Category: Chicago Railbird

O’Brien and Stoute in the Breeders’ Cup Turf

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Over at ShapperDaCapper, I’m writing about the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

My first piece for the week looks at a pair of trainers who have conditioned two-time winners of the Breeders’ Cup Turf.  Sir Michael Stoute, trainer of Conduit, has a longshot in Ulysses.  Aiden O’Brien, trainer of two-time winner High Chaparral, has Found working to match that feat — but also brings in a classy challenger in Highland Reel.

Head over to ShapperDaCapper, read my latest article, and learn about a few of the international shippers here for the Breeders’ Cup Turf!

Chicago Railbird: 10.24.16

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Jockey Julio Felix has been on fire through the first three weeks of the Hawthorne meet.  This week’s Chicago Railbird takes a look at his riding statistics so far, as well as a pair of the races in which he rides on Wednesday and Thursday.  We look at Wednesday’s 8th and Thursday’s 8th.  Both races drew big fields.  In one, Felix rides the top selection; in the other, he rides an interesting price horse.

Head over to ShapperDaCapper, read the latest Chicago Railbird, and get ready for another week of action at Hawthorne!

Chicago Railbird: 10.13.16

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This Thursday’s card at Hawthorne is a solid one, and the late Pick 4 features sprints with big fields!

Over at Chicago Railbird, I dive into all four races in that sequence.  No matter what your playing style, what your budget, I talk about all the horse who I think have a chance, organised as “A”, “B”, and “C” candidates in their respective races.

Head over to ShapperDaCapper, read the latest Chicago Railbird, and get ready to play tomorrow’s late Pick 4 at Hawthorne!

Chicago Railbird: 10.7.16

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Friday is opening day at Hawthorne, and Chicago Railbird is there.

The first column of the meet takes a look at the three races tomorrow in which Scott Becker, last spring’s leading trainer, sends out horses.  All three of those races have full fields, interesting horses — and some intriguing price plays, too.

Head over to ShapperDaCapper, read the latest Chicago Railbird, and let’s get the Hawthorne meet off on a winning note!

Chicago Railbird: Arlington Super High Five

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Tomorrow is closing day at Arlington, and there is a $249K carryover into the Super High Five pool.  Since it is closing day, there is a mandatory payout, making it a great day for anyone to take a shot.  In the latest Chicago Railbird, I provide an in-depth preview of the field.

I take a look at the field, going horse-by-horse into who stands out, who rates for a share under, and who can be tossed completely.  Whatever your betting style or budget, the insight will help you construct a ticket that fits your needs.

Head over to ShapperDaCapper, read the latest Chicago Railbird, and get ready to take down the Arlington Super High Five!

Chicago Railbird: 9.22.16

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This week, the Arlington meet draws to a close.  Chicago Railbird is there.

By number of wins, the training and jockey races are pretty well tied up.  Larry Rivelli has an insurmountable lead in the training tally, and Jose Valdivia, Jr. has a dominant tally among jockeys.  The biggest question surrounding Valdivia is whether he will get the four wins he needs to break a hundred victories for the summer.

This week, Chicago Railbird looks at a pair of races in which they combine.  In one, Valdivia and Rivelli send out the top pick.  In the other, a wide-open affair, there is a solid argument to make for a horse who is 20/1 on the morning line.

Head over to ShapperDaCapper, read the latest Chicago Railbird, and get ready for the final week of racing this year at Arlington Park!

Chicago Railbird: Illinois-bred maidens!

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Saturday’s Arlington 7th is a bit of a curiosity: a $100,000 maiden claimer for state-breds.

Unsurprisingly, since a $100K claim is un-heard-of in these parts, it drew very much like a state-bred maiden special.  Fort Rally looks like the one to beat…but there are a couple of spoilers who look to go off at the right price to take a shot.

Head over to ShapperDaCapper, read the latest Chicago Railbird, and get ready for a contentious bunch of Illinois-breds!

Chicago Railbird: 8.28.16

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This Sunday’s Arlington 4th is a contentious and classy affair: a wide-open two-year-old maiden special weight going a mile on the grass.

The race drew a field of eight, and, an argument can be made for most of the field.  However, there is one horse who looks to have an experience edge and a pace edge — and who looks to be a playable price, to boot.

Head over to ShapperDaCapper, read the latest Chicago Railbird, and get ready for an exciting race at Arlington!

Chicago Railbird:8.26.16

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In this week’s Chicago Railbird, I take a look at a pair of races on Friday’s card that are among my favourite races to play.

It’s no secret that I love to play extended sprints: six and a half furlongs, seven furlongs, one-turn miles.  They’re interstitial: not quite sprints, not quite routes, but in a category of their own.  Friday’s card features a pair of one-turn polytrack miles, which are perfect chances to find the course and distance mavens, and get some value.

Head over to ShapperDaCapper, read the latest Chicago Railbird, and get ready for a couple of one-turn miles at Arlington!

Arlington Million Day analysis!

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Tomorrow is Arlington Million Day!  I have been on site at Arlington all week watching the horses in the morning, and handicapping and writing through the afternoons.

In addition, don’t forget to listen to the Arlington Million episode of BARN, on which Jason Beem, Paul Mazur, and I talk Million.  And, I also did a series of Periscope broadcasts from morning works, which are available on The Tournament Edge’s Twitter feed.

Good luck in the Arlington Million, and enjoy Arlington’s marquee race day!

Chicago Railbird: Hero’s and Crooks

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I had a blast writing my latest Chicago Railbird column.

There’s little I like more than learning about Illinois breeding, and I noticed that Hero’s and Crooks has his first starter ever in Friday’s Arlington opener.  I wondered how he ended up a sire, even in Illinois, given his modest race record.  So, in addition to handicapping that race, I took a dive into his pedigree to uncover why he ended up standing stud in the first place.  And, I found some interesting things.

Head over to ShapperDaCapper, read the latest Chicago Railbird, and learn about new Illinois sire Hero’s and Crooks before his first runner hits the track!

Chicago Railbird: 7.31.16

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Sunday’s seventh race at Arlington is an excellent turf mile.

Hopefully the race stays on turf — it drew a field of ten, and some price horses are in with legitimate chances.  However, racing was washed off the turf on Saturday, and the air remains humid.  So, in addition to discussing who I like on the turf, I also point out a couple of horses who get more live should the race wash out to the main.

Head over to ShapperDaCapper, read the latest Chicago Railbird, and get ready for tomorrow’s Arlington feature, rain or shine!

Chicago Railbird: 7.28.16

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Thursday’s seventh race at Arlington is an exciting one: a maiden special weight on the grass with an overflow field.  The race has some exciting bloodlines, a lot of lightly raced runners, and a beatable favourite.  In other words, it has a little something for everyone: bettors, pedigree nerds, and fans of a good and competitive horse race.

Head over to ShapperDaCapper, read the latest Chicago Railbird, and get ready for one excellent maiden race at Arlington!