The graded stakes calendar continues at Arlington this Saturday with the Arlington Matron. In my latest at Picks and Ponderings, I set out to beat the chalk.
Picks and Ponderings: Santa Anita Memorial Day Grade 1 Triple
This Monday at Santa Anita features three Grade 1 races: the Gamely for turf fillies and mares, the Shoemaker Mile for open-company milers on the lawn, and the Gold Cup at Santa Anita for the handicap division. They're each an intriguing mix of West Coast denizens and shippers, and I discuss all three in my... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2019 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes Preview
In my latest at Picks and Ponderings, I take a look at Friday's featured race at Pimlico: the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) for three-year-old fillies!
Picks and Ponderings: 2019 Hanshin Cup Recap
In my latest at Picks and Ponderings, I take a look back at Lanier's dominant victory in the Hanshin Cup: his first stakes victory, and the first for his trainer Brett Santangelo as well.
Picks and Ponderings: 2019 Hanshin Cup Preview
In my latest at Picks and Ponderings, I take a look at the first stakes race of the Arlington summer meet, and one of my favourite races of the year because it is such a rara avis: the Hanshin Cup.
2019 Kentucky Derby Preview
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!
Picks and Ponderings: 2019 Kentucky Oaks Preview
In my latest at Picks and Ponderings, read my thoughts about Friday's Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks!
Picks and Ponderings: 2019 Hawthorne Spring Closing Day Preview
Tomorrow is closing day for Hawthorne's spring meet -- and in my latest at Picks and Ponderings, I take a look at every race on the card!
Picks and Ponderings: 2019 Florida Derby and Gulfstream Park Oaks Preview
In my latest at Picks and Ponderings, I take a detailed look at both three-year-old points races on Saturday's card at Gulfstream, as well as share my selections for all of Saturday's stakes races in Hallandale Beach. Read on right here!
Picks and Ponderings: 2019 Rebel Stakes Preview
The Derby Trail returns to Oaklawn Park this Saturday with the Rebel Stakes (G2). The race split into two divisions, given the wave of California shippers, and each division would pass as its own standalone Derby prep. In my latest at Picks and Ponderings, I preview both divisions of the 2019 Rebel Stakes.
Picks and Ponderings: 2019 Fountain of Youth Stakes Preview
Saturday's card at Gulfstream Park is headlined by the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes.Here at Picks and Ponderings, we have a full preview of the Fountain of Youth, a race which offers a purse of $400,000 as well as Road to the Kentucky Derby points (50-20-10-5) to its top four finishers.We also provide selections... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2019 Hal’s Hope Stakes Preview
Racing may still be on hiatus in Chicago for another three weeks, but that doesn't mean we aren't following locals in big races. This Saturday's card at Gulfstream is anchored by the Hal's Hope Stakes (G3), a race that marks the four-year-old debut of Illinois-bred rising star Sir Anthony. Read on in my latest at... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2019 Risen Star and Rachel Alexandra Stakes Preview
The stakes on the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks trails go up this Saturday at Fair Grounds, with the first of the 50-point preps. Both the Risen Star (G2) and the Rachel Alexandra (G2) drew large, intriguing fields -- and I tackle both in my latest at Picks and Ponderings.
Picks and Ponderings: 2019 Sam F. Davis Stakes Day Preview
This weekend, the Derby trail visits Tampa Bay Downs -- and so does Picks and Ponderings. We visit in a sense of writing this preview of all four stakes races on Saturday's card. But, we also visit in a literal sense. This half of P&P will be on the ground at Tampa Bay Downs, so make sure to follow... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2019 Holy Bull and Forward Gal Stakes Preview
In my latest at Picks and Ponderings, I take a look at the first two three-year-old points races of the Gulfstream meet: the Holy Bull (G2) for open company, and the Forward Gal (G3) for fillies.
