Tags ‘Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog’

Royal Delta, Acclamation Prove They Are Champions

In a year that’s been tough on Breeders’ Cup champions and Eclipse Award winners, two individual champions on Saturday afternoon showed why they were voted as Champions in 2011. Last year, the Bill Mott trained Royal Delta won three graded stakes races including the Breeders’... Read More...

Is the Three Year Old Male Season Salvageable?

We are now into the second half of the racing season and the news keeps getting worse for the three year old male division. It’s the division that receives the most spotlight due to the popularity of its mainstream races such as the Kentucky Derby.... Read More...

Del Mar vs Saratoga, Comparing the Meets

When it comes to the best Summer meets in American thoroughbred horse racing, look no further than Del Mar and Saratoga. Both rich in tradition and a long history of memorable horse racing. Both historic race tracks are known for bringing in the top American... Read More...

Man o’ War Stakes Headlines Quartet of Big Stakes

The last time Treasure Beach ran on American soil, he won the Secretariat Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park on August 13, 2011. After the win, the Aidan O’Brien trained four year old colt was shipped to France and ran a poor 14th in the Qatar... Read More...

Hollywood Gold Cup Headlines Big Weekend

Eight graded stakes will occur this weekend across the United States and Ontario with three in Grade 1 company. Several star horses will make appearances including five time graded stakes winner Game on Dude in the Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap at BetFair Hollywood Park on... Read More...

Joel Rosario to New York, Good or Bad Move?

Joel Rosario is 27 years old, one of the top jockeys in Southern California and across the country. So why the move to New York? Am I missing something? So far in his career, which consistently started in 2006, Rosario has won over 1,300 races... Read More...

2011 Breeders Cup Winners, So Far This Year

With the recent performance by reigning three year old champion filly Royal Delta this past weekend, I wanted to reflect on all Breeders Cup winners from last November and see how they have each fared since that weekend. Royal Delta, won the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’... Read More...

Tough Field in Stephen Foster Handicap, BC Challenge Race

A combined 21 career graded stakes wins for this year’s Stephen Foster Handicap field. 10 of those 21 have come in 2012. Leading the way are Nates Mineshaft and Alternation with three each. Despite the recent success for both horses, they are still looking for... Read More...

Showdown Looms in Grade 1 Vanity Handicap

Two Grade 1 winners and one Grade 2 winner will do battle come Saturday June 16 at BetFair Hollywood Park for the Vanity Handicap (G1). It’s a race that has seen stellar female horses win over the last decade. Winners include Blind Luck (2011), three-time... Read More...

Union Rags Back on Top with Belmont Stakes Win

Union Rags wins the Belmont Stakes! Has he come full circle? Well, not quite. However it is very close. Last year, The Michael Matz trained colt broke his maiden first time out at Delaware Park. Won the Three Chimneys Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) at Saratoga... Read More...

Amid Drama, History At Stake for I’ll Have Another

The horse racing World talked about the potential for I’ll Have Another to capture the triple crown for the first time in 34 years after his improbable win in the Kentucky Derby on May 5th. His big run down the middle of the stretch to... Read More...

May 2012 Graded Stakes Winners Recap

The sport of horse racing got a much needed media boost in May with the emergence of Southern California colt I’ll Have Another. His winning streak of four which now includes the Kentucky Derby and Preakness is in the National spotlight as he put himself... Read More...

Shackleford Wins Met Mile, Exciting Finish

Belmont Park was the host of four graded stakes on the holiday Monday race card. It started off in Race 7 with the Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes. The favorite was 4/5 Somali Lemonade. Trainer Michael Matz must be getting tired of his star horses... Read More...

Kentucky Derby and Preakness Winners, Triple Crown

Which Group Will I’ll Have Another Join? It’s a long line of horses who won just a single triple crown race. The line shortens quite a bit for those who have won two of the three. And as you know, the list of those who... Read More...

