#Mike Maker

Pegasus World Cup Turf News: Atone Is A-Tuning Up (Trainer Mike Maker is getting Atone ready for Pegasus World Cup Turf / Coady Photography) From the Gulfstream Park Media Team: Three Diamonds Farm's Atone uncorked his third straight bullet workout Saturday at Gulfstream Park in preparation for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), powering…

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…

The Eric Foster-trained and co-owned Kitodan rolled to a four-length victory under Gerardo Corrales in the $750000, Grade 3 Big Ass Fans Dueling Grounds Derby on Sept. 5 at Kentucky Downs. (Coady Photography) National HBPA Press Release LEXINGTON, Ky. - Turf specialist Kitodan, who went from being claimed twice last year to winning Kentucky Downs'…

While I was watching yet another NFL halftime show precede and perhaps trigger a stadium power outage, I went back to my computer window that was locked Thanksgiving morning into the very early betting on the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Four times a year I am thankful for the a-ha, teaching moment that the KDFW provides. And it happened like…

In this biweekly series, racing analyst Keeler Johnson shares promising horses from his handicapping watch list, reviewing runners who have recently caught his eye and previewing horses scheduled to run back in the near future. New to the Watch List A daughter of two-time horse of the year Curlin and a half-sister to Toboggan (G3) winner Great…

Two weeks after a Grade 1 win at Saratoga, trainer Christophe Clement is putting the star of his barn back in the starting gates. Gufo (7-5) is morning-line favorite Saturday for the Grade 2, $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes. Post time from Kentucky Downs is 5:45 p.m., with the race broadcast on both CNBC and FanDuel TV, the network formerly…

The trail toward the first Saturday in May reaches its next step on the first Saturday in January. Arctic Arrogance is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the $150000 Jerome Stakes. Post time from Aqueduct is 3:16 p.m., with FS2 showing the one-mile event for 3-year-olds. The Jerome awards its top five finishers Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a…

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Thursday, Jan. 5 at Fair Grounds and Turfway Park, along with horses to play in Aqueduct's $189198 Pick 5 carryover and Turfway's $4843 Super High 5 carryover. Fair Grounds $1000 Late Pick 5 Hit It and Split It: Hit the Late Pick 5 at Fair Grounds on any day of live racing from Jan. 5-31…

Titleholder wins Sunday's Takarazuka Kinen, now targeting the Arc d'Triomphe. Photo courtesy of Japan Racing Association June 27 (UPI) -- Tawny Port's victory in Saturday's Ohio Derby serves notice the scramble among U.S. 3-year-olds is far from over while Westover's dominance of the Irish Derby indicates he's not out of the frame, either, despite…

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,…

A Triple Crown sweep lies silent this year with Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike side-stepping Saturday's Preakness Stakes. But a trio of big-time talents make this year's middle jewel a fabulous, triple-threat race. Kentucky Derby runner-up and beaten favorite Epicenter was installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite by Pimlico oddsmaker Keith…

From the Turfway Park Media Team: Lucrative purse money and Kentucky Derby qualifying points will be on the line during Turfway Park's annual Winter/Spring Meet, which will begin Sunday, Jan. 1 and feature the Grade III, $700000 Jeff Ruby Steaks on Saturday, March 25. Led by the Jeff Ruby Steaks on the Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by…

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…

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…

Last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Knicks Go is the early favorite at 5-2 for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Jan. 23 (NBC, 4:30-6 p.m. ET). He is trained by Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer finalist Brad Cox and will be ridden by Joel Rosario, a finalist for the Eclipse Award for Outstanding…

Like a lot of kids who grew up on the racetrack, Jesus "Jesse" Cruz hoped to become a jockey. But long after he outgrew that king-sized dream, he continued to forge relationships with horses. When a homebred named Help a Brother arrived in the barn of his stepfather, Lewis Craig, Jr., at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in 2012, 18-year-old…

New York Racing Association stewards ruled Sunday's seventh race at Saratoga a No Contest due to a mechanical issue with the starting gate tractor. That mechanical issue created a delay in removing the gate once the field started the race. The outriders communicated to the jockeys there was a problem. Several pulled up their mounts during the 1…

Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Practical Move upset three of trainer Bob Baffert's 2-year-olds in the weekend's feature race, the Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity, adding his name into the mix of candidates for the 2023 Kentucky Derby. Things went a bit more to expectations among the Japanese 2-year-olds as the three favorites reported 1-2-3 in Sunday's Grade 1…

