How to bet the 2022 Swale Stakes

DOG DAZE OF WINTER: The barking started Saturday at Gulfstream Park (GP) and continued on through the NFL playoffs on Sunday. When all was said and done, Mr. Ed had bagged four pricy scores and a nice Exacta with his Gulfstream best bets, and both his NFL Championships picks, underdogs Kansas City (+2.5) and Detroit (+7.5) were icing on the…

With the $3 million Pegasus World Cup and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf only four weeks ago, Gulfstream Park will host their preview day on Saturday. There will be four stakes races on the card, with the Grade 3 Halan's Holiday and Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale feeding runners into the track's richest afternoon on January 27. Fresh off a graded…

Saturday's $100000 Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds is one of the youngest Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers. The 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds took place for the first time in 2021, and that inaugural edition featured Rich Strike and Epicenter, the top two finishers in the 2022 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. Can the…

An overflow field of 16 turf stayers will run 1 1/2 miles on the Kentucky Downs green in the $1.7 million Kentucky Turf Cup S. (G2) on Saturday. United Nations S. (G1) winner #11 Therapist (7-2) is the morning-line choice for conditioner Mike Maker, who has a trio of dangerous contenders in the cast. $1 trifecta 11 with 2,7,8 with all…

An outstanding field of 11, including a trio of fantastic sophomores, will vie in Saturday's $1 million Pacific Classic S. (G1) at Del Mar. Trained by Richard Mandella, #1 Geaux Rocket Ride (5-2) is the morning-line choice. The bay son of Candy Ride is three-for-four with a second in his lifetime, and he comes off of a superb score in the Haskell…

Salute the Stars looks to return to his winning ways when he headlines a field of nine sophomore colts entered in Tuesday's Grade 3 Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx. Trained by Brad Cox, the bay colt by Candy Ride had a three-race winning streak snapped last time when he faded out of contention in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. He had some…

An overflow field of 14 three-year-olds will contest the $500000 West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer on Sunday. In a well-matched field lacking a true standout, it seems wise to take a shot with a contender at a nice price in my search for value. #12 West Coast Cowboy (10-1) was not done any favors in drawing widest in the cast, but the Saffie…

A total of 11 sophomore fillies will speed 5 1/2 furlongs on the Ellis Park turf in Sunday's $100000 Pea Patch S. The field is led by Matron S. (G3) heroine #1 American Apple (3-1), who was last seen finishing a game second in the Soaring Softly S. (G3) at Belmont Park. Trained by Daniel Leitch, the three-year-old daughter of American Pharoah…

An excellent field of seven fillies and mares will run 1 1/8 miles on the Santa Anita lawn in Monday's $400000 Gamely S. (G1). One of a trio of major events on the fantastic holiday card attracts a talented and well-matched cast and promises to be a thrilling affair to the finish. Grade 1 heroine #3 Queen Goddess has evolved into a top turf mare…

Forte schooling ahead of the Florida Derby on Saturday (Coglianese) Kentucky Derby Radar: Gulfstream Park Press Release HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.- Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte schooled in the Gulfstream Park paddock and walking ring during Race 6 on Wednesday's program in preparation for his highly anticipated run in Saturday's $1…

The Grade 2, $400000 Fountain of Youth Stakes, which will be run Saturday, is the second of three official prep races at Gulfstream Park on the road to Kentucky Derby 2023. The 1 1/16-mile race drew a field of 10 3-year-olds who will compete for the 50-20-15-10-5 points that go to the top five finishers. The Fountain of Youth has seven horses who…

A winner of the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes to close out his juvenile season, Dubyuhnell headlines a full field of 12 Kentucky Derby hopefuls in Saturday's $250000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. After running fourth in his career debut at Saratoga against a stacked field, the son of Good Magic has won two straight for trainer Danny Gargan.…

We've reached the halfway point along Aqueduct's Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. The third of five Kentucky Derby qualifiers held annually at the New York racetrack is the $250000, Grade 3 Withers Stakes, slated to take place this Saturday over a distance of 1 1/8 miles on dirt. Seven horses have entered the Withers, which…

Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday holds its first Kentucky Derby points race of the year, one of three prep races on this week's calendar. The Sam F. Davis Stakes drew a robust field of 12, including the highly-regarded Dubyuhnell. The race winner receives 20 Derby qualifying points, with 8-6-4-2 points awarded for second through fifth place. That's the…

The first day of 2023 kicks off with a bang on the horse racing front. The $250000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park serves as a Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve qualifier, awarding points for entry to the 2023 Derby on a 10-4-3-2-1 basis to the top five finishers. Held over one mile on dirt, the Smarty Jones has yet to…

An overflow field of 13 will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Gulfstream Park turf in Saturday's $200000 Fort Lauderdale S. (G2). #12 Colonel Liam (8-5) is the reigning two-time Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) winner on the surface, and he is using this to prepare for a three-peat in that event. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the standout son of Liam's Map is the…

A field of 10 has been entered for Saturday's $200000 Bold Ruler S. (G3) at Aqueduct. The six-furlong dash attracted a field lacking a clear standout on paper, but I do feel like #1 Meraas (5-1) will be especially difficult to defeat in the dirt dash. Trained by Chad Summers, the son of Oasis Dream took to the transition to the dirt in Dubai this…

The 147th running of the Preakness Stakes will take place at Baltimore's Pimlico racecourse on Saturday, as the stage is set for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. The Preakness lured a field of nine, led by 6-5 morning-line favorite Epicenter, who will break from post No. 8. He was last seen running second in the Kentucky Derby just two weeks…

One year ago, trainer Todd Pletcher's filly Malathaat started her 3-year-old campaign with a late rally to win Ashland Stakes by a head. The victory launched her to an Eclipse Award-winning season that also included Grade 1 wins in the Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes. Pletcher will hope for similar things Friday and beyond with Nest (2-1),…

Miles Ahead only beat heavily favored Drain the Clock by little more than a head in Saturday's $150000 Gulfstream Park Sprint, but trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. had complete confidence that the vastly improved 4-year-old would be up to the task at the Hallandale Beach, Fla., track. "He's just gotten better and better. Each race, he just seems to go…

The Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby will continue taking shape Saturday with preps in New York and Florida. Aqueduct hosts the Grade 3, $250000 Withers Stakes at 1 1/8 miles, while Gulfstream Park's featured event is the $250000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3), running 1 1/16 miles. Both races award Derby points on a 10-4-2-1 basis. Visit Horse Racing…

Courvoisier, shown winning the Jerome Sakes, returns for Saturday's Grade III Withers at Aqueduct, a Kentucky Derby prep. Photo by Chelsey Durand, courtesy of New York Racing Association Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Three official Kentucky Derby prep races top the U.S. weekend horse racing schedule while Hot Rod Charlie, one of last year's Triple Crown…

A trio of Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve prep races will take place Saturday, Jan. 1, across the country to kick off 2022. By far the most competitive on paper is the $250000 Smarty Jones Stake s at Oaklawn Park, which drew a full field of 14 newly turned 3-year-olds. From top to bottom, the Smarty Jones is stuffed with…