#Main Track

Knicks Go, seen winning the Grade I Pegasus World Cup in January, is favorite for Saturday's Grade I Whitney at Saratoga. Photo courtesy of Gulfstream Park Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Rich purses drew some top foreign talent for the Saratoga Derby and Oaks on Saturday and Sunday on the upstate New York turf to highlight a big weekend of Thoroughbred…

In what will go down as the most surreal week in sports since 9/11, racing got a double spoonful of distasteful medicine. As the sports world - and the real world - come to grips with the spreading coronavirus, the horse world must also sort out the impact of the criminal bombshell that dropped Monday. Rival trainers Jason Servis and Jorge Navarro,…

These Saturday races meet the criteria I've established for using the superfecta-key betting strategy. At Aqueduct Race 9 This one-mile allowance race on the dirt for 4-year-olds and up attracted a a field of 11, with one runner coming in off the claim. All entrants exit dirt races - 10 at Aqueduct and one at Penn National. The field has combined…

Even if a race does not carry qualifying points, if there are 3-year-olds running, it could end up being a prep for Kentucky Derby 2023. In addition to the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, there are six other races Saturday that include 15 horses who already are in the Derby futures market in Las Vegas or are on the verge of being there. Maiden…

Welcome to Noel Michaels' Weekend Winners, the place to go for weekend best bets and spot plays from veteran handicapper and tournament-play pioneer Noel Michaels. Check back every week for a couple of highlighted selections designed to help you cash a few bets and make some money. Noel's selections have been featured just about everywhere horse…

A Grade 3 stakes winner last time in New York, Champions Dream headlines a strong pair of stablemates for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse in Saturday's $125000 Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Likely to be favored in the field of six, the son of Justify has won 2-of-3 starts for former trainer Danny Gargan. Debuting at Saratoga, he broke his maiden…

January is always a good time of year to search maiden special weight entries for promising 3-year-olds making their debuts. Often there are well-bred youngsters to be found. Such is the case this week. A half-sister to Dortmund and a colt produced by Dame Dorothy are two of the half-dozen notable names we're highlighting in Prospect…

Headlined by classic winners Authentic, Swiss Skydiver and Tiz The Law, 184 horses were drawn Monday afternoon into 14 fields for the $28 million Breeders' Cup championships Friday and Saturday at Keeneland. The morning lines were determined by handicapper Mike Battaglia. [] Below are the fields and odds for the 14 Breeders' Cup races in reverse…

Champagne Dream winning the G3 Nashua at Aqueduct Nov. 6, 2022. (Joe Labozzetta) Tampa Bay Downs Skyway Festival Day by Mike Henry/Tampa Bay Downs TAMPA BAY, Fla.-A trio of stakes races comprise Saturday's annual Skyway Festival Day card at Tampa Bay Downs, with 3-year-olds of both sexes attempting to prove their mettle in a pair of $125000,…

Three-year-old dirt fillies get one last chance to compete at the top level against their own age and sex in the $300000 La Brea Stakes (G1), which runs Monday, December 26 at Santa Anita! The race drew a field of eight, four of whom are already graded winners and four who seek those honors for the first time in their career. The field is led by…

By the time the Grade 1, $1017500 Haskell Stakes was about to start Saturday evening, trainer Brad Cox was under extra pressure. He had been on a private plane from Saratoga only a few hours earlier with rival trainer Chad Brown, Brown's girlfriend and three jockeys. By the time the Haskell rolled around, Brown had won five races, including four…

Potential Breeders' Cup Horses Work Lexus Raven Run Winner Caramel Swirl Returns To Churchill Downs Conditioner Cox's "Cool Little Horse" Perryville Winner He'smyhoneybadger LEXINGTON, Ky. - Charles Fipke's undefeated Lady Speightspeare, scratched at the gate for the Oct. 16 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana, at Keeneland…

