#Make It Snappy

With Charles Dickens out of the equation, the WSB Met, scheduled for January 28, could end up being one of the best races of the season from a betting perspective. The sponsors of the grade 1 race, World Sports Betting, have Jet Dark (7-2) and Kommetdieding (4-1) at the top of the market. This column's advice - don't touch these prices, for the…

It may be more than a coincidence that both these crack 3yo's chose to challenge themselves in open company, before taking on the best of their own year. Tony Mincione writes that anyone wondering if Brett Crawford's young filly, the rated 85, was being over-faced in the Summer Bowl (a stepped handicap for Fillies and Mares which capped horses 110…

Lovely Ride wins Saturday's Pippin Stakes at Oaklawn Park Coady Photography, courtesy of Oaklawn Park Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Trainer Bob Baffert saddled the first three finishers in Sunday's $100000 Grade III Sham Stakes at Santa Anita, a "Road to the Kentucky Derby" race, while the other weekend qualifier went to a colt who might find the Derby distance…

The Breeders' Cup Challenge series heads to Kenilworth racecourse in Cape Town, South Africa on Saturday with two qualifying races - one of which has a new name. With the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the former Queen's Plate is reverting to its previous name of the King's Plate (G1). Its winner will have automatic entry to the Breeders' Cup Mile…

The classic of kings boasts an honour roll of the very best of the sophomore crop over decades and the 2022 renewal promises a vintage contest, with stakes boosted substantially, and local boom horse Charles Dickens making his Gr1 debut as he takes on Gr1 winning fellow Capetonian Cousin Casey, and Mike de Kock's recent Gr2 Jonsson Workwear…

The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that consistent 4th finisher PORT LOUIS made for the ideal line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 105. There were also ratings increases for four other horses. Runner-up, AT YOUR COMMAND, was picked up from 107 to 109, while 3rd finisher LE MORNE goes up from 94 to 105. 5th placed…