I’ll Have Another Impresses Again in Preakness Stakes

Despite winning the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby, I’ll Have Another was still the second choice to the betting public for the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes. Derby runner-up Bodemeister was bet down as the 8/5 favorite. Why? Bodemeister ran one of the... Read More...

2012 Preakness Stakes Entries, Analysis, Picks

137th Running of the Preakness Stakes is set for Saturday, May 19th at Pimlico Race Course. A field of 11 three year old colts will for the second leg of the triple crown. Preakness Stakes – Pimlico – 1 3/16 miles – Dirt – $1,000,000... Read More...

History of Derby Winners in Preakness Stakes

It’s only been 3 years since a Kentucky Derby winner also won the Preakness Stakes. That was Big Brown in 2008. This back to back feat has happened seven times since 1997. It occurred three times in a row twice since 1997. So it’s not... Read More...

April 2012 Graded Stakes Recap, Review and Stats

It was a great month of racing, with many graded stakes races run all across the country, as well as, the last prep races and weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby on May 5th. We welcomed the following Horses to the multiple graded stakes... Read More...

Against Odds, I’ll Have Another Wins the Kentucky Derby

It’s been days, weeks and months that everyone had been waiting for the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby. With numerous morning workouts completed and all the derby prep races run, the day had come and gone with a success story that everyone dreams of... Read More...

2012 Kentucky Derby Picks & Predictions

We’ve been waiting for this day for months. It’s finally here. The 138th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs will field 20 horses (barring any late scratches). Everyone has their own way to handicap the big race. Over the last few days/weeks, we’ve... Read More...

2012 Kentucky Derby Post Positions, Analysis

How will the post positions affect each horse and the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby? We break it down below. Kentucky Derby (G1) – Churchill Downs – $2,000,000 – 1 1/4 miles – Dirt Post Position #1. Daddy Long Legs – Trainer Aidan O’Brien... Read More...

Kentucky Derby: Mark Valeski Out, Lukas/Optimizer In

D. WAYNE LUKAS When you think about Kentucky Derby trainers over the last three decades, you automatically think about him. He’s had 44 horses start in the Derby. Four were winners, one finished second, and five others finished third. Only a 9% winning percentage, but... Read More...

2012 Kentucky Derby Jockeys – Career Stats & Info

It’s amazing to see so many great jockeys from all over the country be humbled by one single race. Over their careers, top jockeys win multiple graded stakes races from various race tracks. However, as you will see, the same jockeys just can’t seem to... Read More...

2012 Kentucky Derby Trainers, Prospects

Here is a list of trainers who will have their horses ready for the 2012 Kentucky Derby next Saturday May 5th at Churchill Downs. The 138th running of the “Run for the Roses“. Below each name, you will see how many Derby’s they have won... Read More...

More Kentucky Derby Information, Stats & Trends

Below, you will find the Kentucky Derby winners for the past 20 years and how they performed in the race prior. You will also view the winner of the race if the Derby winner did not win the last prep race. In addition, analysis and... Read More...

Kentucky Derby Has Not Been Kind to Speed

Below you will find the last 20 Kentucky Derby winners along with their running style, number of starts prior to the Derby as well as how they finished in the race leading up to the Derby. Stats and analysis to follow. 2011 – Animal Kingdom... Read More...

Kentucky Derby Prep Race Winners & Times

Below, you will view a list of winners for the Kentucky Derby prep races from 2012, along with their times. You will be able to compare them to last year’s winners and their respective times. It’s an interesting way to see how this year’s Derby... Read More...

138th Kentucky Derby Starting to Take Shape

The 138th Kentucky Derby is starting to take shape and the list of contenders is becoming more clear as each day passes. With 25 Derby prep races of one mile or longer now in the books, we have a better idea of what to expect... Read More...

2012 Arkansas Derby is Last Chance For Many

The Arkansas Derby is one of the last big races for three year old colts and geldings to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. A couple of horses in this field have pretty much solidified a spot in the Derby as they have earned enough career... Read More...

