Tag: New York Horse Racing

Courvoisier (center) outdueled Smarten Up (left) and Cooke Creek in the Aqueduct slop to win Saturday's Jerome Stakes. Connections for all three eye Aqueduct's next Kentucky Derby prep: the Feb. 5 Grade 3 Withers, next. (Image: Chelsea Durand/Coglianese Photo)

Jerome’s Top Three Finishers Come Out Ready for Next Big A Derby Prep

Seeing enough in their charges coming out of Saturday’s Listed Jerome Stakes, all three trainers of the top three finishers, Courvoisier, Smarten Up, and Cooke Creek, plan running their colts in Aqueduct’s next Kentucky Derby prep, the Grade 3 Withers Stakes. That 1 1/8-mile prep, set for Feb. 5 at […]

Cooke Creek, seen here winning the Rocky Run Stakes at Delaware Park, is the 5/2 favorite in Saturday's Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct. (Image: Hoofprintsinc.com Photo)

The Jerome Stakes Provide a New York Fork in the Derby Road

The Listed Jerome Stakes, one of four New Year’s Day Kentucky Derby preps, generally doesn’t prove anything come Derby time. But the Aqueduct one-turn mile race for 3-year-olds that dates to 1866 does serve as a proving ground of sorts. The eight newly minted 3-year-olds competing for the 10-4-2-1 Derby […]

Brooklyn Strong, who finished 15th in this year's Kentucky Derby, returns after a six-month layoff for a New York-bred stakes race at Aqueduct. (Image: Coady Photography)

Remember Derby Prospect Brooklyn Strong? He’s Back After R&R

When last we saw Brooklyn Strong, the New York-bred gelding was finishing an uninspiring fourth in June’s Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park. But now, the Kentucky Derby contestant returns after a six-month hiatus for Saturday’s Alex M. Robb Stakes at Aqueduct. The $100,000 Robb sends its state-bred 3-year-olds and up […]

Mo Donegal and Irad Ortiz Jr . (left) nipped Zandon and John Velazquez at the wire to win the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes. Zandon's owner, Jeff Drown, filed a protest with the New York State Gaming Commission, claiming Ortiz fouled his horse with aggressive hand motions. (Image: Chelsea Durand/Coglianese Photos)

Zandon’s Owner Cries Foul, Files Protest Over Remsen Result

The sport of horse racing found itself in another legal tangle on Thursday when Jeff Drown, the owner of Grade 2 Remsen Stakes runner-up Zandon, filed a protest with the New York State Gaming Commission over a rejected post-race inquiry against race winner Mo Donegal. Drown filed the protest after […]

Kentucky Derby prospect Mo Donegal broke his maiden in his second try -- and longest race. He's the 8/5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct. (Image: Coglianese Photos)

The Remsen Stakes Give You Derby Prospect Info — With Grains of Salt

As the latest stop on the Kentucky Derby trail, Saturday’s Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct introduces new faces to the Derby trail. But while you’re getting to know 8/5 favorite Mo Donegal and 5/2 second choice Zandon, re-acquaint yourself with another pertinent name. That would be Thunder Gulch. He’s […]

Americanrevolution dissected this Albany Stakes field by five lengths. Can he duplicate that effort in Grade 1 competition in Saturday's Cigar Mile? (Image: Sarah Andrew)

This Cigar Mile Comes Wrapped in Questions, Questions, Questions

The questions for Saturday’s Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct make the final Grade 1 race of the year in New York one of the saltiest fields on Aqueduct’s stakes schedule. Before we pose them for horseplayers, a history lesson is in order. Named after the 1994 champion of […]

This is where trainer Jack Sisterson wants Channel Cat: the winner's circle. The 6-year-old horse last visited it in May for the Man o' War. He is the 5/2 morning-line favorite for the Grade 2 Red Smith Saturday at Aqueduct. (Image: Coglianese Photos)

Channel Cat Chases That Elusive Grade 1-Winning Form in Red Smith

Channel Cat is by default, the class of the Grade 2 Red Smith Handicap field. This is a status that by no means, makes him a lock to win the $200,000 race over Aqueduct Racetrack’s inner turf course. He may be the lone millionaire in the 10-horse field of 3-year-olds […]

Aqueduct Racetrack spent much of 2021 as a New York State COVID vaccination center. It reverts to its regular racetrack duties starting Thursday. (Image: NYRA/Aqueduct)

Aqueduct Racetrack’s Shots Now Come on the Track, Not Off of It

After serving time as a New York State COVID vaccination center, Aqueduct Racetrack reverts back to its traditional duties as the state’s winter home for racing on Thursday. The track opens to fans on Veteran’s Day for its 18-day fall meet. That meet runs through Sunday, Dec. 5 with a […]

Irad Ortiz Jr. and Public Sector (9) surge and steal the Grade 2 Hill Prince from Never Surprised (back). The Chad Brown-trained 3-year-old is 4-for-6 in 2021. (Image: Susie Raisher)

