#Ron Flatter

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…

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,…

It is easy see why Tiz The Law is a heavy favorite for the Belmont Stakes. His two Grade 1 wins and his 4-for-4 record on fast tracks put him alone in the front of the plane while the rest of the field is stuck in coach. But if it is easy to declare that he will win Saturday, why is it so hard to figure out who will lead him there? Blame it on Fore…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

Now we are talking Kentucky Derby preps. This time we mean it. Life Is Good can race across, up and down or diagonally through the San Felipe. Greatest Honour can close on pedestrian fractions in the Fountain of Youth. Concert Tour can be anointed prince of the Bob Baffert Invi … er … Rebel Stakes. Essential Quality can be forgotten with his…

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…

Trainers work their whole lives hoping to get a horse that can win them a single Grade 1 or Group 1 race. Charlie Appleby has a horse that won him two Group 1s in five days. Already a repeat winner Tuesday in the King's Stand, Blue Point (1-1 in the U.S., 3-2 in the U.K.) did it again Saturday. He held on to win by a head in the $764520 Diamond…

LAS VEGAS - It was sure to happen, wasn't it? With the rising popularity of handicapping contests in horse racing, there had to be growing pains. And you had better believe the news that broke late this week from the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge is a pain. "I have full confidence that there was nothing amiss there," said Nisan Gabbay, 40, the…

Clockers' Corner was not as crowded as it was two springs ago, but it still felt lively Thursday morning. Trainers Carla Gaines and Vlad Cerin brought around their dogs, who playfully breached whatever canine protocols there are for social distancing. Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux was the best-dressed gent in the joint, sporting a colorful…

Experts handicap Saturday's 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Post time is approximately 6:57 p.m. The Post's lead horse racing handicapper 1. Midnight Bourbon: From the man who gave you Nyquist (2016), Maximum Security (make no mistake he won it in 2019) and Authentic (2020), comes Midnight Bourbon. Tiznow-bred colt has…

The popular view of Tiz the Law did not change with his victory Saturday in the Travers Stakes. In fact, his odds to win next month's Kentucky Derby were cut to as short as odds-on. But the skeptical view of Tiz the Law was not drowned out by his 5½-length valedictory at Saratoga Race Course. The argument may still be made that he has not faced any…

Itis going to be one long Saturday for Ron Winchell. After flying from Las Vegas to Dubai early in the week, he will test his endurance by staying up until 3 a.m. on Sunday.That is what happens to an owner of three horses who are competing 8000 miles apart inraces worth more than $13 million. "I'mnot sure you can get me to fall asleep on this one,"…

Imagine for a moment being loaded with money. So loaded there was plenty to unload on any of the three sure-fire ways to blow an investment. As some financial wizard told Tony Kornheiser, they are a private plane, a restaurant and a racehorse. Forget about the plane and the restaurant. How about being someone like Jack Wolf? He and his wife Laurie…

The name Phil Thomas does not appear in present-day past performances. The last race on his training record was run more than three years ago. His last winner was at the end of the summer of 2013. But something he said resonates to this day with horseplayers handicapping the Kentucky Derby. "I bet if you looked at it," he said, "horses that won the…

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After a two-weekend pause, the Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby resumes Saturday in New Orleans. Pappacap is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the Grade 3, $200000 Lecomte Stakes. Post time from Fair Grounds is 7:20 p.m. EST, with TVG showing the 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds. The Lecomte awards points toward the Kentucky Derby on a 10-4-2-1…

Classic Causeway raced two weeks ago. Rattle N Roll, Runaway Wife and Silverleaf went tothe post last week. Allfour are entered to start again Saturday. Trainer Kenny McPeek clearly is notafraid of bringing his horses back on short rest to race again. Especially whenthey send him a message. Itis not about having an alert gallop between races or…

It showed up like clockwork last week in my email. Remember email? About 240 of us voters for the Eclipse Awards received our annual packets of digital information, complete with the usual advice to tamp an eagerness we may have to cast an early ballot. "It is strongly encouraged," the instructions said, "that you consider waiting to vote until…

Now that we have a good idea of the fields for next week's 38th Breeders' Cup "World Championships," let the serious handicapping begin. Maybe those cynical quotation marks should come off of "World Championships," especially since a record 58 internationals were among the 196 horses pre-entered into the 14 races that will be run next Friday at…

It becomes a process of elimination, doesn't it? It is less about what horse will win Saturday's Belmont Stakes as which ones will not. Even in a year when the Kentucky Derby winner(s) will not be seen again until the summer, it is entirely possible to use 10 recent and longer lasting trends and practices to boil down the betting possibilities. 1.…

If you think that Johnny Avello at the Wynn Las Vegas would feel threatened by the competition of the Breeders' Cup Future Wager being put together by the Breeders' Cup itself, you don't know how Johnny Avello got to be this town's best bookmaker for horse racing. "I think it's a good idea," he said. "I like it. I'm glad they've started…

Quickquestion. What was Rich Strike's most impressive race? Not-so-quickpause. Take away the trappings of the Kentucky Derby, of the 80-1 odds thatmade Rich Strike the second longest shot in the race's pari-mutuel history towin it. "That'sa good question," trainer Eric Reed said this week at Churchill Downs, where hehas been preparing his growing…

The Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes, Saturday at Churchill Downs, represents the first points race for the 2022 Kentucky Derby. Continue reading to see how the experts are playing the race. Ron Flatter, Horse Racing Nation Winner: #9 Guntown On the board: #6 Stellar Tap Longshot I like: #7 Red Knobs Analysis: Guntown had a troubled debut but made up for it…

He will be the favorite next week for the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. But is it too soon to declare Essential Quality the favorite for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic? Not in the dark recesses of offshore futures. After holding off Hot Rod Charlie in a signature stretch duel to win the Belmont Stakes, Essential Quality burnished his place in…

BradCox admitted he was not sure how Cyberknife and Tawny Port will like - or notlike - the main track at Parx Racing, where they will run Saturday in the Grade1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby. "It'skind of tough," Cox said this week in the office at his Churchill Downs barn. "Youprobably need to breeze them over it a time or two to really, really…

The Risen Star (G2) at Fair Ground is set to offer its top four finishers Kentucky Derby points in 50-20-10-5 payouts. Here is how Horse Racing Nation's staff and contributors are playing the race. Sara Elbadwi Winner: #7 Zandon On the board: #5 Epicenter Long shot I like: #3 Trafalgar Analysis: Zandon probably should've been put up via DQ last out…

Five weeks before Tarnawa won last year's Breeders' Cup Turf, she served notice that she could win anytime on any surface. In what looked more like a regatta than a horse race, Christophe Soumillon took her from the back of the pack and sailed her - almost literally sailed - to a short-neck victory in the Prix de l'Opera in Paris. Not long after…

The 2023 Kentucky Derby trail begins Saturday at the track that will host that event next May. Echo Again (2-1) is the morning-line favorite for the Grade 3, $300000 Iroquois Stakes. Post time from Churchill Downs is 4:55 p.m. EDT, with FS2 showing the 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds. The Iroquois kicks off the series of points-paying preps toward…

Normally a jackpot wager, the 20-cent minimum Pick 6 at Santa Anita Park will feature a mandatory payout on Saturday, California Cup day. All races in the sequence are for California-bred or sired horses. The carryover was $418628 heading into Friday's card, meaning the added money for Saturday's sextet could approach $500000. This could help spur…