucky Derby class. At this point, he is expected to be the favorite for that prestigious race on the first Saturday in May. That this […]
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Dave Joseph’s crack publicity staff at Gulfstream Park immediately followed Wednesday’s $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby post-position draw with a press release featuring quotes from several trainers with runners in the main event. As usual, horseplayers and fans alike ought to digest such hors d’oeuvres with a proverbial grain of salt. No trainer’s ever attempted […]
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I hate Dubai. Not the country, mind you, nor the people. I’ve never been, but the place looks amazing on the Internet—which, by the way, is how I travel these days. Not as stimulating as actually visiting a country, but it’s cheaper and safer. Dubai is home to Burj Khalifa—either the world’s tallest building or […]
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FIRST RACE (1:00 PT) – GRADE: B- Use: 1-Bully Pulpit; 3-Last One Standing; 6-Twirling Tiger #6 Twirling Tiger has plenty of experience – this will be his 13th lifetime start – but the son of Twirling Candy will be making his first appearance on grass and he’s bred to like it. Beaten in a pair […]
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There’s a $548,670 pick-six pot of gold carryover at the end of the St. Patrick’s Day rainbow Thursday at Santa Anita and horseplayers nationwide are going to need the luck of the Irish to earn shares of a total pool expected to kiss over $3 million. Double carryovers in California pick six pools always are […]
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FIRST RACE (1:00 PT) – GRADE: B- Use: 2-Kellianne Can Can; 5-Pico Chick The Thursday opener, a five-runner main track miler for $25,000 claiming 3-year-old fillies, should boil down to #5 Pico Chick and #2 Kellianne Can Can. Pico Chick is bred to handle a mile, and while her one prior attempt over a distance of […]
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Despite the thermometer’s somewhat effective protest–currently displaying a frosty 23 degrees–spring is in the air. How do I know? Because there’s no surer sign of spring’s imminent arrival than that distinctive crack when bat meets ball.
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1st race: The Saturday program begins with a six-runner $32,000 claiming sprint for 3-year-olds. #3 Nusret seems realistically spotted after winning a starter’s allowance race in gate-to-wire style earlier this month in a race that already has produced a next-out winner.
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It’s my turn, now. This season, eight previous hosts have done their best to defeat account holders in Xpressbet’s $100,000 Beat the Host competition. Some did very well–posting strong totals that showed profits or at least broke even.
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FIRST RACE (1:00 PT) – GRADE: C+ Use: 3-Spirit World; 4-Dirt in Your Face The Friday opener looks chalky as #3 Spirit World and #4 Dirt in Your Face, two-three finishers in a similar maiden $20,000 claiming miler last month, meet again under identical conditions.
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