Horse Racing

Gerrymander's three-length victory in Saturday's Grade 2 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park established her as a 3-year-old filly to watch going forward. (Image: Coglianese Photos)

Gerrymander Carves Out Her Spot Among the Top Sophomore Fillies

- 3 min read

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 […]

UAE Oaks and 1,000 Guineas winner Shahama seeks to return to the winner's circle after a sixth in the Kentucky Oaks. She is one of the fillies to watch in the Grade 2 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park. (Image: Coady Photography)

Cross Country Pick 5 Takes an All-Stakes Trip to Four Tracks

- 3 min read

This week’s Cross Country Pick 5 truly makes the East Coast and Midwest rounds, hitting four tracks with an all-stakes sequence culminating in a wide-open Ohio Derby. Along with that second of two races from JACK Thistledown, this week’s Cross Country Pick 5 encompasses races from Belmont Park, Monmouth Park […]

Tawny Port, seen here working out two days before he finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby is the 3/1 morning line favorite for Saturday's Grade 3 Ohio Derby at JACK Thistledown. (Image: Coady Photography)

Ohio Derby Provides Derby Disappointments Redemption Opportunity

- 3 min read

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 […]

A NYRA three-member panel suspended Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert until the end of January. (Image: Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo)

Three-Member NYRA Panel Suspends Bob Baffert Until January

- 3 min read

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 (L) and Sconsin renew their sprinting rivalry in Saturday's Grade 3 Chicago Stakes, which moves from the last Arlington Park to Churchill Downs. (Image: Coady Photography)

Bell’s the One, Sconsin Renew Rivalry in Relocated Chicago Stakes

- 3 min read

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 […]

Dowagiac Chief broke his maiden in this Kentucky Downs maiden special weight. He is one of the favorites for the marquee Mystic Lake Derby at Canterbury Park's Northern Stars Turf Festival Wednesday. (Image: Coady Photgraphy)

Canterbury Park Gets Mystic with Northern Stars Turf Festival

- 3 min read

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 […]

Inspiral and Frankie Dettori romped to victory in last Friday's Coronation Cup. That helped two bettors hit all seven Royal Ascot races that day. (Image: Mathea Kelley)

A Royal Flush at Royal Ascot: Two Bettors Hit All Seven Races

- 3 min read

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's just-concluded Winter/Spring Meet was its safest on record. (Image: Santa Anita Park)

Santa Anita Park Enjoys Safest Winter/Spring Meet in its History

- 2 min read

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, […]

Neige Blanche won the first of three closing-day stakes races at Santa Anita Sunday. That was her third stakes victory of the Southern California track's 2021-22 Winter/Spring Meet schedule. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Record Performances Headline Santa Anita Park’s Winter/Spring Meet

- 3 min read

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 Park's training titlist Phil D'Amato sends Rijeka out in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano, Santa Anita's traditional closing day feature. Rijeka is one to watch in what could be a $3 million Rainbow Six. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Santa Anita Ends Long Meet with $3 Million Closing Day Rainbow Six

- 3 min read

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 […]

Naval Crown won a nail-biting Platinum Jubilee Stakes at 33/1. The victory helped clinch Godolphin the Royal Ascot owner title. (Image: Godophin)

Moore, O’Brien, Godolphin Capture Royal Ascot Titles, Ward Blanked

- 2 min read

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. […]

Absolutely Zero won her May debut as an odds-on favorite. She's the favorite running against colts in the Fasig-Tipton Futurity. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Two Doug O’Neill Juveniles Provide Hopeful Glimpse Into Next Spring

- 2 min read

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 […]

Carpe Vinum won a one-mile turf allowance Friday that gave trainer Phil D'Amato the Sant Anita Park Winter/Spring Meet training record. (Image: Benoit Photo)

D’Amato Seizes Santa Anita Park Meet Training Record With Carpe Vinum

- 2 min read

Phil D’Amato already has the Santa Anita Winter/Spring Meet training title wrapped up. Now, he has the single-season meet record for victories to go along with it. D’Amato won his record 57th race of the 74-day Winter/Spring Meet Friday, sending Carpe Vinum to a 2 ¼-length victory in the day’s […]

Campanelle's lone 2022 race was this easy victory in the Giant's Causeway at Keeneland. Saturday's Platinum Jubilee at Royal Ascot will be considerably more difficult. (Image: Keeneland/Coady Photography)

Ward, Ortiz Throw Their Final Royal Ascot Dice With Campanelle

- 3 min read

Between a lack of stable success and a suspension to Irad Ortiz Jr., this has not been the greatest of weeks for Ortiz and trainer Wesley Ward at Royal Ascot. But all it takes is Campanelle winning her third consecutive Royal Ascot meet race to flip the plot. That comes […]

Mind Control's first of two wins last year came in the Nerud Stakes at Belmont Park. He's expected to be one of the contenders in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park. That's the final race in this week's Cross Country Pick 5. (Image: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher)

Monmouth Park Stakes its Claim in This Week’s Cross Country Pick 5

- 3 min read

Monmouth Park joins the New York Racing Association’s weekly Cross Country Pick 5 this week, spotlighting a contentious Grade 3 race featuring Grade 1 winner Hot Rod Charlie. That would be the Salvator Mile, one of three Monmouth Park races from Haskell Stakes Preview Day on the five-race wager. Two […]

Hot Rod Charlie put in a 1:01.60, five-furlong work last Saturday at Santa Anita Park. He returns for the first time in nearly three months for Saturday's Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park. (Image: Ernie Belmonte)

Hot Rod Charlie Motors Back to Monmouth Park for the Salvator Mile

- 3 min read

Hot Rod Charlie is the marquee name on Monmouth Park’s inaugural Haskell Stakes Preview Day, which stands to reason when you consider he’s making his first start in nearly three months. But in a Grade 3 race? The Salvator Mile? Isn’t that a tad slumming for a horse with more […]

Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori are trying to put a bow on his Royal Ascot success in Thursday's Group 1 Gold Cup. The standout stayer owns three victories in the event. (Image: Mathea Kelley)

Stradivarius Ready to Play a Closing Note at Royal Ascot’s Gold Cup

- 3 min read

If we’re going to put a label on Stradivarius, the obvious one would be “crafty veteran.” It’s the perfect description for an 8-year-old staying legend who’s on the cusp of furthering his legacy. The three-time defending champion of the Gold Cup, Royal Ascot’s marquee race, will attempt to join Yeats […]

Australian standout Nature Strip proved too good for everyone, including Golden Pal, in Tuesday's Group 1 King's Stand at Royal Ascot. (Image: Megan Ridgwell Photo)

Nature Strip Makes Winning Look Natural in Royal Ascot’s King’s Stand

- 3 min read

Nature Strip answered one question on Tuesday: who’s the best turf sprinter in the world. Now, the star Australian gelding has a history question to answer: will he run again Saturday in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, on Royal Ascot’s final day? After taking apart Tuesday’s Group 1 King’s Stand by […]