Tag: horse racing

Midnight Bourbon hasn't won a race in 13 months. But trainer Steve Asmussen thinks the 4-year-old Tiznow colt is due for a breakout year. (Image: Coady Photography)

Hard-Luck Midnight Bourbon Tries for Redemption Again at Saudi Cup

Steve Asmussen hasn’t missed a beat when it comes to talking up Midnight Bourbon to anyone who will listen. And given what the heretofore snakebit colt has done to bettors, avid listeners are becoming harder and harder to find. “The only time he’s missed the break in his life was […]

White Abarrio went from closing at 171/1 in the second Kentucky Derby Future Wager to opening at 8/1 in the third pool. That came as a result of this 4 1/2-length victory in last weekend's Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. (Image: Coglianese Photo)

White Abarrio Goes from Long Shot to KDFW Individual Co-Favorite

The third of five pools for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) opens Friday at noon ET with the familiar “All Other 3-Year-Olds” – a.k.a. “the field” – as the 5/2 morning-line favorite. But it opened with a new co-individual favorite sharing that status with a familiar favorite. That newcomer […]

Messier may not be eligible for Kentucky Derby points, but he's the one to beat in Sunday's Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park. (Image: Benoit Photo)

The Robert B. Lewis Points the Way to Kentucky Derby Prospects

What you saw at last year’s Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park was one of the best Kentucky Derby preps of 2021, starting with a coming-out announcement for one colt and further validation of his talent from another. The coming-out announcement in the Grade 3 1 1/16-mile route […]

Courvoisier splashed home in the Jerome Stakes New Year's Day. He's trying to become the first horse in 32 years to win both the Jerome and Withers: Aqueduct's first two Kentucky Derby preps. (Image: Joe Labozzetta/NYRA Photo)

Withers Contenders Chase Glittery History Along With Derby Points

The Grade 3 Withers Stakes, Saturday’s New York stop on the Kentucky Derby trail, is one of those races that warrants the one-eye attention from Derby watchers curious to see if someone – anyone – can pick up the historical baton hanging out there. The 148-year-old race predates the Kentucky […]

Mo Donegal already owns a two-turn victory. He goes for his second graded stakes victory as the 3/1 morning line favorite in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park Saturday. (Image: Chelsea Durand/NYRA)

Holy Bull! Mo Donegal, Giant Game, Tiz the Bomb Keys in Derby Prep

Dale Romans was talking about his horse, Giant Game. But he spoke for all his fellow trainers in Saturday’s Grade 3 Holy Bull when he distilled the meaning of this Kentucky Derby prep. “Like we say every year, this is the time for the 2-year-olds to turn into men and grow […]

Jockey Luis Saez revels in Essential Quality's 2021 Belmont Stakes victory. That Triple Crown finale is one of eight Grade 1s on Belmont Park's June 11 card. (Image: NYRA Photo)

Come for the Belmont Stakes, Stay for Seven Other Grade 1s in One Day

The biggest one-day collection of Grade 1 races outside of the Breeders’ Cup comes June 11 at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Belmont Park. The New York track will play host to eight Grade 1s that day, headlined by the third leg of the Triple Crown – the 154th […]

Hot Rod Charlie had little trouble winning the Group 2 Maktoum Challenge, a prep for the March 26 $12 million Dubai World Cup. (Image: racingfotos.com)

Hot Rod Charlie Blows Away His Dubai Competitors in World Cup Prep

Hot Rod Charlie devoured his Middle East appetizer. Now, it’s on to the main course. The standout colt blew away his Group 2 Maktoum Challenge Round 2 rivals Friday, capturing the 1 3/16-mile Dubai World Cup prep by 5 1/4 lengths. In so doing, Hot Rod Charlie opened his 4-year-old […]

Oaklawn Park lost eight days of racing last year due to winter storms. The Arkansas track canceled this weekend's racing card due to Winter Storm Landon. (Image: Coady Photography)

Oaklawn Park Cancels Weekend Races; Fog Wipes Out Aqueduct Finale

Winter Storm Landon and the freezing temperatures blanketing the central US wiped out racing at three tracks on Thursday, most prominently at Oaklawn Park, which announced it’s canceling racing this weekend. Along with that Arkansas track, Sam Houston Race Park in Texas and Turfway Park in Kentucky both scrubbed their […]

Perhaps Dash Attack needed muck like he conquered in the Smarty Jones last weekend in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes. The previous unbeaten colt finished fifth in the Southwest at Oaklawn Park. (Image: Coady Photography)

McPeek Trying to Figure Out Why Dash Attack Went South in Southwest

Dash Attack came into last Saturday’s Southwest Stakes as one of the Kentucky Derby prospects to watch. He came in as the unbeaten, 3.40/1 second favorite for the Southwest. He came out of it unscathed physically, according to trainer Kenny McPeek. As for his once-invincible aura? Not so much. Not […]

Hot Rod Charlie will use Saturday's Group 2 Maktoum Challenge as a tune-up for the Group 1 Dubai World Cup in March. (Image: Ernie Belmonte)

Hot Rod Charlie Ventures into New Territory — Dubai

The ever-expanding travelogue of Hot Rod Charlie adds another destination stamp on Friday: Dubai. That’s where the popular colt makes his 4-year-old debut in the Group 2 Maktoum Challenge at Meydan Racecourse. This serves as the designated warm-up, get-acclimated-to-the-track race before the March 26 Group 1 Dubai World Cup. It’s […]

