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 last two Kentucky Derby points races: the Arkansas Derby (G1) and the Lexington Stakes (G3). See who we like right here!
Big Race Showdown: Week 7
I'm doing pretty well in Big Race Showdown so far this season -- six weeks in, I'm leading the pack with six winners in twelve races! This week, we tackle both divisions of the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn. See who Candice Hare, Emily Gullikson, Brian Zipse, Dan Tordjman, Mike McCormick, Megan Devine, Dan Cronin, and I all like, and let... Continue Reading →
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.
Thoroughbred Insider: Magnum Moon – Chasing Apollo
In my latest at Thoroughbred Insider, after Magnum Moon's victory in the Arkansas Derby, I took a few moments to wax a little...mythological.
America’s Best Racing: Big Race Showdown, Arkansas Derby and Lexington Stakes
This is week eleven 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. After a solid week last week, I'm leading in terms of bankroll! Let's see if I can keep it... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2018 Arkansas Derby Preview
Oaklawn's meet draws to a close with the Arkansas Derby -- a $1,000,000, Grade 1 affair that is the final 100-40-20-10 point prep of the season. Inaugurated in 1936 and run every year since except for 1945, it has always been run at nine furlongs. It has vacillated between a Grade 1 and a Grade... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2018 Fantasy Stakes Preview
This year marks the 46th running of the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn. At stake this year are a share of a $400,000 purse, as well as 100-40-20-10 Road to the Kentucky Oaks points to the top four places. The race has been run at 1 1/16 miles and restricted to three-year-old fillies since its inception... Continue Reading →
The Coach’s Sporting Chance
One ukulele, one pile of past performances, no shame. I was playing around with my shiny new baritone uke last night, and my mind wandered off to tomorrow's Rebel Stakes, and this happened:
Picks and Ponderings: 2018 Rebel Stakes Preview
Oaklawn's spur of the Derby trail continues this Saturday with the Rebel Stakes. The race offers a purse of $900,000, in addition to Road to the Kentucky Derby points (50-20-10-5) for its top four finishers. Inaugurated in 1961, the Rebel Stakes currently serves as the third of four steps on Oaklawn's road to the Kentucky Derby. ... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2018 Honeybee Stakes Preview
This year marks the 30th running of the Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park. It has always been a 1 1/16 mile race for three-year-old fillies. It first earned a grade 3 rating in 1990, and has carried that status every year except for 2003-2007, during which it was once again ungraded. This year's renewal offers a... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2018 Martha Washington Stakes Preview
Saturday's card at Oaklawn features the second stakes of the season for three-year-old fillies: the $125,000 Martha Washington Stakes. Opening day featured the six-furlong Dixie Belle, but the Martha Washington's one-mile distance begins to bring out those fillies who may be able to stretch out for later preps, or even the nine-furlong Oaks itself. In... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2018 Smarty Jones Stakes
The Smarty Jones is a one-mile dirt race, the first in a series of Kentucky Derby preps over the Hot Springs oval. The series continues with the Southwest Stakes (G3) on February 19, the Rebel Stakes (G2) on March 17, and the Arkansas Derby (G1) on the final day of the meet, April 14. The... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: Arkansas Derby and Fantasy Stakes Preview
This weekend, the Derby Trail and the Oaks Trail both draw to a close. Over at Picks and Ponderings, I look at the pair of marquee three-year-old preps in Hot Springs: the Fantasy Stakes (G3) and the Arkansas Derby (G1). Friday's card at Oaklawn features the Fantasy Stakes. The race drew a competitive field of... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2017 Rebel Stakes Preview
This Saturday, the Oaklawn spur of the Kentucky Derby trail continues with the Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel Stakes. Bob Baffert has been dominant in this race in recent years, and sends out another solid entry this year in American Anthem. But, ten others will try to put his streak on halt. The field includes several... Continue Reading →
looking good for Curlin babies
The last few days have featured two big wins for Curlin babies: one by a filly rounding back into form at age four, and another by a three-year-old colt who is just getting started. Terra Promessa (Missile Bay, by Yes It's True) caught fire last winter at Oaklawn. She started the meet with the easiest... Continue Reading →