Kentucky Derby second-place finisher Mandaloun (pink cap) wins Sunday's Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park. Photo courtesy of Monmouth Park June 14 (UPI) -- Maybe it's a little early to crown Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality as best 3-year-old in the nation, especially after Mandaloun's impressive victory in Sunday's Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth…

Trainer Peter Miller was worried he might not have Thirsty John fit enough for Saturday's Cal Cup Derby at Santa Anita off an eight-month layoff, but his plan worked out just fine on a racing day devoted to Cal-breds. Miller had Thirsty John fit enough to go gate to wire and hold off stablemate Giver Not a Taker by a half length in the $200000 race…

Santa Anita Barn Notes: Friday's Card Gets 8.5 Starters Per Race From the Santa Anita Media Team: FRIDAY'S ALL-DIRT CARD ATTRACTS 8.5 STARTERS PER RACE With more rain in the forecast for Arcadia this week, the decision was made to run Friday's eight-race program exclusively on dirt. After entries were taken and the program finalized yesterday,…

Cheval Grand, shown winning the 2017 Japan Cup, returns seeking a repeat victory in Sunday's renewal. Photo courtesy of Japan Racing Association Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Weekend horse racing action stretches from Tokyo to Bahrain with a stop in England and a quick look at Hong Kong's preparations for its big weekend two weeks down the calendar. The Grade 1…

Lugan Knight (inside) holds off Arctic Arrogance to win the Jerome (Chelsea Durand) By Mary Eddy - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- BG Stables' Kentucky homebred Lugan Knight came out on the winning end of a thrilling stretch duel with New York-bred Arctic Arrogance in Saturday's $150000 Jerome, a one-turn mile for sophomores, at Aqueduct…

BG Stables' Kentucky homebred Lugan Knight came out on the winning end of a thrilling stretch duel with New York-bred Arctic Arrogance in Saturday's $150000 Jerome, a one-turn mile for sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Lugan Knight earned 10 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 6 at Churchill…

Repole Stable's Chocolate Gelato fought off a determined You're My Girl coming out of the turn to win the $400000, Grade 1 Frizette Stakes by a length on a sloppy main track at the Belmont at the Big A meet held at Aqueduct Oct. 2. The victory earned the 2-year-old daughter of Practical Joke a spot in the NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile…

Horses break from the starting gate during the first race of Oaklawn's live race meet on December 3, 2021. Oaklawn's racing season begins once again Friday. - File photo by The Sentinel-Record FRIDAY'S RESULTS 3-9 (33.3%) MEET 23-93 (24.7%) LEE'S LOCK Andy Cant in the third BEST BET Keystone Field in the eighth LONG SHOT Thorn Crown in the…

G3 Sham Stakes Preview: Spun Intended Could Spell Trouble From the Santa Anita Media Team: In what appears to be a David vs. Goliath scenario at Santa Anita, trainer Mark Glatt's Spun Intended will take on no less than four Bob Baffert Derby hopefuls among a field of six sophomores in Sunday's Grade III, $100000 Sham Stakes at one mile. Named for…

In what appears to be a David vs. Goliath scenario at Santa Anita, trainer Mark Glatt's Spun Intended will take on no less than four Bob Baffert Derby hopefuls among a field of six sophomores in Sunday's Grade III, $100000 Sham Stakes at one mile. Named for the winner of the 1973 Santa Anita Derby and subsequent runner-up to Secretariat in that…

The Fair Grounds hasn't had the easiest time of it thus far this season, what with its turf course having been shut down for repairs, but the New Orleans oval got back on track the day after Christmas with a 13-race extravaganza chock full of stakes races. James Graham and Brendan Walsh took their fair share of the spoils. Graham brought in the…

Fair Grounds News: Bron and Brow Highlights 1st Gary P. Palmisano Stakes From the Fair Grounds Media Team: Gary Barber's Bron and Brow enters the 1st running of the $75000 Gary P. Palmisano Memorial Stakes after showcasing his best effort to date in a second-level allowance on Dec 15. A field of nine Louisiana-breds will take to the court in…

