#Finger Lakes

Essential Quality, shown winning the Grade I Travers, is among the favorites in a Breeders' Cup Classic field announced this week. Photo courtesy of New York Racing Association Oct. 29 (UPI) -- It's a week for looking forward as horse racing around the globe nears its annual champion-making events and youngsters get in final licks to make a case…

Stonewall Star after her victory in the Key Cents (NYRA/Coglianese) NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Barry Schwartz's New York homebred Stonewall Star will look to regain winning form for trainer Horacio De Paz in the $100000 Franklin Square, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for state-bred sophomore fillies, on January 22 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The bay…

The trail toward the first Saturday in May reaches its next step on the first Saturday in January. Arctic Arrogance is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the $150000 Jerome Stakes. Post time from Aqueduct is 3:16 p.m., with FS2 showing the one-mile event for 3-year-olds. The Jerome awards its top five finishers Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a…

Cyberknife, shown winning the Arkansas Derby, tops the list of invitations to the Grade I Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28. Coady Photography, courtesy of Oaklawn Park Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Kentucky Derby preps in California and New York highlight the weekend horse racing schedule with plenty of would-be stars looking for a big step…

Andiamo a Firenze takes the Funny Cide Aug. 26 (Joe Labozzetta) NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Owner Ron Lombardi of Mr. Amore Stable expressed a sense of confidence that graded-stakes placed New York homebred Andiamo a Firenze can carry on a family tradition by winning Saturday's $150000 Jerome for newly turned 3-year-olds going a one-turn…

Almond Eye, shown winning the 2018 Japan Cup, is the favorite for Sunday's Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn). Photo courtesy of Japan Racing Association Oct. 30 (UPI) -- American horse racing is virtually on pause a week out from the Breeders' Cup World Championships, but plenty of action exists around the globe with Almond Eye returning in Japan,…

A Triple Crown sweep lies silent this year with Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike side-stepping Saturday's Preakness Stakes. But a trio of big-time talents make this year's middle jewel a fabulous, triple-threat race. Kentucky Derby runner-up and beaten favorite Epicenter was installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite by Pimlico oddsmaker Keith…

Les Bon Temps upsets the Maid of the Mist (NYRA/Coglianese) By Ryan Martin - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- A field of 11 will assemble with aspirations to give their bankroll a massive boost in Saturday's $500000 NYSSS Fifth Avenue for eligible New York-sired 2-year-old fillies going seven furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack. Leading the charge is…

Dr. Blute wins the Empire Classic Oct. 30 (Janet Garaguso) By Ryan Martin - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Flanagan Racing's Dr. Blute will try to wrap up the year by doubling up on stakes scores in Saturday's $100000 Alex M. Robb for New York-breds 3-year-old and upward going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct Racetrack. Dr. Blute, a 4-year-old…

Strummer wins the 2006 Jimmy Winkfield at Aqueduct (NYRA/Coglianese) By Mary Eddy - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- In January of 2006, a plain bay named Strummer made his connections proud as he crossed the finish line first in the $65000 Jimmy Winkfield to score his first stakes victory. Nearly 17 years after posting his biggest…

Barber Road, the horse ridden by Victor native Reylu Gutierrez, finished 6th in Saturday's Kentucky Derby. Barber Road had odds of 60-1 to win the race. But a horse with even longer odds, Rich Strike, who went off at 80-1, upset the field to win the Kentucky Derby. --------------- There is a local connection to horse racing's most prominent event…

Yo Cuz wins the Maddie May Feb. 21 at Aqueduct (Chelsea Durand) By Ryan Martin - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- New York-bred sophomore stakes winners Yo Cuz and Galaxina will attempt to regain winning form against elders in Sunday's 16th running of the $125000 Staten Island division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series for eligible New…

Coast-to-coast Grade 1 stakes races are in the offing this weekend as Aqueduct and Del Mar start the month of December with a bang. Saturday's Grade 1 Cigar Mile in New York and Hollywood Derby in California will set the weekend table for Sunday's Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes on the west coast. It's a month on the racing calendar that will build to a…

Channel Cat, shown winning the Grade I Man o' War in May, is among the favorites for Saturday's Grade II Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct. Photo courtesy of New York Racing Association Nov. 19 (UPI) -- High-class graded stakes racing is spread across North America this weekend, with a turf showdown in New York, a tough mile event for fillies and mares…

Remote and mobile sports betting has thrived in the US since May 2018, when the US Supreme Court struck down the PAPSA legislation that had previously prohibited sports betting at a federal level. However, this has also enabled sports betting at brick-and-mortar establishments in more than 30 US states, including the popular Capital OTB at Wolf…

Zippy Chippy, the hugely popular gelding who earned national celebrity for his career record of zero wins in 100 starts, died on April 15. Steve Dennis pays tribute to an equine legend - of sorts A wise man once said that it wasn't about the winning, but the taking part. That was the mantra that Zippy Chippy lived by, that his life was reckoned by,…

