At one point down the Churchill Downs backstretch in the 2022 Kentucky Derby, Charge It put himself in seventh place, working his way into a semblance of daylight in the free-for-all pack that is a 20-horse modern Derby. But when jockey Luis Saez asked for more coming out of the […]
Tag: horse racing
Churchill Downs All-Stakes Pick 5 Features Eclectic, Familiar Names
A veritable all-star roster of eclectic talent that includes a Kentucky Derby winner, a Kentucky Oaks winner, a Breeders’ Cup Sprint victor, and a true horse for course highlight Churchill Downs’ Saturday All-Stakes Pick 5. The All-Stakes Pick 5 wager encompasses all five of the Twin Spires’ stakes races on […]
Life Is Good, Speaker’s Corner Both Have Something to Prove in Nerud
It took a slow track and a trek halfway around the world to keep Life Is Good off the board in his last outing, and it took a superhorse to keep Speaker’s Corner out of the winner’s circle in his last race. Now, both standout colts seek to get back […]
Ce Ce Returns to Princess Rooney Seeking Another Coronation
The Grade 2 Princess Rooney Invitational played a key role in Ce Ce’s coronation as Champion Female Sprinter last year. And the marquee race on Gulfstream Park’s Summit of Speed card provides the perfect setting for the versatile mare to defend her title. Saturday’s $300K Princess Rooney is a seven-furlong […]
Churchill Downs Cancels Turf Racing for Duration of Spring Meet
Citing more problems from its new turf course, Churchill Downs officials suspended racing on the Matt Winn Turf Course for the track’s closing weekend. The decision cancels the Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes and sends three other stakes originally carded for the turf course to the main dirt track. Those […]
Drain the Clock Running Toward Good Vibes at Smile Sprint
The Grade 3 Smile Sprint is a race Drain the Clock needs right about now. A nice, low-pressure graded stakes race that should allow him to rebuild his confidence in familiar surroundings. Those surroundings are Gulfstream Park, where the six-furlong Smile Sprint is one of the featured races on Gulfstream’s Summit […]
Baffert May Pick Up Sophomore Mantle at Familiar Spot
The Haskell Stakes and Bob Baffert have become so synonymous that the Hall of Fame trainer has nine Haskell titles on his mantle. And with his suspension ending this Sunday, Baffert may send one or more horses in his quest for Haskell title No. 10. The Asbury Park Press reported […]
Monmouth Park Offers $1 Million, Just Win Haskell, Travers, BC Classic
For the third straight year, Monmouth Park offers a $1 million bonus to the connections of any horse who sweeps three of the biggest races remaining on the 2022 racing calendar. All you have to do is win the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes, the Grade 1 Travers Stakes and the […]
Gerrymander Carves Out Her Spot Among the Top Sophomore Fillies
As if this year’s 3-year-old filly class wasn’t already loaded with talent, now you can add Gerrymander to the list of first-row sophomores who bear attention every time they enter a starting gate. In case you needed more proof that the likes of Secret Oath, Nest (more on her in […]
Ohio Derby Provides Derby Disappointments Redemption Opportunity
The Grade 3 Ohio Derby takes its turn in the racing spotlight at an ideal time, fitting in after the Triple Crown and before the lucrative Del Mar and Saratoga meets begin in mid-July. And it does so carrying three Kentucky Derby veterans making their first starts since that May […]
Keeneland Ups Its Stakes Game for Fall Meet with Record $8.75 Million in Stakes Purses
With the Breeders’ Cup serving as rich icing on the cake, Keeneland announced a record $8.75 million in stakes purses during its Oct. 7-29 Fall Meet. Of Keeneland’s 22 stakes, nine of those are Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series events. The track plays host to the Breeders’ […]
Three-Member NYRA Panel Suspends Bob Baffert Until January
After taking two months to review its hearing report, the New York Racing Association suspended trainer Bob Baffert for 365 calendar days, effective immediately. The three-person hearing panel that reviewed Judge O. Peter Sherwood’s 50-page report from the April hearing credits Baffert with 59 days served. That came via NYRA’s […]
Bell’s the One, Sconsin Renew Rivalry in Relocated Chicago Stakes
By renewing their established rivalry, Bell’s the One and Sconsin double-handedly turned Saturday’s Grade 3 Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs into one of the weekend’s most intriguing races. The seven-furlong Chicago also offers up Grade 1 winner Kalypso, who finds herself relegated to the chorus against her elders. The Grade […]
Canterbury Park Gets Mystic with Northern Stars Turf Festival
The center of the horse racing universe will migrate north to Minnesota’s Canterbury Park on Wednesday, where the annual Mystic Lake Northern Stars Turf Festival offers five stakes and a rich smorgasbord of betting options. Those options include an all-turf stakes Pick 5 that offers an industry-low 10% takeout. That […]
A Royal Flush at Royal Ascot: Two Bettors Hit All Seven Races
The odds of hitting all seven races on last Friday’s Royal Ascot card were 122,889/1, according to William Hill. And yet, two horseplayers on opposite ends of the world managed to beat those odds and hit the improbable wager. And both did it in proverbial lottery fashion. An English bettor […]
Santa Anita Park Enjoys Safest Winter/Spring Meet in its History
Santa Anita Park ended its six-month Winter/Spring Meet as the safest racetrack in North America among its large-track peers, with three racing fatalities from more than 4,800 starters during the just-completed 76-day meet. Only four years removed from a nightmarish season in which 30 horses died during racing or training, […]
Record Performances Headline Santa Anita Park’s Winter/Spring Meet
A training record for Phil D’Amato, a breakout riding season for Juan Hernandez, and a memorable first stakes win for the incomparable Flightline highlighted Santa Anita Park’s 2021-22 Winter/Spring Meet. The iconic Southern California track finished its 76-day meet Sunday with an 11-race card featuring three stakes races. One of […]
Santa Anita Ends Long Meet with $3 Million Closing Day Rainbow Six
Santa Anita Park sends its 2021-22 Winter/Spring Meet into the history books on Sunday with a Rainbow Six pool expected to hit $3 million. The 20-cent Single Ticket Rainbow Pick Six comes with a mandatory payout on the Southern California track’s closing day. With that closing day, mandatory payouts come […]
Moore, O’Brien, Godolphin Capture Royal Ascot Titles, Ward Blanked
Three very familiar names: Ryan Moore, Aidan O’Brien and Godolphin, wrapped up their respective titles as Royal Ascot wrapped up its 2022 meet Saturday. Godolphin’s successful defense of its owner title came after the Saudi monolith tied Coolmore with five wins each. But Godolphin notched three runners-up to Coolmore’s one. […]
Two Doug O’Neill Juveniles Provide Hopeful Glimpse Into Next Spring
Horseplayers looking for a sneak peek at some potential 2023 Kentucky Derby prospects and one Kentucky Oaks prospect need look no further than Santa Anita Park’s 11th race Saturday, where you’ll find Doug O’Neill charges Tahoma and Absolutely Zero. It won’t take much effort to find the pair. They’re the […]