Millie Ball, talented XBTV and Santa Anita simulcast personality, turned in a strong performance Saturday as the host-to-beat in Week 2 of Xpressbet’s Beat the Host competition. Ball impressively selected 5 winners in 10 races.   While Ball is based in SoCal and delivers post parade observations from Santa Anita on the track’s simulcast feed, […]

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Though it has been run only four times, Gulfstream Park’s Pegasus World Cup Invitational has firmly established itself as an important event on the American racing stage. It has become a prime early-year target.   This year’s 1 1/8-mile Pegasus will be held on Jan. 23. With a purse of $3 million, it is one […]

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Santa Anita Saturday Late Pick 4 Analysis   Welcome to 2021! The New Year and the horses are off and running at Santa Anita. Below is one man’s humble handicapping opinion regarding the last four races at Santa Anita Saturday. It’s an interesting collection of puzzles anchored by the second start for what appears to […]

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I first had the honor of voting for Eclipse Awards in 1976. My choice for Horse to the Year was Forego.   One of the greatest geldings of all time, Forego was elected Horse of the Year in 1974, 1975 and again in 1976.   Forego’s victory in the 1976 Marlboro Cup at Belmont Park […]

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No matter what you’re doing Saturday you’ve got to submit a ticket in Gulfstream’s Rainbow Six. It’s ‘mandatory.’ You know, as in ‘you have to do it.’ Why? Because it’s ‘mandatory.’   We thought we already made that clear.   What’s that, you want a reason? OK, here goes: There’s a giant Rainbow Six pot […]

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The Eclipse Awards were created in 1971 to recognize outstanding achievements in North America by Thoroughbreds and individuals.   The three organizations responsible for determining Eclipse Award recipients are the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters.   To help celebrate 50 years of the Eclipse Awards, the […]

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Last week, in this space, we analyzed Del Mar’s Saturday Late Pick 4 and suggested a $42 ticket that didn’t include first-leg winner #10 Bedrock at $28.80. The rest of the ticket was ‘cherry’ and used #5 Count Again $18.80; single #9 Colt Fiction $5.20 and #8 Domestic Spending $10.40. The winning combo returned $1,475.80 […]

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Inspired by Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW), which closed last Sunday, I have put together a very early Top 10 for the 2021 Run for the Roses. Here it is:   Essential Quality Life Is Good Highly Motivated Hot Rod Charlie Keepmeinmind Fire At Will Jackie’s Warrior Caddo River Mandaloun Dr. […]

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Thanksgiving. ‘Nuff said.   The word alone conjures feelings of warmth and images of plates heaping with delicious food: turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, apple pie ala mode (your images may vary); family and friends gathered around the table (pre COVID, of course) and football on the tube (three NFL games, although we’re […]

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Our horse racing fantasy league held its annual draft this past Monday. It’s called the Fantasy Stable League (FSL). Daily Racing Form handicapper Michael Hammersly started this league all the way back in 1986. I joined it in 1990 when I was working for the DRF. I have been the league’s commissioner since 2000.   […]

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Cup Half Empty When I reflect on the 2020 Breeders’ Cup, I definitely won’t see a Cup that’s ‘half full.’ This year count me firmly in the ‘half empty’ section. Better yet, if you’ve got a ‘Cup is half empty, cracked and leaking’ division, I’m there. The only saving grace from my 2020 BC experience […]

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VENUE: Keeneland on Nov. 6-7. Main Track: dirt, fast Friday and Saturday; Turf Course: good Friday and for Saturday’s BC Turf Sprint, firm for Saturday’s BC Filly & Mare Turf, BC Mile and BC Turf. $6 MILLION CLASSIC (NOV. 7) Results: (1) Authentic, who paid $10.40, (2) Improbable, (3) Global Campaign. Winner: Owned by Spendthrift […]

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Horse-by-Horse Classic & Complete BC Analysis The depth of talent is in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic is impressive. We’ve got two of the best 3-year-olds–Derby and Belmont winners—matched against three of the top-ranked older horses in the nation. In short, everyone who’s anyone is in here. That rarely happens. Knock on wood that this […]

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BREEDERS’ CUP SELECTIONS Xpressbet.com Column It’s Post Time by Jon White (Nov. 4, 2020) $1 MILLION JUVENILE TURF SPRINT (FRIDAY) 1. GOLDEN PAL (8-5 on the morning line) Believe he wins despite post 14; Ward praises him 2. BODENHEIMER (8-1) Lone loss by WA-bred came on soft ground 3. AFTER FIVE (6-1) Maiden by The […]

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One Week Out, Del Mar Pick 4 Analysis We’re approximately one week out from the 2020 Breeders’ Cup. And that’s not much time. Especially when you consider the amount of preparation required to analyze 201 pre-entered worldwide runners sandwiched into 14 races. So, what’s the best way to dig into early BC data for insight […]

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