This week, we take a look at the Louisiana Derby and the Sunland Park Derby. See who Candice Hare, Emily Gullikson, Brian Zipse, Dan Tordjman, Mike McCormick, Megan Devine, Dan Cronin, and I all like, and let me know in the comments who you like!
Past the Wire: Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan to Miss Rest of Fair Grounds Meet
Starting this week, I've come on as a contributing writer at Past the Wire, writing racing news pieces a couple of times a week. My first went live today, about Shaun Bridgmohan missing the rest of the Fair Grounds meet due to injury.
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.
Thoroughbred Insider: Noble Indy – Earning His Name
I love good horse names. Sometimes a horse's name is apt when they're born, and sometimes it becomes apt through what a horse does. Over at Thoroughbred Insider, I talk about why Noble Indy's name fits in both senses.
America’s Best Racing: Big Race Showdown, Louisiana Derby
This is week eight 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. Though I seem to be getting a little too cute on top, my exotics are doing rather well, especially... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2018 Louisiana Derby and Fair Grounds Oaks Preview
Saturday at Fair Grounds features the first of the 100-point Derby and Oaks preps, down in the Big Easy: the Louisiana Derby (G2) for open company, and the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) for fillies. Both races drew solid, competitive fields: ten horses in the Louisiana Derby, and nine in the Fair Grounds Oaks. This piece... Continue Reading →
America’s Best Racing: Big Race Showdown, El Camino Real Derby and Risen Star Stakes
It’s time for the fourth week 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. So far...I'm holding my own, mostly. I must be getting a bit cute for cute's sake... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2017 Louisiana Derby and Fair Grounds Oaks Preview
The Louisiana spurs of the Derby trail and the Oaks Trails reach their culmination this weekend with the Louisiana Derby (G2) and the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). Over at Picks and Ponderings, I preview both. Farrell has owned the fillies' preps -- can anyone beat her? Guest Suite and Girvin have won the two open-company... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2017 Risen Star and Rachel Alexandra Preview
This weekend, the Derby Trail and the Oaks Trail revisit the Big Easy, just in time for Mardi Gras! The stakes are higher this weekend, with 50 points (instead of 10) now going to the winners. And, for the Derby-bound, that brought out the cavalcade: fourteen three-year-old males will line up to contest the Grade... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2017 Southwest Stakes and Razorback Handicap Preview
The Derby trail does not usually get active on Mondays -- but with the national holiday, Oaklawn will not only run this Monday, but will host a pair of graded stakes. Sophomores will clash in the Southwest Stakes (G3), in which Smarty Jones Stakes winner Uncontested will face twelve foes. The race is the second of... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: Guest Suite, Farrell Splash Farther Down the Road to Kentucky
Today featured the first Louisiana-based steps on the roads to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. Guest Suite made the grade in a sloppy renewal of the Lecomte, and Farrell took another step forward in the Silverbulletday. In addition to the three-year-old preps, the card featured four more stakes races, including thrilling late battles in... Continue Reading →
hello, Narvaez.
Today, I saw a horse who raced in my favourite horse race ever. No, I didn't see the winner of the 2014 Gulfstream Park Handicap (GII). After all, this weekend I am making my first foray to Fair Grounds -- not Three Chimneys Farm. But, I did get to see Narvaez in person. He finished... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2017 Lecomte S. and Silverbulletday S. Preview
This weekend, I'm heading to New Orleans for the Lecomte Stakes and the Silverbulletday Stakes, the first of the three-year-old prep races at Fair Grounds. At Picks and Ponderings I preview those two races in detail, and will have picks for all four other stakes on the schedule. I will also be tweeting live from... Continue Reading →
Risen Star Stakes: Point/Counterpoint!
Over at By the Furlong, Casey Laughter and I tackled the entire field of the Risen Star (GII), going point/counterpoint on each horse. For my part, given that it's a field of thirteen, it has been a long while since I have had as strong an opinion for a horse on top than I have... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2016 Risen Star and Rachel Alexandra Preview
50-point preps begin this Saturday in the Big Easy, and Picks and Ponderings is there. Things get serious for the Derby-bound types in the Risen Star (GII), which drew a thirteen-horse field. LeComte top three Mo Tom, Tom's Ready, and Uncle Walter take on a full group of others trying to make their names on... Continue Reading →