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Turf racing for 2-year-old fillies and a stakes race for horses that are novices over the jumps headline the Saratoga card on Thursday. The $150000 P.G. Johnson has drawn eight entries to run 1 1/16 miles on the Mellon Turf Course, plus one who will run only if the race is moved from the turf to the main track. Be Your Best, who…

According to numberFire Racing's projections, these are the best bets to make on TVG or FanDuel Racing today. Stash My Cash was third in a similar race to this last time and looks to have decent claims in a contest that probably isn't quite as strong. Tough Workout clocked a good time on latest start and appeals most of the remainder. Go Skippy Go…

Trainers have a lot of customary language to go to when describing their horses on a regular basis. One line that is thrown around a lot is - "the horse will tell us when he's ready." Jace's Road was that horse on Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for trainer Brad Cox, who was also victorious with the colt Corona Bolt in the $100000…

Readers of Bettors Insider are getting a one-race preview of my day's selections. To sign up for daily emails with the day's FULL selections and weekly Saturday videos, click here Saturday's race recap from Gulfstream: (All odds US) Gulfstream Park: Race 2: 2nd@ 2.40/1 Race 4: 4th@ 13.00/1 Race 6: 4th@ 6.90/1 Race 7: 4th@ 19.40/1 Race 8: 8th@…

The Grade 1, $500000 Champagne produced another unlikely winner on Saturday at Belmont at the Big A, with trainer Chad Brown's Blazing Sevens closing down the center of a sloppy and sealed main track to prevail by 3 1/4 lengths en route to a potential start in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The 151st running of the Champagne, run at one mile…

ARCADIA, Calif. - On the morning of March 29, Santa Anita Park was reopening for racing for the first time in three weeks after the mystifying deaths of nearly two dozen horses. Satellite trucks, national news reporters and animal rights activists converged for what had become a macabre death watch. But California regulators were watching a live…

Drafted (outside) holds off Little Vic to win the $135K Gravesend (Chelsea Durand) By Mary Eddy - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Veteran gelding Drafted needed every inch of the Aqueduct Racetrack stretch to win a dramatic photo finish, but did so under a well-timed ride from Luis Rodriguez Castro to score a nose victory in Friday's $135000…

Forewarned wins last year's edition of the Queens County (NYRA/Coglianese) NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Trainer Uriah St. Lewis' graded stakes-placed Forewarned will attempt to defend his title in the $150000 Queens County, a nine-furlong main track test for 3-year-olds and upward, on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack. "He's doing fantastic and…

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,…

Battle Bling after her win in the 2022 Ladies (NYRA/Coglianese) By Keith McCalmont OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Michael Dubb and Gandharvi's graded-stakes winner Battle Bling will look to defend her title in Sunday's $150000 Ladies, a nine-furlong test for fillies and mares 4 years old and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack. Trained by Rob Atras, the soon-to-be…

HENDERSON, Ky. -- Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. won on four his five mounts Friday on Ellis Park's eight-race card, including with the promising 2-year-old colt Tiz the Bomb. The race he lost? Gus Gus, owned by trainer Ian Wilkes' wife, Tracey, and Hernandez's wife, Jamie. The two couples also bred the 2-year-old gelding. But Gus Gus' second place in…

Aqueduct Barn Notes: Ridin With Biden Headlines Saturday's Queens County Stakes From the NYRA Media Team / Mary Eddy: Cash is King and LC Racing's graded stakes-winner Ridin With Biden will look to double up on stakes scores as he wraps up his 4-year-old campaign in Saturday's $150000 Queens County, a nine-furlong main track route for 3-year-olds…

Desert Encounter, winner of the 2018 and 2019 Pattison Canadian International, is back trying for a "three-peat" in Saturday's renewal at Woodbine. Photo courtesy of Woodbine Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Belmont Park returns to action this weekend with Irish and English horses, including Bolshoi Ballet, chasing the third leg of New York's rich turf…