Havnameltdown wins Sunday's Bob Hope Stakes for 2-year-olds at Del Mar. Benoit photo, courtesy of Del Mar Turf Club Nov. 21 (UPI) -- One of the more interesting subplots of late-year racing is the emergence of late-blooming 2-year-olds and Del Mar's weekend program featured two of those -- Havnameltdown among the colts and Justique in the filly…

D'ont Lose Cruz breaks his maiden at second asking (NYRA/Coglianese) By Keith McCalmont - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y. - D'ont Lose Cruz steps into stakes company for the first time in Friday's $100000 Notebook, a six-furlong sprint over the main track for New York-bred juveniles, at Aqueduct Racetrack. Trained and co-owned by Rick…

Stonewall Star rolling to the win. Photo by Susie Raisher By Ryan Martin OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Barry Schwartz's homebred Stonewall Star was rarely ever in doubt when taking down her first stakes conquest in Sunday's ninth running of the $100000 Key Cents for New York-bred juvenile fillies going six furlongs on the main track at Aqueduct…

Thin White Duke after a win in the Lucky Coin at Saratoga (Susie Raisher) By Mary Eddy - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Conditioner David Donk will have two chances to capture his first $150000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship with Thin White Duke and Yes and Yes in Friday's six-furlong outer turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up at Aqueduct…

The mile-and-a-half Test of the Champion at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday is all that awaits the Triple Crown season for 2022. In reality, it will be more of a test to see if 80-1 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike is more akin to the Beatles or Chumbawamba. Do we have a superstar or one-hit wonder in our midst? The answer comes against a field…

Fair Grounds opens its racing season Friday, while Tampa Bay Downs will follow suit the following week. Those may not sound like the first signs of winter to many, but they are for horseplayers. And a reduction in takeout at Fair Grounds for the 80-day meeting in New Orleans will be music to bettors' ears. The pick 5 takeout has been reduced to…

Although the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York might be well-known for its outstanding choice of higher-education facilities and wine, sports is also a massive part of life in the area. Sports betting is also a growing sector in New York state after officials decided to sanction this activity in January 2022. Since then, the sports betting…

Barese captures the Gander Feb. 12, 2022 at Aqueduct (Chelsea Durand) OZONE PARK, N.Y.- A total of 99 New York-breds are entered for a special 10-race card on Closing Day Sunday at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet to celebrate the best of New York for the annual Empire Showcase Day, featuring eight stakes races worth $1.6 million, topped by the…

The eyes of thoroughbred racing are on the final preparations for the more than 150 equine stars set to shine at Keeneland on Nov. 4-5 in the Breeders' Cup. Morning workouts are abuzz with horses across all 14 divisions as handicappers try to get one last edge and piece of knowledge for the betting bonanza. The free Breeders' Cup portal at XBTV…

It's time to turn to the Answer Man this week so he can deal with some of your questions and clean out the mailbox: Q: Can you update us on the latest Bob Baffert news regarding his status for the 2022-23 Kentucky Derbies? A: As things stand now, Baffert is prohibited by Churchill Downs from racing at the historic venue. His horses are still unable…

The short but elite racing seasons at Del Mar and Kentucky Downs will hit the finish line Sunday, but not before the two tracks put forth some more important stakes races and top betting opportunities. It's an untraditional week, to be sure, with Del Mar extended beyond Labor Day against calendar norms. Meanwhile, the New York circuit goes dark…

A sentimental renewal of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup and the turf marathon known as the Sycamore Stakes will put Keeneland's grass course front and center during the second week of its Fall Meeting. Friday's $300000 Sycamore is three weeks and a day out from the Breeders' Cup Turf and could provide a member or two to that field. The…

Opening weekend of the prestigious meeting at Keeneland runs Friday through Sunday, including 11 key stakes preps that will be showcased at this year's Breeders' Cup host site. Stars like Golden Pal, Letruska and Malathaat are just some of the names expected to grace the Lexington oval. But Keeneland won't fly solo on the national marquee, which…

Home " What Makes The U.S. Open The Most Unique Grand Slam Event? There may be a five-hour drive that separates Finger Lakes from Flushing Meadows, but it is a journey that many will be prepared to make in order to sit courtside at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for the playing of the US Open. In fact, there will be fans that…

It's last call for the 3-year-olds - including several Triple Crown alumni - in big-money spots before they'll have to start battling older horses. Parx, with Saturday's Grade 1 $1 million Pennsylvania Derby, and Remington Park, with Sunday's Grade 3 $400000 Oklahoma Derby, will put on their season's most important races this week. Parx will run 10…

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Trainer Robert A. Baffert will not be allowed to participate in any New York State horse racing activity through at least July 2, 2022, as his 90-day suspension by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission was recently upheld in court. During this time, Baffert cannot enter horses to run at any New York Racing Association…

SARATOGA SPRINGS - The obvious next big step for Americanrevolution, in the natural progression of stakes for which he's eligible, is the Empire Classic. Trainer Todd Pletcher may try to go even bigger than that. Ever upward, as they say in New York. On New York Showcase Day at Saratoga Race Course on Friday, WinStar Farm's chestnut son of…