Keeneland Barn Notes: Basin Gets Final Prep for G2 Blue Grass Stakes (Trainer Steve Asmussen / Photo by Holly M. Smith) From the Keeneland Media Team: GRADE 1 WINNER BASIN WORKS FOR TOYOTA BLUE GRASS Toyota Blue Grass (G2) hopeful Basin, who races for Terry Green's Jackpot Farm, was the first horse to breeze over Keeneland's fast track Monday when…

The Gulfstream Park Championship Meet arrives in March in high style! With the addition of Tapeta, plus the MT and Turf Course, it gives bettors a myriad of options! At Horseracing.net/us we have you covered, including all of the action related to the Derby Trail! The South Florida Series turns its attention to today's Grade 2 running of the…

Les Bon Temps upsets the Maid of the Mist (NYRA/Coglianese) By Ryan Martin - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- A field of 11 will assemble with aspirations to give their bankroll a massive boost in Saturday's $500000 NYSSS Fifth Avenue for eligible New York-sired 2-year-old fillies going seven furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack. Leading the charge is…

Dr. Blute wins the Empire Classic Oct. 30 (Janet Garaguso) By Ryan Martin - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Flanagan Racing's Dr. Blute will try to wrap up the year by doubling up on stakes scores in Saturday's $100000 Alex M. Robb for New York-breds 3-year-old and upward going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct Racetrack. Dr. Blute, a 4-year-old…

Lucrative purse money and Kentucky Derby qualifying points will be on the line during Turfway Park's annual Winter/Spring Meet, which will begin Sunday, Jan. 1 and feature the Grade 3, $700000 Jeff Ruby Steaks on Saturday, March 25. Led by the Jeff Ruby Steaks on the Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, Turfway Park will offer…

Trainer John Sadler thought the best place for Bran to start was far from his Southern California base, and in Saturday's $1 million FanDuel Turf Sprint, a Grade 2, six-furlong test at Kentucky Downs. His decision worked out perfectly, as jockey Vincent Cheminaud guided the 4-year-old gelding to victory by a neck over pace-setter Artemus…

Aboutthe only thing missing in Steve Asmussen's Hall of Fame career is a KentuckyDerby victory. That does not mean Las Vegas is shying away from him in 2022. With26 of his 3-year-olds among the betting choices at Circa Sports and CaesarsSportsbook at William Hill Nevada, Asmussen has nine more horses in the Derby futuresthan any other…

Bankit rolls home in the NYSSS Thunder Rumble (Chelsea Durand) By Mary Eddy - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's millionaire New York-bred Bankit added a seventh stakes score to his impressive resume when he stalked and pounced to an open-length victory in Sunday's $125000 NYSSS Thunder Rumble for…

OCEANPORT - His turf course. His race.Jockey Joe Bravo gave the Mike Maker-trained Bigger Picture a picture-perfect rail-skimming ride as that horse rallied from last in the field of nine with five furlongs left to win the Grade I $300000 United Nations Stakes by a head over Can't helpbelieving Saturday at Monmouth Park.For Bravo, a 13-time…

Horsemen show a lot of support for Del Mar; Tizamagician to do the trick in Cougar II; Osunitas, Wickerr enhance weekend program DEL MAR, Calif.- Flavien Prat, the riding champion four of the last five years, has mounts booked for all 10 races as Del Mar opens its 82 summer season today. Soon after the last one he'll catch a plane for New Jersey…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The horses for the 143rd 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. Purse: $2 million guaranteed Distance: 1¼ miles Track record: 1:59 2/5 (Secretariat, 1973) Post…

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…

Dalaika, shown winning the Grade I Beverly D. at Churchill Downs, returns for the $1 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs Sept. 9 (UPI) -- It's all about the turf in weekend horse racing with Kentucky Downs staging an extravaganza unmatched anywhere in North America short of the Breeders' Cup World…

Epicenter, shown training before his second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, meets the winner of that race, Rich Strike, again Saturday in the Grade I Travers Stakes at Saratoga. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs Aug. 26 (UPI) -- The "Midsummer Derby" at Saratoga pits the first three finishers from the Kentucky Derby against one another again in…

White Abarrio, seen winning the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park, is among the Kentucky Derby contenders returning to action in Saturday's Ohio Derby at Thistledown. Photo courtesy of Gulfstream Park June 24 (UPI) -- Derby contenders from Louisville and Epsom Downs return to action in weekend horse racing and "Win and You're In" spots for…

Knicks Go warms up for Saturday's Pegasus World Cup. Photo by Lauren King, courtesy of Gulfstream Park Jan. 28 (UPI) -- It's only January, with lots of races yet to come, but it's possible the "race of the year" could be run Saturday in the $3 million Grade I Pegasus Stakes at Gulfstream Park as speedy Breeders' Cup champions Knicks Go and Life Is…

