The Withers Stakes at nine furlongs is the second leg of the grand slam of Triple Crown preps with the Gotham and Wood Memorial still to come later this spring. Firenze Fire the winner of the Jerome and Coltandmississippi come back at 9 furlongs. Contenders: Marconi showed a couple of moves in a maiden special weight win Read the full article…
The second running of the Pegasus World Cup ends up being a rematch of the Breeders Cup Classic. The Top five finishers in the Classic return along with mile participant Sharp Azteca. The rematch is at a new location, and the distance is nine furlongs. Contenders: Gun Runner dominated the Breeder’s Cup Classic with active fractions on Read the full article…
San Francisco the scene, Golden Gate the place with the California Derby featuring an eight-horse field. Contenders: Choo Choo has started five times with one win and two thirds. Synthetic debut for the son of the English Channel who was a turf pro back when he was racing. Most recent effort on the turf was a close Read the full article…
Tampa Bay is the home of the Pasco stakes as Sophomores continue on the trail for a possible start in the Sam F Davis or Tampa Bay Derby later this spring. Contenders: He Hate Me makes his three-year-old debut off a long layoff, last seen winning the Tremont Stakes at Belmont. He had a 78 Beyer in Read the full article…
It’s a Smarty Party Monday at Oaklawn Park as opening weekend 2018 concludes with the Smarty Jones stakes as the featured eighth race on Monday. Contenders: Combatant son of Scat Daddy has been running well on the dirt the last two races and his maiden win was visually impressive, coming off the pace and his Beyer speed Read the full article…
The Fair Grounds in Louisiana starts the Road to Kentucky Derby which is one of three preps for Churchill Downs. The Risen Star and Louisiana Derby follow later down in the bayou. Contenders: Zing Zang improved sharply in a third-lifetime start and the son of Tapit has the right trainer in Steve Asmussen who has done Read the full article…
The Jerome Stakes has been redrawn. The first field was “Cold” out a few weeks back. Aqueduct has been closed due to fog and unthawing the last few days. Contenders: Coltandmississippi Ships in from Florida and may have a conditioning edge with a recent work on January 6th at Palm Meadows. He scratched out of the Read the full article…
Gulfstream Park hosts the Mucho Macho Man Stakes with two horses likely to take most of the betting action. The one-mile distance and early January placement on the calendar give horses multiple options for the next scheduled start. Contenders: Dak Attack dominated a Churchill Downs maiden race. The class is coming from the second mare was Read the full article…
The 2018 road to the California road to the Triple Crown starts with the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita. Recent winners of the Sham Stakes include Breeder’s Cup Classic runner-up Collected and two-time Breeder’s Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents. Travers winner Colonel John won the Sham in 2008. Contenders: Mourinho adds blinkers back “On” for this Read the full article…
The 2018 road to the Kentucky Derby starts with the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct. Historically the Jerome has had minimal impact on the Kentucky Derby as many of the higher profile colts are on vacation or down in Florida preparing for the February preps. Contenders: Seven Trumpets dominated a maiden race and then followed up Read the full article…