Tribhuvan captured last year's Grade 1 United Nations as the 17/10 favorite. That turf test is one of two Grade 1s and 10 graded stakes on Monmouth Park's 2022 stakes schedule. (Image: Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO)

Monmouth Park’s Stakes Slate Comes With Fixed Odds, Boosted Purses

Monmouth Park unveiled its 2022 stakes schedule Tuesday, headlined as always, by the $1.1 million Grade 1 Haskell Stakes. That marquee event for 3-year-olds coming out of the Triple Crown season is Saturday, July 23. The New Jersey track opens Saturday, May 7, the same day as the Kentucky Derby. […]

Drain the Clock won last year's Grade 1 Woody Stephens at 7/1. A mainstay of Saffie Joseph Jr.'s barn, he opens his 4-year-old campaign Feb. 5. (Image: NYRA Photo)

Remember These Two Joseph Horses? Drain the Clock, Ny Traffic Return

Get ready to welcome back two familiar names from the Saffie Joseph Jr. barn: Drain the Clock and Ny Traffic, both who return in the next month for campaign-beginning races. And after those two warm-up starts, the pair could meet in the April 9 Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct. […]

Newgrange and John Velazquez rallied for a 1 1/2-length victory in Saturday's Grade 3 Southwest Stakes. The Bob Baffert-trained colt was ineligible for Kentucky Derby points due to the trainer's suspension. (Image: Coady Photography)

Southwest Champ Newgrange Remains Unbeaten, Ineligible for Derby

The fact Bob Baffert’s Newgrange won his second Kentucky Derby prep in as many months was more important to the Hall of Fame trainer than the fact that, right now, Newgrange isn’t eligible to run in the May 7 Derby. “I’m not going to worry about that right now,” Baffert […]

David Harrison (center) became the 23rd winner of the National Horseplayers Championship in the 23-year history of the event. Presenting the $725,000 first-price check are NTRA President Tom Rooney (left) and NTRA COO and NHC Tournament Director Keith Chamblin. (Image: NTRA)

Harrison Goes ‘Old-School,’ Becomes Newest NHC Champion

During the week, David Harrison is a real estate appraiser. On the weekends, however, he appraises Thoroughbreds as an old-school handicapper. This weekend, he proved himself as the best appraiser of horseflesh in the world. Harrison bested a field of 643 entries at Bally’s Las Vegas, capturing the 23rd annual […]

Superstar sprinter Flightline will race next Feb. 5 in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita. (Image: Ernie Belmonte)

Next race for Super Sprinter Flightline: The February 5 San Carlos Stakes

The question on when standout sprinter Flightline would run again got answered on Sunday when trainer John Sadler said he’d run in the Feb. 5 Grade 2 San Carlos at Santa Anita. The seven-furlong San Carlos fits Sadler’s early-season itinerary. It also allows the son of Tapit to stay home, […]

Kenny McPeek's Dash Attack splashed his way to victory New Year's Day in the Smarty Jones. Can he do the same on a dry track as the 7/2 second choice in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park? (Image: Coady Photography)

Yes, Baffert has the Southwest Stakes Favorite, But He’s Got Company

Today’s $750,000 Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park has the usual Bob Baffert flavor: 2/1 morning-line favorite Newgrange, shipping in from California in search of Baffert’s record-tying fifth Southwest title. But there’s a new contender awaiting: Kenny McPeek, who finds himself in the unfamiliar role of trainer of Kentucky […]

Despite only one race under his hooves, Doppelganger is the 8/5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park. He's one of three Bob Baffert colts in the field. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Go Figure: Baffert Sends Out Three of Five San Vicente Contenders

The Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park sends five 3-year-olds seven furlongs Saturday. Because this race involves sophomores and because it’s at Santa Anita, this naturally translates into another glimpse into the endless barn of Bob Baffert. Back on the West Coast after his week-long hearing with […]

The 2022 National Horseplayers Championship begins Friday at Bally's Las Vegas. The NHC is the most prestigious handicapping tournament in the world. (Image: NTRA)

Youngest Winner Mustari Returns to Defend Elusive NHC Title

Five months after the youngest champion in National Horseplayers Championship history walked out of Bally’s Las Vegas with that crown, the 2022 NHC returns to Las Vegas with 509 individuals dueling over three days for $3.5 million in cash and prizes. That purse went back up after taking a COVID-related […]

Medina Spirit takes it all in Derby week last April. The late Derby champion will get a steward's hearing with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission regarding his Derby win Feb. 7. (Image: Pat McDonogh/Courier-Journal)

Medina Spirit’s Kentucky Derby Hearing Scheduled for Feb. 7

During his testimony in the ongoing hearing regarding his eligibility to run at New York Racing Association tracks, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed Thursday that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has scheduled a Feb. 7 hearing involving Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit. Baffert testified for three hours during the fourth day […]

Colonel Liam comes off a 239-day layoff in search of being the only Pegasus World Cup Turf repeat winner. He is the 3/1 favorite for Saturday's $1 million Pegasus Turf. (Image: Derbe Glass)

Colonel Liam Faces Tough Road to History in Pegasus Turf

Colonel Liam makes his bid for Gulfstream Park history from Post 6 as the slim 3/1 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s $1 million Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf. Whether he can make it a successful bid depends on how the defending champion handles a 239-day layoff. The fourth edition of the Pegasus […]