Stats, works, videos and more! A field of eight super talented 3-year-old colts will compete Saturday, June 25, in the 2022 G3 Ohio Derby held at JackThistledown for a purse of $500000. The marquee event is the closer on an 11-race card. With a first post of 12 PM ET, the Ohio Derby will post at 5:35 PM ET. With G3 Stonestreet Lexington winner…

Welcome to another edition of America's Best Racing's Main Track. After a brief vacation, we're back with the most meaningful story of the past seven days, detailing a story that stands out because of its importance or perhaps the emotional response it generates. Looking ahead, if you believe there's a story this week that should be featured in…

This weekend's horse racing action is highlighted by a quartet of Grade 1 turf races in Hong Kong which have drawn an international cast, including Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare turf heroine Loves Only You. Stateside, the stakes action is led by the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity and the G3 Mr. Prospector on Saturday. Additionally, Arkansas Derby winner…

Churchill Downs' Barn Notes: Proxy Gets Big Speed Figure After G1 Clark Win (Proxy / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churchill Downs' Media Team: Godolphin's talented 4-year-old colt Proxy earned his first career stakes victory Friday with his determined three-quarters of a length win in the $750000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade…

For me, one main attraction to superfectas is that a superfecta probable payout pool is not displayed making this bet an unknown endeavor relative to an exacta and even trifectas in some circumstances where the probable payouts are available. However, if you observe the pool results over a long period of time, you will come to realize the heavily…

Churchill Downs' Barn Notes: Curly Jack May Set Them Straight In G2 KY Jockey Club (Curly Jack / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: Michael McLaughlin's $300000 Iroquois Stakes (Grade III) winner Curly Jack headlines a field of nine 2-year-old colts that were entered in Saturday's 96 running of the $400000 Kentucky…

Thin White Duke after a win in the Lucky Coin at Saratoga (Susie Raisher) By Mary Eddy - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Conditioner David Donk will have two chances to capture his first $150000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship with Thin White Duke and Yes and Yes in Friday's six-furlong outer turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up at Aqueduct…

The fall meet at Churchill Downs rolls on with a 10-race Wednesday program, and all events are scheduled for the dirt. Here are my five favorite heats on the card. Best bet: Summer Splash (race 3) Best value bet: Flyin Bessie (race 8) Race 3 No. 7 Summer Splash (3-1) demolished a similar field at Remington on Sept. 17 before finding allowance foes…

A pair of undefeated colts trained by Bob Baffert are the morning-line favorites for Saturday's Arkansas Derby, which has been split into two divisions. A total of 22 3-year-olds were entered for the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, leading to the race being split into two divisions. Both races will include 170 qualifying points toward the…

Notes & Quotes From the Claiming Crown Jewel (& More): Keystone Field (Keystone Field / All Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: Keystone Field, owned by Kirk Wycoff's Three Diamonds Farm, swept past early leaders Benevengo and Frosted Grace leaving the final turn and determinedly turned back a late charge by 2-1…

With Champion 3-Year-Old Male finalist Omaha Beach and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run out for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, the field has opened up for the remaining 10 horses. Spun to Run was withdrawn with hives, and even money favorite Omaha Beach scratched due to swelling in his right hind leg. Bob…

One week after racing's biggest stars contested the Breeders' Cup, the sport's hard knockers are featured Saturday under the Twin Spires. Intrepid Heart is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the 2022 running of the $175000 Claiming Crown Jewel. Post time from Churchill Downs is 5:35 p.m. EST, with the race shown on FS2. The Claiming Crown features…

Churchill Downs' Barn Notes: Sconsin Returns in Sunday's Dream Supreme Stakes (Sconsin / Photos by Coady Photography) From the Churhcill Downs Media Team: Lloyd Madison Farm's growing broodmare band will add another member to their roster with their homebred Sconsin, who has a date with 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner in a few months. The…

Set Piece Is Set to Return to Churchill Downs in Sunday's G3 River City (Set Piece / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: Juddmonte's multiple graded stakes winner Set Piece (GB) leads an oversubscribed cast of 14 horses that were entered in Sunday's $300000 River City (Grade III) at Churchill Downs. Sunday's featured…

By Mary Eddy - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Wertheimer and Frere's Pao Alto looks to earn his first stateside victory for conditioner Graham Motion in Sunday's $135000 Artie Schiller, a one-mile inner turf test for 3-year-olds and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack. Pao Alto, a 5-year-old French-bred son of Intello, will cut back one furlong from his…