Horseplayers seeking a trend that’s their friend can look no further than the newest course in North America: Gulfstream Park’s just-installed Tapeta track. And they need look no further at the betting window than their friendly closer. Over the first two weeks of racing on Gulfstream’s new all-weather track, closers […]
Tag: horse racing
But Wait … There’s More Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Races in the UK
The Breeders’ Cup added two final Challenge Series races on Tuesday, giving “Win and You’re In†berths to the winners of Saturday’s Champion Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at England’s Ascot Racecourse. Those two races are part of British Champions Day, one of the richest days in British racing, […]
Following Sea’s Vosburgh Victory Gives Pletcher Enviable Options
Even as he reveled in Following Sea’s gate-to-wire victory in Saturday’s six-furlong Grade 2 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park, trainer Todd Pletcher said he planned lengthier travels for his 3-year-old. “He’s a very talented horse and trains very impressively. He’s also galloped out in a fashion that would indicate he […]
Letruska Looms Large and in Charge Over Her Spinster Stakes Rivals
When it comes to running against Letruska, Kenny McPeek – who sends Envoutante against the standout mare in Sunday’s Grade 1 Spinster — summed up the frustration he and his fellow trainers face. “That’s the thing,†McPeek told the Daily Racing Form. “If you try to run with her early, […]
Gulfstream Park Adds New Pegasus Race to Championship Meet
Gulfstream Park added a new Grade 3 race to its 2021-22 Championship Meet stakes schedule, introducing the $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf to its announced stakes slate. The Florida track’s primary meet in its year-round schedule opens Dec. 3 and runs through April 3, 2022. It features 76 stakes […]
Breeders’ Cup Challenge Pick 6 Wager Returns With Some Familiar Names
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Pick 6 wager returns Saturday, incorporating Keeneland’s opening weekend with Belmont Park to create an intriguing handicapping puzzle featuring familiar names. This is the second version of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Pick 6, which mandates bettors pick winners from each of six Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series […]
Is Another Upset In Store for Order of Australia’s Keeneland Return?
It took two horses dropping out to get Order of Australia into the Breeders’ Cup Mile last fall. Then, once he was in the then-3-year-old son of Australia went off at a dismissive 73/1. A tick over 93 seconds later, bettors holding Order of Australia win tickets weren’t dismissive. Not […]
Deep Alcibiades Goes a Long Way Defining Who is the Top Juvenile Filly
Last year, Kenny McPeek watched Simply Ravishing and Crazy Beautiful turn in stunning performances in the Alcibiades at Keeneland. That he watched his 2-year-old duo go 1-2 in the Grade 1 race while at Pimlico was a minor annoyance. McPeek, like everyone else coping with the pandemic, could handle minor […]
Consistent Casher Gufo Goes for Third Grade 1 Win in Joe Hirsch
There’s Gufo, who hasn’t missed the board in 12 career starts. There’s Japan, one of his rivals, who ships in from Europe for another crack at Gufo. And there’s Arklow and Channel Maker, who combined to win the last three editions of the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. It’s […]
Baffert Makes Santa Anita Park His Personal Playground — Again
Two weeks ago, Bob Baffert made what appeared to be a head-scratching decision, keeping star 3-year-olds Medina Spirit and Private Mission home in California. That, instead of running the pair against their age group rivals in Parx Racing’s two marquee races, the Pennsylvania Derby and the Cotillion. And yet again, […]
Echo Zulu Becomes Code for ‘Best Juvenile Filly’ After Frizette Romp
Unlike her 2-year-old male counterparts, who were slugging it out on both coasts on Saturday, Echo Zulu left no doubt as ti who the best juvenile filly in the country is right now. This statement came in Sunday’s Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park where she dismissed her rivals […]
Awesome Again Pits ‘Youngster’ Medina Spirit Against His Elders
Medina Spirit is considered one of the “kids†in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes, a change in status from what his consideration would have been, had he run in last week’s Pennsylvania Derby. From one of the fellow 3-year-olds in that race, to one of the kids in Saturday’s […]
Woodward Stakes Returns to Belmont Park With Wide Open Field
The Grade 1 Woodward Stakes returns to Belmont Park for the first time since 2005, bringing with it a field full of intriguing characters at varying points in their careers. And all seeking validation for where they are in those varying points. One of two Grade 1s on Belmont Park’s […]
Champagne Stakes Bubbles With Four Legitimate Juvenile Contenders
The Grade 1 Champagne Stakes predates the Kentucky Derby by eight years. In fact, the one mile juvenile test that sets the early bar for Derby prospects appeared only two years after the Civil War ended. Derby preps have to get their momentum somewhere, which is where the Champagne pours forth. Saturday’s test […]
Standout Miler Mo Forza Likely the Best Turf Horse Under Your Radar
Mo Forza built himself quite the career running under your radar. One of the best turf milers in the country – or the world, according to trainer Peter Miller – is also one of the best horses you’ve probably never bet. If you have, you’re undoubtedly relishing the windfall this […]
Is the Inaugural Lukas Classic an Impromptu Knicks Go Workout?
Knicks Go is back in his Churchill Downs stall, coming in off a resounding victory in one of the biggest older-horse races in the country. And he’s running against a familiar crew of competent, but hardly imposing, rivals. As Breeders’ Cup Classic tune-ups go, this one couldn’t come on a […]
Keeneland Gets Deep in the Grass with New Pick 3 Wager
Before its Fall Meet begins next Friday, Keeneland unveiled a wagering menu that features new contests and a twist on the Pick 3 – the Keeneland Turf Pick 3. The Keeneland Turf Pick 3 requires that bettors pick the winners of Keeneland’s final three turf races each day. It comes […]
Idol Worship: Big ‘Cap Winner Returns for Awesome Again Stakes
The last time we saw Idol, he was literally catching a Train – Express Train – who Idol ran down and passed just before crossing the wire of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap. That half-length victory in one of the California track’s flagship events came on March 6, nearly […]
Chicago Bears Enter Agreement to Buy Arlington Park From CDI
Four days after the gate went up on Arlington Park’s final race, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced it signed an agreement to sell the storied race track to the Chicago Bears. The story was first reported Tuesday evening by The Athletic. Under the Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA), the Bears will […]
Inaugural Breeders’ Cup Challenge Pick 6 Gives Bettors Their Challenge
The New York Racing Association is adding a Pick 6 with a twist this weekend, playing host to the inaugural two-day Breeders’ Cup Challenge Pick 6 that features six races from the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. All six races coming to bettors from Belmont Park and Santa Anita Park are […]