Last Sunday’s Grade III Springboard Mile, which was taken by Shoplifted, wrapped up the 2019 portion of the Road to the Kentucky Derby points races. The Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of 35 races from Sept. 14 this year through April 11 next year. These races award a sliding scale of points […]
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The tournament director sheepishly approached the podium, cleared his throat and adjusted the microphone, eliciting a screech of feedback in return. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s my duty to inform you and the handful of competitors still out on the course that, in an unprecedented occurrence, the leader in the clubhouse, somehow, has just registered a […]
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Bob Baffert, who won five races in a single day last Saturday at Los Alamitos, graduated from the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Baffert later continued his studies at WU. “WU?” you ask? Yes, WU…Whittingham University. In the 1990s, after Baffert switched from training Quarter […]
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Thanksgiving turkey gravy had hardly congealed when a mature man’s attention turned toward spring and the first Saturday in May. If you think late November is too early to begin analyzing that race’s outcome, you probably aren’t interested in the Kentucky Derby Future wager presented by Churchill Downs and available at Xpressbet. That’s how the […]
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Even though Tiz the Law was upset as a big favorite in last Saturday’s Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs, he nevertheless ended up being the 11-1 favorite among 22 individual horses in Pool One of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) that closed last Sunday. Next at 12-1 was Dennis’ Moment, […]
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Is every race won by the horse whose performance was the best? Any seasoned horseplayer can tell you that certainly is not the case. There are a great many examples in which the horse who ran the best race did not win. Take, for example, the recent Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita Park on Nov. […]
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Now that the Breeders’ Cup has come and gone, many racing fans are looking ahead and contemplating which horses stand a good chance to be honored with a 2019 Eclipse Award. This is the 49th year of the Eclipse Awards. Voting closes on Dec. 31. The 2019 recipients will be announced at Gulfstream Park early […]
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For two magnificent days, at the foot of the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains under warm Southern California sunshine, Santa Anita Park played the perfect Breeders’ Cup host. That’s not surprising. I love Santa Anita. Spent 30 years there, even lived in a condo on Huntington Avenue directly across from the track. Will always call it […]
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VENUE: Santa Anita Park on Nov. 1-2. Main Track: dirt, fast Friday and Saturday; Turf Course: firm Friday and Saturday. $6 MILLION CLASSIC (NOV. 2) Results: (1) Vino Rosso, who paid $11.20, (2) McKinzie, (3) Higher Power. Winner: Owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable; trained by Todd Pletcher; ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. […]
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This year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic lacks the marque names, but it offers a wide-open field with fantastic betting opportunities. Below is my analysis and betting strategy for the Classic. 1. Higher Power: (#7, 6-1): He is proven at the distance with a powerful win in the Pacific Classic and has the tactical speed to sit […]
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Omaha Beach will be an overwhelming favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, but he is not the only star attraction in this solid field. Below is my analysis and betting strategies for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. 1. Mr. Money (#4, 6-1) The last time he race at a mile, he was visually jaw-dropping. […]
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Breeders’ Cup Analysis & Picks Sometimes I need to be reminded of how beautiful Santa Anita really is. Mission accomplished. Here, at the foot of the majestic San Gabriel Mountains, racing has been regularly conducted, more or less, since Christmas Day 1934. It’s been a glorious run, highlighted by hosting racing’s biggest day […]
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The Turf Sprint is the most wide-open betting race during the entire Breeders’ Cup. There are many directions you can go, but make sure you demand value. Below is my analysis and betting strategies for the turf grab bag. 1. Stubbins (#5, 12-1): He has found his niche as a turf sprinter and continues to […]
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Post positions in the Filly and Mare Sprint may prove to be more important than any other Breeders’ Cup race. Favored Covfefe drawing the rail could change the whole complexion of this race. Below is my analysis and betting strategies for the Grade 1 affair. 1. Spiced Perfection (#9, 4-1): Overcame a disastrous trip to […]
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The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf is one of the most wide-open Breeders’ Cup races over the two days. Below is my analysis and betting strategies for the Grade 1 race which figures to be dominated on top by European invaders. 1. Albigna (#9, 9-2) Not only does she have arguably the most class in […]
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