#Lexington Stakes

I led last week's column with this, but … "There seems to be more distractions than ever before for gamblers' attention with MLB starting to join NBA and NHL on the daily calendar" … and now we have football, too, with the second coming of the USFL. But, hey, there's always time to slip in some horse racing plays on our busy Saturdays. Last…

Letruska edges Monomoy Girl in Saturday's $1 million Grade I Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park. Photo by Coady Photography, courtesy of Oaklawn Park April 19 (UPI) -- Million-dollar races at Oaklawn Park produced a big upset and a potential star for the remainder of the year in highlights of horse racing this weekend. The Kentucky Derby field continued…

The horses for the 149th running of the Belmont Stakes are listed in order of post position, with comments by Joe Drape and Melissa Hoppert of The New York Times. The morning-line odds were set by Eric Donovan of the New York Racing Association. Purse: $1.5 million guaranteed Distance: One and a half miles Track record: 2:24 (Secretariat,…

According to Churchill Downs' Mike Battaglia's opening odds, thoroughbred contender Cyberknife is a 20-1 shot for Saturday's Kentucky Derby. Even if he doesn't win, his owner deserves a bouquet of roses or at least a glass of champagne. You see, Al Gold had more important things on his mind when he named his Chestnut colt. The prostate cancer he…

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we think the best racing at Santa Anita this weekend will be on simulcast. I know this is an odd topic for the newsletter, but when you think about it, not really. The world learned Friday morning of the death Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II. He was 99. If…

Kentucky Derby Past Performances and statistical view at the Run for the Roses. Since 1940, a lot of talk has been placed on a Kentucky Derby hopeful's final start and where they will prep and how well the past performances were. The interest in this annual right of passage for the owners of each horses and for Kentucky Derby handicappers as well…

Race 9: 1 1/16th (Dirt), Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3), Purse $400k, 3 (Saturday) The Grade III Lexington Stakes is the last gasp for the Kentucky Derby Prep Trail. Up for the taking are Points that include, 20 for the "Winner," 8 for the "Place" horse, 4 for the "Show" runner, and a measly 2 for the entry who rounds out the "Super." In the…

The horses for the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby are listed in order of post position, with comments by Joe Drape and Melissa Hoppert of The New York Times. The morning-line odds were set by Mike Battaglia of Churchill Downs. King Fury was scratched Friday with a fever. All horses to his outside will move in one spot the new 20-horse starting…

Regal Glory, shown winning the 2021 Matriarch at Del Mar, takes on male rivals in Saturday's Grade I Fourstardave at Saratoga. Benoit photo, courtesy of Del Mar Turf Club Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Turf racing at Saratoga, Del Mar and Churchill Downs tops the weekend agenda, with a pair of Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" slots up for grabs. A third…

After a record-setting $28.1 million was bet at Keeneland for Blue Grass Day, Week 2 of the four-week spring meet features five more prominent stakes races going off Friday or Saturday. The Kentucky Derby trail quiets a bit after a flurry of major preps in recent weeks, but potential Preakness players will be in action in Keeneland's Lexington…

Starting at 1:00 p.m. EST, we have 11 races at Keeneland. Using numberFire's projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets on FanDuel Racing. As always, check the program for racing information and scratches and changes. Also, watch the weather and track conditions. (I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells…

Florida Derby Draw: Tiz the Law 6-5 Favorite in 12-Horse Field… And it's on with the races at Gulfstream Park. As racing for the week began Wednesday (March 25), track officials conducted the post-position draw for Saturday's $750000 Florida Derby (G1), the signature race of the meet that many times produces the favorite for the Kentucky…

US horse racing trainer - Wesley Ward - loves sending horses over to England for the five-day Royal Ascot meeting, which gets going this week. The Royal Ascot fixture (Tues 14th - Sat 18th June) is one of the highlights on the world horse racing calendar and over the years Wesley Ward has had plenty of success at the meeting with twelve winners and…

Consideringthe expected low odds for the favorite Essential Quality in the Grade 1, $1.25million Travers Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga, it makes sense to explore otheroptions for the top slot. No matter what, Essential Quality is a must-use inlonger horizontal plays, but his popularity likely will create good betting opportunities on otherentries…

Tawny Port, White Abarrio and Classic Causeway, who all contested the Kentucky Derby last out, top a strong field of eight sophomore males entered in Saturday's $500000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown. A winner of the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland two starts back, Tawny Port has been named the morning line favorite in the 9 furlong test. In the…

Tawny Port schools in the paddock at Churchill Downs Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby drew a strong field of 10 including six who participated in the Kentucky Derby this spring. Among that group, Cyberknife must be mentioned first as he rebounded off an 18th place Derby effort to win both the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes and Grade 1…

Churchill Downs' News: Santin, Smooth Like Strait May Be Showdown in Saturday's G1 Arlington Million (Santin / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: Godolphin's Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (Grade I) winner Santin will face six fellow turf specialists, including Cannon Thoroughbreds' 2021 Shoemaker Mile (GI)…