Holiday-themed stakes were on the menu Thanksgiving Eve at Parx Racing, and that was perfectly tasty to Bourbon Bon Bay. The five-year-old mare, making just her fourth career start, snagged her first stakes win with a one-length victory in the $75000 Cornucopia Stakes for fillies and mares. Now four-for-four lifetime, Bourbon Bon Bay has $120000 in…

Readers of Bettors Insider are getting a one-race preview of my day's selections. To sign up for daily emails with the day's FULL selections and weekly Saturday videos, click here Thursday's Race Recap from Aqueduct: (All odds US) Race Replays for yesterday's races from Aqueduct: Aqueduct: Race 1: 5th@ 18.90/1 Race 5: 2nd@ 23.80/1 Race 6: 8th@…

The ball drops at Times Square, fireworks explode around the globe and North American Thoroughbreds celebrate their birthdays at midnight on Jan. 1. A few of the newly turned 3-year-olds waste no time starting their once-in-a-lifetime quest for the Kentucky Derby starting gate as Aqueduct rings in 2018 with the $150000 Jerome Stakes. On New Year's…

Notes & Quotes From Gun Runner Stakes & Untappable Stakes: Jace's Road & Pretty Mischievous (Jace's Road / Hughes Photo & Courtesy of the Fairgrounds) From the Fairgrounds Media Team: Trainers have a lot of customary language to go to when describing their horses on a regular basis. One line that is thrown around a lot is - "the horse will tell us…

Surveillance with James Graham aboard wins the Richard Scherer Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds. *Hodges Photography/Amanda Hodges Weir) Fair Grounds Press Release NEW ORLEANS, La.- Surveillance stayed perfect on Fair Grounds' main track, winning the $100000 Richard R. Scherer Memorial Stakes by 2 lengths over Bango. That makes it two stakes wins in…

Jace's Road with Florent Geroux aboard wins the $100000 Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds. (Hodges Photography/Amanda Hodges Weir) Fair Grounds Press Release NEW ORLEANS, La.- Trainers have a lot of customary language to go to when describing their horses on a regular basis. One line that is thrown around a lot is - "the horse will tell us when…

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter, who came up just shy of Grade 1 glory twice this spring in the Triple Crown, secured both his first top-level victory and a place at the top of the sophomore division with an emphatic 5 1/4-length victory under Joel Rosario in the 153rd renewal of the 10-furlong Grade 1, $1.25 million…

The principal action for Kentucky Derby 148 occurred more than 2000 miles west of Churchill Downs Thursday morning as Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner Taiba worked six furlongs in 1:12.80. "It was very straight forward," trainer Tim Yakteen said. "He worked three-quarters from the five-eighth pole. It was a typical Taiba work and we accomplished what…

Turf racing returns for Monday's "Road to the Derby Kickoff Day" card at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, La. With the portable rail set at 34 feet, starters will be limited to eight runners for the $100000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial and the female counterpart, the 1 1/16 miles $100000 Blushing K.D. (Race 6). With the same parameters,…

The final chance for three-year-old dirt males to vie for Grade 1 glory before turning four and having to face older horses comes Monday, December 26, at Santa Anita. The race covers seven furlongs on the Santa Anita main track, and drew a field of nine horses. As usual for such a late-season three-year-old race, it drew a mix of classy locals and…

Welcome to Noel Michaels' Weekend Winners, the place to go for weekend best bets and spot plays from veteran handicapper and tournament-play pioneer Noel Michaels. Check back every week for a couple of highlighted selections designed to help you cash a few bets and make some money. Noel's selections have been featured just about everywhere horse…

Horse racing fans get the holiday gift they really want - albeit a day late - when the SoCal winter racing season celebrates its traditional post-Christmas opening day on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park. That date marks the start of a new season in racing at the Arcadia, Calif., track and kicks off one of the country's premier annual winter/spring race…

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…