#Charles Town Classic

The Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes are the most iconic US horse racing events. These races have been running since the late 19th century, offering bettors plenty of opportunities to make extra cash. In addition to these two significant races, many other US horse racing tracks and events offer betting opportunities. These include the…

Mind Control after the 2021 G2 John A. Nerud, his most recent win on the NYRA circuit (Susie Raisher) By Ryan Martin - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables' dual Grade 1-winner Mind Control will attempt to go out on top when he takes on a field consisting of three other Grade 1 winners in Saturday's Grade 1,…

Life Is Good, shown winning the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January, is favored in Saturday's Grade I Whitney at Saratoga. Photo courtesy of Katsumi Saito Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Life is Good and Olympiad square off in the heavyweight match that is Saturday's Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, just one race after an international Group I rematch on…

Epicenter, shown training before his second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, meets the winner of that race, Rich Strike, again Saturday in the Grade I Travers Stakes at Saratoga. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs Aug. 26 (UPI) -- The "Midsummer Derby" at Saratoga pits the first three finishers from the Kentucky Derby against one another again in…

Most eyes were on Muad'dib leading up to Saturday's running of the $75000 Randy Funkhouser Memorial Stakes for West Virginia-breds traveling the three-turn distance of nine furlongs. And why not? He entered with 11 wins in 12 starts, a spotless record against state-breds, a victory last year in this event when it was contested as the A Huevo…

There are four stakes on the docket this weekend in the Mid-Atlantic, all Saturday. Three, including two for two-year-olds, are at Laurel Park, while the fourth is Saturday evening at Charles Town Races. The two-year-old races at Laurel are of particular interest - any stars in the making? - while the Charles Town stake, the renamed Randy…

If nothing else, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) could turn into be a bettor's bonanza. A field of 12 durable but far from dynamic horses is likely for the race at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25, with no super standout among them. Favorites (Arrogate, Gun Runner) and second-betting choices (City of Light, Mucho Gusto) won the first…

A busy weekend of Breeders' Cup challenge series races already is underway as Santa Anita Park kicked off its fall meet Friday with three "Win and You're In'' races. Hopefully, your handicapping is about complete for Santa Anita's opening day, which features the $300000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) for 2-year-olds. Post time for this one is 8 p.m.…

Friday of the Breeders' Cup features the rising stars of racing. Saturday however, is a chance to see some the best of the best competing to be a world champion in their division. The two-day card from Del Mar can be a war of attrition for even the most experienced handicappers. Along with more races and larger fields foreign form makes the puzzle…

Older sprinters take the spotlight in the Vosburgh (G2) at Aqueduct on Saturday, October 8. The seven-furlong dirt race offers a $250000 purse as well as an expenses-paid berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint for its winner. The race features a field of five, a combination of experienced and hard-knocking sprinters as well as a couple of four-year-olds…

Flavien Prat and Hot Rod Charlie after their win in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby. This Saturday's Grade 2, $500000 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs may not be a qualifying race for the Breeders' Cup Classic five weeks from Saturday, but it certainly has implications because the top three contenders may be running in that race depending on their…

The $500000, Grade 2 Lukas Classic Stakes Saturday at Churchill Downs may not be a qualifying race for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic five weeks later, but it certainly has implications because the top three contenders could be be running in that race depending on how they perform in this one. Hot Rod Charlie leads the six-horse field in career…

Rich Strike, the upset winner of the Kentucky Derby earlier this year, will face older horses for the first time in Saturday's $500000 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs. The 80-1 shot who shocked the world with his rally to win the Run for the Roses will make his first start at Churchill Downs since the first Saturday in May. In his two races…

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Steve Asmussen fielded a question Sunday morning asking for an example of a 3-year-old he's trained who experienced aftereffects later in the season from having weathered the grueling Kentucky Derby prep season and Triple Crown series. He laughed and said, "Every single one of them that wasn't Curlin or Gun Runner." Judging from…