Europe has dominated the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in recent years and 2017 should be no exception. The improving Masar (#6, 9/2) looks to be the best of a large contingent of Euros in this year’s race. He is proven to be effective going one mile and appears to favor firm turf, which he will […]
Read more
This year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile has more questions than answers. Is Mor Spirit (#6, 3-1) in the same form he was in when winning the Met Mile following a layoff and sketchy work pattern? Are Sharp Azteca (#3, 9/2), Practical Joke (#10, 6-1) and Awesome Slew (#5, 12-1) capable of winning a major race around two […]
Read more
The biggest question in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf is which Aidan O’Brien filly will win? September (#10, 6-1) is the less heralded of O’Brien’s two stars, but she may prove to be just as efficient in America as Happily (#2, 9/2). I urge everyone the take a look at September‘s last race. The chart comment of lacked room […]
Read more
– BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC (updated Oct. 29, 2017) ARROGATE (B. Baffert) GUN RUNNER (S. Asmussen) COLLECTED (B. Baffert) WEST COAST (B. Baffert) MUBTAAHIJ (B. Baffert) PAVEL (D. O’Neill) CHURCHILL (A. O’Brien) WAR DECREE (A. O’Brien) THE LATEST – Defending BC Classic winner Arrogate lost for the second straight time when upset by stable mate Collected in the $1 million Pacific Classic-G1 Aug. 19, but performed much closer […]
Read more
For the last few weeks, this space has been dedicated to handicapping discussions regarding the fast approaching Breeders’ Cup. Well, that train has just about reached the station. And, if you haven’t already attempted to unravel any of the 13 mysteries masquerading as Breeders’ Cup events, what are you waiting for? While we don’t know […]
Read more
Now is the time for all good men (and women) to prepare for Breeders’ Cup. I hear you, BC Friday is two weeks away. What’s the rush? Well, you go right ahead and procrastinate. Wait until the night before to crack open Friday BC past performances. Then spend the day playing the races. And then […]
Read more
Horseplayers with sights set on cashing lucrative tickets during Breeders’ Cup—Friday, Nov. 3 & Saturday, Nov. 4 at Del Mar—now have seen just about all expected starters compete in final afternoon action. In other words, with most precincts reporting we can attempt to predict Breeders’ Cup race results. However, as we all learned on an […]
Read more
Bolt d’Oro is said to have been named after the great sprinter Usain Bolt. But in last Saturday’s FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita, Bolt d’Oro showed everyone he certainly is not just a sprinter. Going farther than seven furlongs for the first time, Bolt d’Oro kept his unblemished record intact by registering a 7 3/4-length […]
Read more
That old saw about how mice frolic when felines are on holiday would be a partially accurate description of what occurred (or didn’t occur) this past weekend in coast-to-coast graded stakes races. It’s also a coming attraction of what will happen this weekend, too, in major races nationwide. You see, this season, much more so […]
Read more
A year after Arrogate, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has another big-time late-blooming 3-year-old. Arrogate began 2016 as an unraced maiden and put together a strong campaign during the second half of 2016 in a meteoric rise to superstardom. In his stakes debut, he won the Grade I Travers Stakes by 13 1/2 lengths […]
Read more
The three top-ranked Thoroughbreds in the land are headed for a dramatic showdown in this year’s $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 4. No wonder racing enthusiasts are eagerly looking forward to that particular Grade I event, which will be decided at 1 1/4 miles on the dirt. Gun Runner, Arrogate […]
Read more
Horseplayers routinely ‘review as preview.’ That is they analyze what’s happened in the past in order to predict what might happen in the future. Prognostication is so at the heart of the game–for owners, trainers and jockeys, too– that along with racing licenses they ought to hand out crystal balls. Perhaps, the game’s only contributors […]
Read more
It’s over. Results are in. Finally. The matter settled by a dirt-flying race that culminated in a photo finish accompanied by tears, cheers, exaltation and despair. Afterwards, candidates and respective camps celebrate, wring hands, lick wounds and, most importantly, plan for future campaigns. Breeders’ Cup 2016 is in the books! Gotcha! You assumed I was […]
Read more
While Lady Eli (#8, 5-2) is everyone’s sentimental pick, Seventh Heaven, (#3, 3-1) appears to be the horse to bet in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She loves a firm turf and has thrived on left-handed courses. She defeated the mighty Found with ease two starts back and only a horrendous trip in […]
Read more
Noted and Quoted (#10, 9-2) looked like a brand new horse in the morning after traveling from Del Mar to Santa Anita Park prior to Chandelier Stakes. She transferred her strong morning workouts over Santa Anita’s dirt to afternoon success when winning the Chandelier. She has worked very well since, further proving the notion that […]
Read more