#Grade 3

Item: Malathaat, the undefeated winner of the Kentucky Oaks, will not race next month in the Belmont Stakes. So much for the battle of the sexes. Item: Because of his ongoing medication contretemps, Bob Baffert and anyone associated with his stable have been ordered to stay away from New York Racing Association tracks. That means Kentucky Derby…

7 February 2022 By Roger Kennedy [email protected] Starting on Tuesday, 15 March and continuing till Friday, 18 March, the Cheltenham Festival is almost upon us. If you want to get your ante post bets in, now is likely the best time to start picking your horses for each race. Of course, you will need some information on the favourites to win major…

Newsboy's Nap selection on the New Year's Day racing programme is the Warren Greatex-trained Abuffalosoldier at Cheltenham (3.05). The next best is another Prestbury Park runner Midnight River (1.55) Stattler MIDNIGHT RIVER is fancied to get punters off to the perfect start for 2023 with a victory in the Paddy Power New Year's Day Handicap Chase…

Molecules will be the longest shot in Saturday night's $200000, Grade 3 Indiana Oaks at Indiana Grand, but a victory by the locally-based 3-year-old filly would be in keeping with her remarkable story. Edward "Bow" Boerjan already was fighting cancer when he purchased Molecules for $1500 at Keeneland's 2016 January sale. He had the daughter of…

Trainer Willie Mullins' nine-year-old returned to action with a win on New Year's Day at Tramore. He is one of 17 Irish entries for the Festival feature Dual winner Al Boum Photo heads 41 entries for this year's Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup. Willie Mullins' chaser could join Best Mate, Arkle and Cottage Rake as the fourth horse to record a hat-trick…

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…

METIER (3:15) can prevail in another magnificent renewal of the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso. Harry Fry's horse looked a potential superstar when bolting up in last year's Tolworth at Sandown. The gelding's reputation then took a massive hit when he flopped in the Supreme at Cheltenham. No better on his return at Sandown, he showed signs of a…

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,…

Trainer Ramon Minguet and jockey Samuel Marin had a strong feeling their 3-year-old gelding Zydeceaux was prepared for his winning effort in Saturday's seven-furlong $125000 Pasco Stakes for 3-year-old males at Tampa Bay Downs. "He's a very, very fast horse," Minguet said. "I believed in my horse. I knew he was getting good and that he was going to…

By Andrew Asquith, Saturday 14 January 2023 Posted in: Cheltenham Festival Tips Andrew Asquith looks ahead to the 2023 Mares' Hurdle and picks out his best ante-post bet. It is hard to get away from Willie Mullins' record in the Mares' Hurdle, winning it a total of nine times since its inception in 2008, and he has five horses entered in this…

Cheltenham's Showcase meeting is one of the highlights of the opening salvos of the jumps season and Saturday's card looks an absolute cracker. The ITV cameras will be at Prestbury Park for five of the seven races, including two £60000 handicap chases and a £40000 Masterson Holdings Hurdle that has been won by the likes of Dodging Bullets, Tiger…

As the 2023 Kentucky Derby trail takes a one-weekend pause, the 2023 Kentucky Oaks path continues Saturday in New York. Occult is the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the $100000 Busanda Stakes. Post time from Aqueduct is 3:47 p.m. EST, with FS2 showing the 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The Busanda is the first prep race to pay points on a…

It is going to be very good to see Davy Russell back in action at Fairyhouse on Saturday, and racegoers on the day won't have too long to wait, as the three-time champion returns to the saddle on Jazzy Matty in the opening four-year-olds' hurdle. This is a warm contest, with the impressive Cork winner Blood Destiny in opposition, as well as the…

It is sometimes called the most important turf meeting in the U.S. this side of the Breeders' Cup. But is the Arlington Million card really all that? The ingredients are certainly there. Impressive purses for three Grade 1 races that have endured for more than three decades. Horses from around the world representing the sport's biggest powerhouse…

