A “happy, fresh, and full of himself” Knicks Go will defend his Pegasus World Cup Invitational title Saturday on the rail as the 6/5 morning-line favorite. That’s the result of Tuesday’s post-position draw for the $3 million Grade 1 event. The presumptive favorite to be named Horse of the Year […]
Tag: horse racing
Can This Pegasus Trip Be What Belmont Champ Sir Winston Needs?
One trip abroad nearly cost Sir Winston his career. Another trip abroad saved it. And now, the 2019 Belmont Stakes winner comes into Saturday’s $3 million Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational as a mature, fresh 6-year-old. His trainer, Mark Casse, thinks the son of Awesome Again could be awesome […]
Judge Tosses Baffert Suit Against NYRA, Suspension Hearing Forthcoming
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s lawsuit against the New York Racing Association was dismissed Friday, clearing the way for his pre-suspension hearing from the organization to go forward. Judge Carol Bagley Amon of the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York threw out Baffert’s attempt to […]
Derby Points Leader Pappacap Finds Epicenter in the Lecomte Stakes
The Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes gives you current Kentucky Derby points leader Pappacap. It gives you one of the most exciting 3-year-olds in the country, Epicenter. And it gives you recent alumni Triple Crown success. The 1 1/16-mile Lecomte also gives you Derby preps for the first time in three […]
Cue Round Six for Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon in Louisiana Stakes
The Louisiana Stakes, starring Mandaloun vs. Midnight Bourbon, sounds like deja vu all over again. And again. And again. And again. And, yes, again. This latest duel — the sixth between the newly minted 4-year-olds and 2021 Triple Crown rivals — returns the pair to Fair Grounds and the $150,000 […]
Few Surprises Revealed as Eclipse Award Finalists Announced
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, National Turf Writers and Broadcasters, and the Daily Racing Form announced the finalists for the 2021 Eclipse Awards on Saturday. The list of finalists did not include Horse of the Year candidates, for which Knicks Go is a virtual certainty. Instead, finalists in 16 of […]
NYRA Bringing Back Historic Wilson Chute to Saratoga Race Course
The New York Racing Association (announced plans to return the Wilson Chute, one of Saratoga Race Course’s historic racing landmarks for the 2022 summer meet. Restoration of the Wilson Chute will allow the NYRA to write one-mile dirt races on Saratoga’s main track. The Wilson Chute hasn’t been used since […]
Top Prospect Jack Christopher Questionable for Kentucky Derby
Trainer Chad Brown told the Thoroughbred Daily News that his star 3-year-old, Jack Christopher, may not be ready for the Kentucky Derby. If Jack Christopher can’t answer the bell for the prep season, this would remove one of the current front-rank horses from the May 7 Derby. He’s currently the […]
One Bettor Cracks Gulfstream Park’s Rainbow 6 Puzzle for $1.2 Million
One lucky/sagacious – depending on your perspective – bettor solved Gulfstream Park’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 Friday for more than $1.2 million courtesy of one of the longest shots in the field: Canelo. The 4-year-old gelding was making only his second career start in Friday’s 10th race, coming off a Dec. […]
Consistent, but Rusty, Gelding Largent Returns for Tropical Turf
Largent comes into today’s Grade 3 Tropical Turf at Gulfstream Park with name recognition, not just from his namesake – Hall of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent – but from his track deeds. He comes in never having missed the exacta in 10 career races. And he comes in with […]
FOX Sports Signs Eight-Year Agreement to Broadcast Belmont Stakes
FOX Sports and the New York Racing Association announced Wednesday that the network now owns the exclusive media rights to one of the jewels of the Triple Crown. FOX Sports acquired the exclusive media rights to the Belmont Stakes beginning in 2023. The eight-year agreement with the New York Racing […]
Gulfstream Park’s Wednesday Pick 6 Jackpot Pool Hits $1.1 Million
Gulfstream Park has wasted little time in presenting horseplayers with the year’s first seven-figure betting opportunity, offering a $1.1 million gross jackpot pool on its 20-cent Rainbow Pick 6 for Wednesday’s nine-race card. Being a jackpot wager, the Rainbow Pick 6 is paid out when a bettor holds the lone […]
Champion Sprinter Gamine Retired Mere Days Into Her 5-Year-Old Season
Gamine, the incomparable sprinter who is among the fastest runners this century, was retired Monday, according to a release from her owner, Pandora jewelry baron Michael Lund Petersen. Through a representative, Petersen announced the now-5-year-old mare will reside at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Kentucky. With a 9-0-1 record and […]
Preakness Champion Rombauer Retired After Chronic Ankle Injuries
Rombauer, who shocked the racing world when he captured the 2021 Preakness Stakes, was retired from racing on Monday, prematurely ending one of the more eclectic racing stories of 2021. According to the Daily Racing Form, which received a release from Rombauer’s owner, John Fradkin, the colt suffered a training […]
Jerome’s Top Three Finishers Come Out Ready for Next Big A Derby Prep
Seeing enough in their charges coming out of Saturday’s Listed Jerome Stakes, all three trainers of the top three finishers, Courvoisier, Smarten Up, and Cooke Creek, plan running their colts in Aqueduct’s next Kentucky Derby prep, the Grade 3 Withers Stakes. That 1 1/8-mile prep, set for Feb. 5 at […]
Flavien Prat Bids Himself ‘Happy New Year’ With Six Victories — Again
John Velazquez went to Santa Anita Park on New Year’s Day with a six-race lead over Flavien Prat on the Santa Anita Park jockey standings. When he left the track on Saturday evening, that lead was cut down to one. For the third time in as many years, Prat won […]
Smarty Jones Winner Dash Attack Gives McPeek a Pleasant Problem
Kenny McPeek has what you call a Kentucky Derby embarrassment of riches coming courtesy of Dash Attack, who won Saturday’s Listed Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park. And the dynamic trainer is still trying to put the talented pieces together. That’s because, on Saturday, McPeek added another piece to an […]
As Time Goes By Blows By Her La Canada Rivals; Elusive Grade 1 Up Next
With trainer Bob Baffert 10 miles down the road attending the Rose Bowl, his mare As Time Goes By went by her competition by 13 ½ lengths, winning the Grade 3 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita Park in dominant fashion. As Time Goes By proved she didn’t need Baffert […]
When it Comes to the Derby, Nothing Phony About These Sham Stakes
Unlike many of its early Kentucky Derby prep predecessors, Saturday’s Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park brings the recent Derby chops with it. How recent? How about the last two Derby champions? The one-mile Sham, which offers 10-4-2-1 Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers, gave you […]
Oaklawn’s Smarty Jones Packs In, Sends Out a Record-Sized Field
Whichever candidate wins Saturday’s Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park will get themselves a dress rehearsal for the Kentucky Derby and its cavalry-charge-sized field. Because, barring any scratches, the Smarty Jones will send out the largest field in event history with 14 horses. The one-mile Smarty Jones, the first of […]