No Surprise: Public Sector Steals His Third Straight Graded Stakes Race

That Public Sector took his second consecutive graded stakes race at the expense of Never Surprised shouldn’t have surprised anyone who watched the two 3-year-old turf prospects duel in Saturday’s Grade 2 Hill Prince at Belmont Park. The M.O. was as simple as it was familiar to anyone versed with […]

Gufo (right) held off a surging Japan to win August's Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga. The two turf rivals tangle again in Saturday's Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park. (Image: Sarah Andrew)

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 […]

Art Collector and jockey Luis Saez's gutsy victory in the Charles Town Classic sets them up for Saturday's Grade 1 Woodward Stakes. Art Collector is the 3/1 third-favorite to win his first Grade 1. (Image: Coady Photography)

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 […]

The Breeders' Cup takes its Challenge Series to bettors with its Breeders' Cup Challenge Pick 6 this weekend at Belmont Park and Santa Anita Park. (Image: Breeders' Cup)

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 […]

Life Is Good returns to action in Saturday's Grade 2 Kelso Stakes at Belmont Park. He'll return with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons instead of usual pilot Mike Smith, seen here.. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Life Is Good Looms Large Over Small Kelso Field

Coming out of a layoff into a Grade 1 proved a minor annoyance for Life Is Good. Now, the 3-year-old standout will face another hurdle when he takes on older horses for the first time in Saturday’s Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont Park. When we last saw Life Is Good […]

After running last for most of the 1 1/2-mile Jockey Club Derby, Yibir unleashed a lethal burst of speed that earned the British-bred 3-year-old the Jockey Club Derby. (Image: Janet Garaguso/NYRA)

British Invader Yibir Gives Europe a Turf Triple Clean Sweep

British-bred Yibir highlighted a sterling weekend for breeding colossus Godolphin, winning Saturday’s $1 million Black-Type Jockey Club Derby Invitational – the final leg of the New York Racing Association’s Turf Triple series. This last-to-first outing over the 1 ½-mile Widener turf course at Belmont Park earned Yibir a berth in […]

Racing milestones, standout horses, riders and trainers and a record handle. The 2021 Saratoga meet had it all this summer. (Image: Saratoga.com)

Saratoga Closes the Gates On a Record Handle, Memorable Moments

Saratoga cracked $800 million in all-sources wagering handle for the first time in its storied history, ending its most successful summer meet with $815,508,063 in all-sources handle. That represented a 15.6% increase over the track’s previous record of $705,343,949 set in 2019. Saratoga set its new record last Wednesday, with […]

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. salutes Wit after piloting the 2-year-old to an eight-length Sanford Stakes victory in July. Wit is the 7/5 favorite to win the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes on Saratoga's Monday closing card. (Image: Janet Garaguso/Coglianese Photos)

Remain Hopeful About Juvenile Derby Candidates in the Hopeful Stakes

By several hours, the Hopeful Stakes get the honor of being the first Grade 1 of the year for 2-year-old males. That means it gives horseplayers the first glimpse of possible 2022 Kentucky Derby contenders. In this edition of the 117-year-old, seven-furlong sprint on Saratoga’s closing day, you get 11 […]

New York bettors now have access to Kentucky Downs' six-day meet. The entity signed an 11th-hour agreement with the New York Racing Association opening up wagering to New York bettors. (Image: Coady Photography)

Kentucky Downs, NYRA Reach Agreement, New York Wagering Welcome

One day before Kentucky Downs begins its six-day meet, the track reached an agreement with the New York Racing Association that opens up wagering to NYRA’s markets and platforms. The late agreement means NYRA, its racetracks and its NYRA Bets advance deposit wagering (ADW) platform can access the track’s races. […]

Happy Saver (right) shakes pursuer Mystic Guide in deep stretch of last year's Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup. Happy Saver seeks to be the 11th repeat champion of one of the New York Racing Association's most historic events. (Image: Chelsea Durand/NYRA)

Happy Saver Leads Chase Toward Jockey Club Gold Cup History

The Jockey Club Gold Cup trophy carries the names of four Triple Crown winners: Gallant Fox (1930), Whirlaway (1942), Citation (1948) and Affirmed (1979). You’ll find Hall of Famers like Man o’ War (1920), Hill Prince (1950), Sword Dancer (1959), Buckpasser (1966), Damascus (1967), Forego (1974), John Henry (1981), Easy […]

War Like Goddess captured her third consecutive graded-stakes with this commanding victory in the Grade 2 Glens Falls. She goes for her first Grade 1 score in Saturday's Flower Bowl Invitational. (Image: Coglianese Photos/NYA)

War Like Goddess Smelling Like Roses Going into Flower Bowl

As is his MO, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott brought War Like Goddess along slowly, guiding the 4-year-old filly through the class pyramid with care and an eye toward building confidence. So when War Like Goddess won three consecutive races – and 5-of-her-first-6 – Mott realized she is ready […]