Barra could be the value in a really competitive Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarraig Lady Francis Flood Mares' Handicap chase on Day Four of the Punchestown Festival today. Gordon Elliott's mare was a progressive handicap hurdler last season. She finished second in the Paddy Mullins mares' handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival at…

Largent, shown winning the 2020 Fort Lauderdale Stakes, returns from an 11-month layoff to contest Saturday's Tropical Turf at Gulfstream Park and could be considered for the Grade 1 Pegasus Turf with a good effort. Photo by Ryan Thompson, courtesy of Gulfstream Park Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A potential prep for the Pegasus World Cup Turf in Florida, a…

Stonewall Star after her victory in the Key Cents (NYRA/Coglianese) NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Barry Schwartz's New York homebred Stonewall Star will look to regain winning form for trainer Horacio De Paz in the $100000 Franklin Square, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for state-bred sophomore fillies, on January 22 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The bay…

2023-01-13Saturday Kempton racing tip preview: Pic D'Orhy set to dominate small field Fiosrach is run by multi-award winning tipster Andrew, who was the founder and main tipster at Cleeve Racing. Profits were made in every season when Andrew was tipping at Cleeve and he was admitted into the Secret Betting Club Hall of Fame in 2019. You can…

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'…

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…

As times change, even a two-time Triple Crown-winning, Hall of Fame trainer has to adjust. In an era when horses are racing less and less, Bob Baffert looks like he is not only ahead of the curve, but he is leading the vanguard. This goes way beyond what he did with Justify in a gaudy, 112-day dash from apprenticeship to retirement. Very quietly,…

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…

This is "last call" weekend for Breeders' Cup hopefuls with more than a dozen "Win and You're In" races spread across three U.S. tracks. It's also Arc weekend in Paris and Winx seeks her 28th straight win in Australia. There's even more, with important 2-year-old races in Canada and the Group 1 Sun Chariot in England. Twenty-eight straight wins? It…

Racing in the Western Cape reverts to the Southern Suburbs venue on Saturday where the Gr3 Cape Classic for three-year-olds over 1400m tops the nine-race card, with three minor features presenting some testing options. The Hollywoodbets Punters' Challenge has proven a hit since being introduced in the Cape and on Wednesday one desperately unlucky…

Trainer Bob Baffert holds a strong hand when he sends out the favored pair of Ganadora and Under the Stars in a field of six older females in the Grade 3 La Canada Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita. Ganadora is the more lightly raced of the duo, but will likely be the post-time choice. The $1 million yearling purchase pushed a strong pace before…

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…

It is the great story of the understudy getting that one shot to step in for the star. One shot to step into the spotlight. And maybe even stay there. When Drew Bledsoe got hurt, in came Tom Brady. Wally Pipp was replaced by Lou Gehrig. Phil Fulmer less elegantly for Johnny Majors. On the other hand, sports are full of one-hit wonders like Jeremy…

The Classic Chase is a 3m5f gruelling Grade 3 handicap that is run at Warwick racecourse every season in January and provides punters with another chance to see some potential Aintree Grand National hopefuls on show - in 2017 the Lucinda Russell-trained One For Arthur won the Classic Chase before going onto land the Grand National at Aintree in…

As Keeneland prepares to host the 2022 Breeders' Cup in two weeks, the Lexington, Ky., track continues its October meet Saturday with a graded stakes for filly sprinters. Smash Ticket (5-2) is morning-line favorite for the Grade 2, $350000 Raven Run Stakes. Post time from Keeneland is 5:16 p.m., with FanDuel TV to broadcast the seven-furlong sprint…

When a horse is purchased for $1.1 million, expectations are high. Baffert trains Shaaz, who has won two of four career starts but finished third going a mile against Grade 3 rivals last time out. His victory at Santa Anita in April was impressive. Cutting back to one turn may help Shaaz. That said, he is facing some veteran horses who know a thing…

