Will presumptive 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go conclude his racing career by registering his fifth straight victory? Can Life Is Good get the job done when racing farther than 1 1/16 miles for the first time? Who is going to get the early lead, Knicks Go or Life Is Good? […]
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Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Pappacap, who is ranked No. 4 on my Kentucky Derby Top 10 list, makes his 2022 debut this Saturday (Jan. 22) in Fair Grounds’ Grade III Lecomte Stakes. The 1 1/16-mile affair has enticed a field of nine. Pappacap is the 8-5 favorite on Mike Diliberto’s morning line. […]
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As the kick-off of the winter-spring Santa Anita Park meeting on Dec. 26 approaches, I was inspired to put together a list of some — just some — of my many favorite races that I’ve seen at Santa Anita through the years. They are listed below in chronological order: FEBRUARY 20, 1977 — SAN […]
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In what will be the final big day of racing in New York this year, Aqueduct presents a 10-race card this Saturday topped by the Grade I Cigar Mile. The $750,000 Cigar Mile is named in honor of the 1995-96 Horse of the Year and 2002 Hall of Fame inductee. This year’s renewal has […]
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$1 MILLION JUVENILE TURF SPRINT (FRIDAY) AVERLY JANE (5-2 on my official BC morning line) Undefeated filly with 4 wins by combined 22 1/4 lengths ONE TIMER (4-1) Undefeated gelding with 3 wins by combined 17 lengths TWILIGHT JET (15-1) Drew rail (morning line made before post-position draw) Nice-price danger: TIME […]
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Pre-entries for all 14 of this year’s Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar on Nov. 5-6 have been announced. This will be the 38th Breeders’ Cup, which was launched at Hollywood Park in 1984. Del Mar, known as the track “where the turf meets the surf,” is playing host to the equine extravaganza for […]
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The 2021 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar is fast approaching. With that in mind, it’s interesting to examine the history of the Beyer Speed Figures for the richest of the 14 Breeders’ Cup races, the $6 million Classic. Sunday Silence and Ghostzapper share the distinction of having achieved the top Beyer Speed Figure in […]
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The 38th annual Breeders’ Cup, a 14-race extravaganza topped by the $6 million Classic, will be held at Del Mar on Nov. 5-6. I, like many others, am looking forward to seeing what happens in the $2 million BC Juvenile, a 1 1/16-mile race on the main track for 2-year-olds. No doubt many […]
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The 2021 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 5-6 is just around the corner. As Del Mar’s morning-line oddsmaker, I thought this would be a good time to come up with a list of early odds for the $6 million BC Classic. Of course, the actual field for the Grade I BC Classic […]
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In light of his stellar performance in last Saturday’s $1 million Pennsylvania Derby, Hot Rod Charlie should be taken very seriously when he makes his next start in the Grade I, $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 6. Ridden by Flavien Prat and trained by Doug O’Neill, Hot Rod Charlie […]
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It’s hard for me to believe that 31 years have passed since I called the official race chart for the inaugural running of the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Best Pal won the 1 1/4-mile event by one length in 1:59 4/5. The California-bred gelding not only defeated his elders that day, he broke […]
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There certainly is a lot to unpack regarding last Saturday’s $1 million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. Jockey Paco Lopez was abruptly unseated from Midnight Bourbon during the stretch drive. Hot Rod Charlie and Mandaloun then proceeded to battle furiously all the way to a head-bobbing finish. Hot Rod Charlie beat Mandaloun by a […]
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The $1 million Haskell Stakes, premier race of the 2020 Monmouth Park meet, has attracted a field of seven to do battle at 1 1/8 miles. Louisiana Derby winner and Belmont Stakes runner-up Hot Rod Charlie has been installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the Grade I event. When I have attempted […]
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In a horseracingnation.com story written by Carolyn Greer, nine currently are listed as either probable or possible for Monmouth Park’s Grade I Haskell Stakes. The $1 million event will be contested at 1 1/8 miles on July 17. Missing from the list of candidates is Medina Spirit, who finished first in the Grade I […]
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Going all the way back to 2004, I have come up with my list of the Top 10 performances by a Thoroughbred in the United States during the first half of the year for Xpressbet.com. Starting on New Year’s Day, I keep an eye out for a performance that I deem a possibility for […]
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