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 →
Picks and Ponderings: 2018 Jeff Ruby Steaks and Bourbonette Oaks Preview
This week, Picks and Ponderings goes back to Turfway -- albeit only virtually, this time. Turfway's card on Saturday features a pair of three-year-old points races, the $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) (previously the Spiral Stakes) for open company and the $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks (G3) for fillies. Both races offer 20-8-4-2 points to its top four finishers,... Continue Reading →
A Day at the Races: Turfway Park
Two weekends ago, I visited Turfway Park for the first time! Come with me as I explored the track, learned about its history (and that of its predecessor, old Latonia Park), and tried with varying degrees of success to stay dry in a Saturday night deluge. Read my latest, at Brisnet.
Picks and Ponderings: 2018 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Preview
Picks and Ponderings has kept a close eye trained on the three-year-old points races, but there are none this week. Far be it from us to go on hiatus, though: especially since we're hitting the road this weekend! We're off to Florence, Kentucky, making our maiden voyage to Turfway Park, so follow along with @picksponderings for photos, notes,... Continue Reading →
Scissors and Tape puts it together!
Scissors and Tape (One Lucky Storm, by Tale of the Cat) showed promise when he debuted in a one mile and seventy yard maiden special weight at Fair Grounds on December 28. He was near the rear early, while Torrontes got a comfortable lead over an off track. He got caught wide, but improved well... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: Spiral Stakes and Bourbonette Oaks Preview
Over at Picks and Ponderings, I tackled Saturday's pair of three-year-old points races at Turfway: the Spiral Stakes (GIII) and the Bourbonette Oaks (GIII). Both races drew huge fields, twelve plus two on the AE list. Both drew a mix of more familiar Derby and Oaks trail types along with new faces: horses who are... Continue Reading →
Chicago Railbird: the WEBN Stakes
This week, Chicago Railbird takes a (figurative) road trip to Turfway for the WEBN Stakes. Though the race will be run in Kentucky, it has a Chicago-area connection. The top two finishers from last year's Arlington-Washington Futurity, Shogood and Van Damme, are among twelve runners (plus two also-eligibles) in the six and a half furlong... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: Spiral Stakes and Bourbonette Oaks
This week, the polytrack types get their final chance to get on the Derby Trail and the Oaks Trail by proving their prowess over a synthetic surface. Attention turns to Florence, Kentucky, just south of the Ohio border from Cincinnati, to the Spiral Stakes (GIII) and the Bourbonette Oaks (GIII) at Turfway Park. Both races... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: Prairie Bayou Stakes Preview
This week at Picks and Ponderings, I dove into the Prairie Bayou Stakes. This race drew a field of eleven runners, all males three and up, who are either polytrack routers or willing to play one on TV. All jokes aside, there is every indication that this race will be a tough one, and a... Continue Reading →
Spiraling into chaos
I got more wrong this week about the stakes races in the Public Handicapper contest than I have in a long time, though somehow I managed not to strike out completely. The biggest bright spot in my weekend came from my continued belief in the class of Aurelia's Belle, who notched her first graded stakes... Continue Reading →
Spiral weekend!
This week, the Public Handicapper contest features four races: two at Turfway (a track I've never handicapped before...), one at Oaklawn, one at Santa Anita -- and all for three-year-olds. There's no need for too much jibber-jabber. Let's just dive into the races! Oaklawn Gazebo Stakes (three-year-olds, 6 furlongs on the dirt) It's never fun... Continue Reading →