Newcastle's Flat card features a conditions race over a mile and a quarter with some smart older performers entered up. They include the John & Thady Gosden pair Harrovian and Forest of Dean who finished third and fifth respectively in a listed race at Lingfield in November which has thrown up some winners since. This looks a bit less competitive,…

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…

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…

Millions tune in to watch the thrilling spectacle of 40 horses galloping in excess of four miles across the famous spruce fences. It's nearly time for the 2018 Randox Health Grand National and racing fans numbered in the thousands will make the annual pilgrimage to Liverpool to see the big race live. As is often the case, Gloucestershire yards are…

A Star Is Born, who could not add to his Indian 2000 Guineas success later, now faces a relatively docile opposition in the grade 3, Zavaray S Poonawalla Eve Champion Trophy, the feature event of Saturday's eight-race card at the Pune racetrack. The Roderic O'Connor - Angel Dust colt is expected to easily tackle his four rivals in the hands of…

Southern California's first points-paying Kentucky Derby prep of 2023 features only two runners eligible to collect those points. National Treasure is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the Grade 3, $100000 Sham Stakes. Post time from Santa Anita is 6:30 p.m. EST, with FanDuel TV showing the one-mile trip for 3-year-olds. Bob Baffert trains National…

By Andrew Asquith, Friday 06 January 2023 Posted in: Cheltenham Festival Tips Andrew Asquith looks ahead to the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup and picks out his best ante-post bet. A quick glance at the ante-post betting market for the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup shows what a cracking renewal this year's race could be with the first seven or eight in the…

Keeneland Announces Spring Stakes Schedule (Keeneland / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Keeneland Media Team: Keeneland will award a season record $8.05 million for 19 stakes to be run during its 2023 Spring Meet, which will cover 15 days from April 7-28. Leading the schedule are the 99 running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) and 86…

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…

The last seven favourites have been successful in this Grade 1, including Envoi Allen and Bob Olinger who went on to win the Ballymore, and Grangeclare West will be the one trying to continue that sequence. Willie Mullins has won this race eight times and had the option of running Boodles runner-up Gaelic Warrior, who won at Tramore by 86 lengths…

The Naas Novice Hurdle (14:20) on Sunday is available as a free Race Pass, which means logged-in customers can view all our premium comments and ratings. There are several promising types among the nine runners declared for the Grade 1 Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle (14:20) which has been won by Gordon Elliott in four of the last six years. The…

Pasvolsky: one of four last-time-out winners among the nine runners This is a good-quality contest but features a bunch of classy'nearly' horses who have flattered to deceive. Take Beakstown as an example. He has come up against smart opponents like Sam Spinner, Champ, Mister Fisher and Imperial Aura in chases and run well in their company, but how…

I have to admit, I have no idea what the inaugural Pegasus World Cup Invitational was intended to be, what it actually is, how it is going to play out this year, and what the future holds. Although many have knocked its concept on social media, no one who cares about racing should be openly knocking anything that is innovative and might help the…

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…

The first full weekend of live racing action in 2023 features a pair of Kentucky Derby prep races - the Jerome Stakes from Aqueduct on Saturday and the Sham Stakes from Santa Anita on Sunday. Both races offer 10-4-3-2-1 qualifying points towards the Kentucky Derby to the top five finishers. Saturday's $150000 Jerome Stakes has drawn a field of…

Keeneland will award a season record $8.05 million for 19 stakes to be run during its 2023 Spring Meet, which will cover 15 days from April 7-28. Leading the schedule are the 99 running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) and 86 running of the $600000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), both major targets of the nation's top 3-year-olds. Keeneland has…

It's the final day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival and there's seven more races taking place. The Gold Cup is the feature contest at 3.30pm and Rachael Blackmore is bidding to become the first female jockey to win it. On her chances, she said: "The Gold Cup is what the whole week of Cheltenham builds around. It's the pinnacle of the racing year and…