How to bet with, and against, Brickyard Ride in the 2022 Triple Bend Stakes

ARCADIA - It was the type of matchup fans like to see. Two state-bred heavyweights - The Chosen Vron and Brickyard Ride - slugging it out during California Cup day on Saturday at Santa Anita. One, a 6-year-old gelding by Vronsky, went in riding high, having won nine of his past 10 starts. His résumé dictated that the bettors send him off as the 1-9…

One day after Christmas, Opening Day at Santa Anita is always a treat and this year promises to be no different. This season's lid lifter at the beautiful Southern California track features six graded stakes races, with three of them being Grade 1. In the headliner, trainer Bob Baffert will be in search of his sixth win in the Malibu Stakes (G1)…

The last 20 years of the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint produced five editions decided by a neck or less and eight winners who paid $24.60 or higher for a $2 win bet. The most important sprint race in North America typically is a very exciting horse race. In fact, upsets are even more likely at Santa Anita Park, which in hosting 10…

We have three plays on Sunday, just enough action to provide a bit of interest between fumbles and concussions on the tackle football fields. We expect good conditions in all three races, except as noted below, so let's go. Keeneland, Race 7, 4:12 pm ET Grade 2 Franklin Stakes, 5 ½ furlongs, Turf, Fillies & Mares 3 & Up The Franklin Stakes is a 5 ½…

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…

2023 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic Trophy © Benoit Photo LARGEST FIELD IN 10 YEARS TO LINE UP FOR SATURDAY'S PACIFIC CLASSIC The field is set for the 2023 G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic slated to go Saturday afternoon. Eleven horses are entered in the $1000000 mile and a quarter run, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Classic. It's the…

Del Mar Stable Notes by Jim Charvat DEL MAR, Calif.- Trainer Brian Koriner reached a career milestone on Thursday at Del Mar when his 2-year-old Vronsky filly Diamond Bar Gal got up to win under jockey Juan Hernandez in the second race. It was victory number 1000 for the 57-year-old conditioner who's been training Thoroughbreds since 1988. "It's…

BRIAN KORINER REACHES CAREER WIN #1000 AT DEL MAR THURSDAY Trainer Brian Koriner reached a career milestone on Thursday at Del Mar when his horse Diamond Bar Gal got up to win under jockey Juan Hernandez in the second race. It was victory number 1000 for the 57-year-old conditioner who's been training Thoroughbreds since 1988. "It's nice to get it…

The fields for the 14 races that comprise the Breeders' Cup World Championships really begin to come into focus in summer and fall and this regular feature will offer a snapshot profile of one of the previous weekend's standout stars. California-bred The Chosen Vron extended his winning streak to eight by acing a class test in the $403500, Grade…

DEFUNDED EYES TOP SPOT IN HANDICAP DIVISION IN G2 SAN DIEGO The handicap division appears to be a wide open affair this year. No Flightlines around to bully all the others. Proxy, Art Collector and Last Samurai traded punches over the winter, while out west Defunded, Stilleto Boy and Taiba notched victories in the handicap division. In the spring…

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…

An odds-on, multiple stakes winner who was expected to be onthe lead in Saturday's Grade 2, $200000 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita, Defunded took a crow hop leaving the gate and instead of being in front, foundhimself last in a field of six, four lengths off the lead around the clubhouseturn. It mattered not, however. The classy 5-year-old…

The 2023 Santa Anita Derby (G2) happens Saturday, April 8, at Santa Anita in Arcadia, California! The final points race on the west coast spur of the Kentucky Derby, it offers a $750000 purse, and 100-40-30-20-10 Road to the Kentucky Derby points to its top five finishers. This means the winner punches a ticket to Kentucky, and other horses who run…

A deep field of 13 sophomores will travel 1 3/16 miles on the Dubai dirt in the $1 million UAE Derby (G2) on Saturday. The 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the top-five finishers with qualifying points on a 100-40-30-20-10 basis. UAE Derby Selections #3 Cairo #11 Perriere #13 Worcester #6 Dura Erede UAE Derby…

A talented field of nine fillies and mares will run 1 1/4 miles on the Santa Anita turf course in Sunday's $100000 Santa Ana (G3). Conditioner Michael McCarthy has a pair of ladies in the cast, and I believe that both contenders will have a big say in the outcome of the grassy endeavor. I really liked the upset win posted by #5 Duvet Day in the…

Santa Anita Barn Notes: Queen Ofthe Temple Takes Aim at Saturday's Astra Stakes From the Santa Anita Media Team: QUEEN OFTHE TEMPLE AIMS FOR STAKES BREAKTHROUGH IN ASTRA A field of nine long-winded fillies and mares take the spotlight Saturday in the featured $100000 Astra Stakes going 1 ½ miles on turf. Figuring to be among the top choices is…

Brickyard Ride winning the Kona Gold under Juan Hernandez April 20, 2022 at Santa Anita. (Benoit Photo) Stable Notes By Victor Ryan ARCADIA, Calif.- Brickyard Ride, a seven-time stakes winner for trainer Craig Lewis, continued preparations for his 6-year-old bow when drilling six furlongs in 1:12.80 Thursday at Santa Anita. Brickyard Ride completed…

A total of six fillies and mares will vie in Sunday's $200000 La Canada S. (G3) at Santa Anita. Conditioner Bob Baffert has the two main players in the field, and I expect the race to come down to that duo late. #3 Ganadora is the speed of the speed and gets the nod to take the group all the way on the front end with John Velazquez. By Quality…

A well-matched field of 11 will go postward in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland on Saturday. The race lacks a clear standout, and it's also lacking a plethora of pace, so I will favor the contenders that figure to be forwardly placed in the early going. Bob Baffert's #6 Laurel River (9-2) has been brilliant in both of his…

A total of seven fillies and mares will run one mile in Sunday's $75000 Dark Mirage S. at Los Alamitos. Conditioner Bob Baffert has a pair of fillies entered in the affair, including the $1 million purchase #4 Ganadora (6-5). I feel that the sophomore is a standout and will defeat this field in her second black-type try. By Quality Road, the bay…

A well-matched field of seven sophomore fillies will go postward in Saturday's $150000 Victory Ride S. (G3) at Belmont Park. The 6 1/2-furlong dirt dash features five horses who have achieved stakes success in the past, as well as an unbeaten contender, in what appears to be a very good betting affair. The Tom Albertrani-trained #7 Sterling…

Alfred Pais' brilliantly fast Brickyard Ride seeks his fifth consecutive stakes victory as he heads a field of six older horses going seven furlongs in Sunday's Grade 2, $200000 Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. Trained by Craig Lewis, Brickyard Ride, a 5-year-old California-bred horse by Clubhouse Ride, has been nothing…

Eight turf sprinters bred in the Golden State will run 6 1/2 furlongs down the hill at Santa Anita in Sunday's $100000 Sensational Star S. The grassy dash lacks a standout and could go to any of the contenders signed on for the tilt, although I will focus on the ones coming from off of the pace for the most part. I expect the pace to be wicked…

Four stakes races are included in the late Pick 5 wager at Santa Anita on Saturday. Here is how I view the California-bred races, followed by my affordable ticket. A tough turf endeavor at 1 1/8 miles for the boys kicks off the sequence, and if I can move past the opening leg, then my confidence level will skyrocket. #8 Indian Peak (3-1) ran a few…