This week, the Big Race Showdown panel tackles a trio of Derby preps: the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), the Gotham (G3), and the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3)! Joining me on the panel are Candice Hare, Emily Gullikson, Brian Zipse, Dan Tordjman, Mike McCormick, Megan Devine, and Dan Cronin. Read on for our top picks, and who we think can run into... Continue Reading →
A Day at the Races: Fortuitous visit morphs into recurring trip to Tampa Bay Downs’ Festival Preview Day
The Sam F. Davis Stakes has become a favourite part of my racing calendar. In this piece at Brisnet.com I talk about why, and talk about some of the most memorable moments of Saturday's Festival Preview Day.
Big Race Showdown: Week 3
I’m thrilled to return to the panel for the Big Race Showdown at America’s Best Racing this year! Also on the panel are Candice Hare, Emily Gullikson, Brian Zipse, Dan Tordjman, Mike McCormick, Megan Devine, and Dan Cronin. Each week we’ll zoom in on a few of the biggest races, share our top picks, and have a little friendly competition to see... Continue Reading →
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 →
TwinSpires Blog: Playing the Tampa Bay Downs Late Pick 5 on 2019 Sam F. Davis Day
I've traded cold, rainy Chicago for sunlight and palm trees for a few days: I've gone to Florida to focus on the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) and Saturday's top-quality racing card that Tampa Bay Downs has built around it. Over at the TwinSpires Blog, I take a look at the Late Pick 5, a... Continue Reading →
America’s Best Racing: Big Race Showdown, Gotham/San Felipe/Tampa Bay Derby
This is week six 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. This week is a huge one, with three stateside Kentucky Derby preps: the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct, the... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2018 Tampa Bay Derby Preview and Stakes Selections
I didn't make it down to Tampa for the Sam F. Davis (G3) like I had the last two years, since the harness meet at Hawthorne was still going on. But, that just means I'm off to Tampa a different weekend -- specifically, this one, for the Tampa Bay Derby (G2)! Over at Picks and... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2018 Sam F. Davis Stakes and Suncoast Stakes Preview
For the first time in a couple years, Picks and Ponderings won't be at the Sam F. Davis Stakes -- our foray south will instead happen a little later this winter, for the Tampa Bay Derby. However, being in Chicago won't stop us from previewing Saturday's pair of sophomore dirt stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, the Sam F. Davis... Continue Reading →
winter days in Tampa Bay
Last weekend, I headed back out to Tampa for a few days of horses and friends. A few of my pictures from my trip were published in my article at Brisnet. But, I got far more pictures than that...so come, take a look, and enjoy a long weekend at Tampa Bay Downs!
A Day at the Races: Tampa Bay Downs
Last week, I returned to one of my favourite tracks: Tampa Bay Downs. Over at Brisnet, I talk about my trip in words and pictures. The big races of the weekend were the graded stakes on Saturday, and you'll certainly see the likes of McCraken and Isabella Sings here. But, you'll also see the other race... Continue Reading →
a scene from a friendly track
The first word that comes to mind when describing Tampa Bay Downs is friendly. I got that feeling when I visited the track last year. Strangers would come up to me to talk horses, and by the end of the weekend, I felt comfortable striking up some equine small talk with whoever happened to be next... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2017 Sam F. Davis Stakes Day Preview
Saturday's card at Tampa Bay Downs features four stakes races, including Tampa's first Derby prep of the year, the Sam F. Davis (G3). In addition to the Davis, sophomore fillies get their chance to go two turns on the dirt in the Suncoast Stakes. Older turf routers also get their due in a pair of... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2016 Tampa Bay Derby Preview
Saturday's features the richest race of the season at Tampa Bay Downs: the Tampa Bay Derby (GII). The race drew a competitive field of ten runners, including the top three from the local prep, the Sam F. Davis. It also features the return of Brody's Cause, who won the Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland last fall.... Continue Reading →
a weekend in Tampa Bay
Of course, the one weekend when this winter in Chicago finally felt like winter, I had flown south. It was for good reason, though, despite my preference for the cold. I visited Tampa Bay from Thursday, February 11 through Sunday, February 14, and spent most of my waking hours at Tampa Bay Downs. The main... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: Illinois-breds in Tampa!
Yesterday at Picks and Ponderings, I published my analysis of the stakes races on Saturday's excellent card. Today, I took a look at the pair of Illinois-bred runners in Saturday's stakes races: Lovely Loyree in the Endeavour and Missalaney in the Suncoast. I chatted today with trainers Michele Boyce (Lovely Loyree) and David Hinsley (Missalaney)... Continue Reading →