Deep Field for 2012 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes

Keeneland – Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) – $750,000 – 1 1/8 miles – All Weather 1. Heavy Breathing (KY) – Corey Lanerie – 123 – Todd Pletcher 2. Gung Ho (PA) – Edgar Prado – 123 – Michael Maker 3. Prospective (KY) – Luis... Read More...

2012 Kentucky Derby Contender, Rankings Shake-up

We now have most of the Kentucky Derby prep races in the books and I’ve seen many top 5-10 rankings change quite a bit over the last couple of weeks. Last weekend, we saw undefeated Gemologist get his most important victory to date by outlasting... Read More...

Updated 2012 Kentucky Derby Prep Winners (Apr 14)

Here is the updated list of winners as of April 7th for each of the 2012 Kentucky Derby prep races, so you can keep track of who are the true contenders as we lead up to the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill... Read More...

Creative Cause Headlines Santa Anita Derby

With the upset of Union Rags last weekend in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, many racing pundits including myself have Creative Cause as the #1 contender heading into the Kentucky Derby next month. There is one more obstacle in the way of the gray Giant’s... Read More...

Gemologist, Alpha Ready for Battle in Wood Memorial at Aqueduct

As of today, Todd Pletcher has one horse heading to the Kentucky Derby next month. El Padrino has $250,000 in graded earnings thanks mostly for his win in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds on February 25. His 4th place performance in the... Read More...

Indy Upsets Union Rags, Hero is Made in Louisiana

It had been just over a week since all the sports talk was surrounding the Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning and potential first round pick Andrew Luck. Another Indy decided to get the city name back in the spotlight and make headlines of his own. The... Read More...

2012 Florida Derby Preview – Union Rags and ??

For good reason, the overwhelming favorite in the 2012 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park this Saturday is Union Rags. He has raced 5 times, with 4 wins and a 2nd place effort which came in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Hansen). His one... Read More...

Motion, Asmussen Add to Derby Contender List

Can Graham Motion and Team Valor go back to back year’s and win the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes and Kentucky Derby? They now have the opportunity as their colt Went the Day Well comfortably won the Vinery Racing Spiral Staes (G3) at Turfway Park on... Read More...

Sunland Derby Provides Huge Opportunity

When it comes to the Kentucky Derby and all the prep races leading up to it, the majority of sports fans recognize races such as the Wood Memorial, Louisiana Derby, Arkansas Derby, Florida Derby and the Santa Anita Derby. There are a couple of lesser... Read More...

Derby Prep Race Results, What Remains?

We are three months into the 2012 racing season, and several of the Kentucky Derby prep races are in the books. Below, you will find the winners of each race, a brief analysis of what each horse has done since, as well as, the most... Read More...

No “Cause” for Concern after San Felipe Win

After winning the Grade 2 Best Pal at Del Mar last August, then finishing 2nd in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and winning the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita, the gray Giant’s Causeway colt Creative Cause finished 3rd in the Grey Goose... Read More...

San Felipe Stakes Up for Grabs

A field of 10 three year old colts and geldings continue their path to the Kentucky Derby. This field boasts more true Derby contenders than any race we have seen to date. Santa Anita – San Felipe Stakes (G2) – $300,000 – 1 1/16 miles... Read More...

Hansen Back on Track with Gotham Win

It only took one race for the reigning two year old champ to get back to the winner’s circle. After posting three straight wins as a two year old including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Hansen started his three year old campaign with a distant 2nd... Read More...

Caleb’s Posse Faces Tough Return in Tom Fool

There may be more well known stakes races this upcoming weekend, but the race that intrigues me the most is the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct. Why? The race includes Caleb’s Posse, who I felt should have at least won top male three... Read More...

Union Rags Cruises to Fountain Win

If you weren’t a believer before, you should be now. At this time, Union Rags is hands down the best three year old in the United States. After his narrow defeat in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last November, some thought that he was overrated, some... Read More...