Over at Picks and Ponderings, I take a horse-by-horse look at this year's Kentucky Derby, and share my selections in the races there all day long!
Big Race Showdown: Week 12
This week, the Big Race Showdown panel of Candice Hare, Emily Gullikson, Brian Zipse, Dan Tordjman, Mike McCormick, Megan Devine, Dan Cronin, and I tackles the pair of races we've been waiting for all winter and spring: the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks. See who we like right here!
Picks and Ponderings: 2019 Kentucky Oaks Preview
In my latest at Picks and Ponderings, read my thoughts about Friday's Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks!
Maiden Win Trends Among Kentucky Derby Starters
Most people who follow two-year-old races have a general idea of what kinds of maiden races to follow in order to find potential Kentucky Derby contenders. Though baby races begin in March and April, the real excitement begins to build through the summer with the loaded maiden special weights at Saratoga and Del Mar, and... Continue Reading →
Justify the Hype
One ukulele, one pile of past performances, no shame. I may be standing tall against Justify in the Derby tomorrow, but that doesn't mean I couldn't write a song about him.
America’s Best Racing: Big-Race Showdown – A Kentucky Oaks-Derby Double
This is week twelve of Big Race Showdown at America’s Best Racing: where I clash heads with six awesome handicappers (Emily Gullikson, Candice Hare, Dan Tordjman, Brian Zipse, Eric Bialek, and Mark DiLorenzo) to see who can stay the hottest through Derby prep season. Heading into the Kentucky Derby, I've got a slim lead in bankroll, though Emily is right on my tail. We... Continue Reading →
Railbird Style: How old is the Curse of Apollo?
Today, Jessica Chapel and I launched Railbird Style, a guide to style and usage in turf writing. Jessica wrote an introduction to our project. And, since the term has been ubiquitous in Kentucky Derby discourse, I took a deep dive into the history of the Curse of Apollo in the world of horse racing. To... Continue Reading →
2018 Kentucky Derby Preview and Saturday Stakes Selections
We've been following the trail all the way, but now, the Kentucky Derby is finally here. The field is drawn, with twenty main entries plus one also-eligible. The field is competitive, with a little something for everybody: fountains of raw talent yet to be forged in the fire, hard-trying and plucky sorts who have yet... Continue Reading →
preliminary Kentucky Derby musings
And, just like that, the Kentucky Derby prep season is over. I'll admit, I don't have my Derby Horse yet. I rarely do, before Derby week...then again, that's normal for me. The only time I had my Derby Horse before the week of the race, before the last few works, before the draw, was when... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: Kentucky Derby Point/Counterpoint
Over at Picks and Ponderings, Paul Mazur and I have tackled the Kentucky Derby field! As always we go horse-by-horse, point/counterpoint. Some horses, we see fairly similarly. Others, we disagree on. As always, we're full of both information and snark. In addition, I share my picks -- including longshots -- in all the stakes races this... Continue Reading →
Kentucky Derby Fever – Kentucky Derby Preview
Through the Derby prep season, I participated on a Derby horse poll at Kentucky Derby Fever with a few other folks on Twitter. Last night, a few of us from the poll came together to talk about the Derby: Shawn Frank (@CashWinningTix - who runs Kentucky Derby Fever), John Piassek (@theyreoff), DCDino (@DCDNO), and Vinny... Continue Reading →
analysis of the only maiden in the 2017 Kentucky Derby, in the only appropriate form
though Sonneteer is 0 for 10 — a flaw — he’s more than just a Trojan Nation two in both the final preps in Arkansas his late pace shined, a rally did ensue his hooves are crossed the speed gets in a fight that Always Dreaming, Fast and Accurate, Irap, and State of Honor come... Continue Reading →
post 17 in 2017?
Curlin has had a baby from each of his crops so far enter the Kentucky Derby, and this year is no different. Despite only 41 Curlin foals being reported in 2014, his babies beat the odds. Irish War Cry (Irish Sovereign, by Polish Numbers) has earned his way into the starting gate this Saturday. Historically... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2017 Kentucky Oaks Preview
Kentucky Derby week is officially underway! Friday's card at Churchill Downs features the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, as well as five other undercard stakes races. I preview the Oaks in depth over at Picks and Ponderings, and will post my selections and longshots for the other stakes races as I finish handicapping them. As always,... Continue Reading →
The Tournament Edge: Kentucky Derby Morning Workout Videos
Over at The Tournament Edge, I'm talking Derby in my new blog. Specifically, I'm talking about all the videos out there with Derby contender morning works. So much footage of the Derby contenders comes out every day -- but, what can you make of it? How should a good or a bad workout affect who... Continue Reading →
