HorseRacingNation.com NewsWire

Belmont Stakes 2013 - I Love New York

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 20:08:48 GMT

Welcome to New York, aka "Big Apple." Welcome to Belmont Park, aka "Big Sandy." And welcome to the last and most demanding race in the Triple Crown series, the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes, aka "Test of the Champion," which has produced some of the most unlikely winners in the Triple Crown series in past editions.

With both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners in the race, I'll let the media ramp up all the talk about a supposed "rubber" match between Orb and Oxbow. But folks, this ISN'T a match race, this is a horse race. Of course, both classic winners have given us two very good races thus far, and certainly deserve all the accolades thrown their way, but an excellent field of 12 challengers have been assembled around the duo, and a few of them are highly capable of taking down this prestigious $1 million event.

Todd Pletcher enters with another five horse attack. If you recall, the trainer tried to win this year's Kentucky Derby with an assault of five runners, three which skipped the Preakness, but have returned for this engagement. One of them, Revolutionary, w

2013 Preakness Stakes: In Baltimore, Go With The O's

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:28:23 GMT

One down, two to go. That's the status applied to Kentucky Derby winners, past, present and future, attempting to capture the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing. Only eleven equines have succeeded, none since 1978. Following the convincing win by Orb in Derby 139 at Churchill Downs two weeks ago, all eyes will be fixated upon Pimlico Race Course to see if the Shug McGaughey trained colt can make it two-thirds complete with a win in the 138th Preakness Stakes, and move a step closer to horse racing immortality.

Eight opponents stand in Orb's way, five that he thumped in Louisville May 4th, and three non-Derby participants. A $1 million purse is on the line, and the talented group of three-year-olds colts cut back in distance slightly - they go 1 3/16 miles instead of the 1 1/4 miles covered in the "Run For The Roses." Will that help some of the Derby runners that raced well, only to fade late in the race?

If you fancy any of new faces to win, here is a fact to highly consider: Horses that compete in the Kentucky Derby tend to win the Preakness. Since 1984, only three Preak

Kentucky Derby 2013: How to Handicap the Big Race

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 06:29:46 GMT

It's quite conceivable that Eagles band members, Glenn Frey and Don Henley, could have easily written about the Kentucky Derby as opposed to relationships, when the songwriting duo penned the line "Who can go the distance, we'll find out," in their song titled, "The Long Run." The question is posed to handicappers at this same time each season as they try to assess a 20-horse field of developing 3-year olds, all trying to win the Run For The Roses. Never an easy task.

The assembled cast have proven themselves worthy of participation by virtue of accumulating the top twenty points via the preparatory races run throughout the winter and spring. Certainly, those horses that have either won or have run close in preliminary stakes that can be accepted as definitive: Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes, Florida Derby, Arkansas Derby and Louisiana Derby, should be strongly considered. Although, it would be rather hasty to define the U.A.E. Derby as definitive, the point value awarded the top four finishers (100 pts to the winner), is on par with th

Kentucky Oaks: Girls Rule

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:07:16 GMT

On Friday, May 3rd, some 24-hours prior to the boys running off for Kentucky Derby glory, the girls will be assembled and showcased for the Grade 1 $1 million Kentucky Oaks. There won't be a 20-horse field for the Oaks, but sitting a week out from the race, it appears we will have eleven runners. And in my opinion, that's plenty and perfect, especially where quality is concerned. Nine of the fillies have won at least a single graded stakes, while a dynamic quartet has won multiple graded events. There is even a multiple G1 winner present. These ladies definitely know how to win, problem is, only one can be the conqueror and wear the lilies.

Trainer To dd Pletcher will be a busy man both days. It is expected that he will saddle 4 fillies in the Oaks, to go along with five, possibly six colts in the Derby. He will also have the distinct honor of having the probable favorite for each race. Pletcher's counterpart in these American Classic's is none other than Bob Baffert. However, the Hall-of-Fame west coast guru, who normally has his own guns loaded for big races, is at the ot

Kentucky Derby Lists From A To Z, With a Stop At T

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:49:22 GMT

About this time each spring, from the Associated Press down to our very own Zipse At The Track, every horse racing writer, blogger and handicapper (novice or experienced) has their own Kentucky Derby contenders list. Those individual lists vary, not only in the order of preference, but also the amount of horses covered. Since we are inside two weeks until the 139th Run For The Roses, and it's the vogue thing to do, Trackman has constructed his own list. Why not? Seems everybody from my boss down to my next door neighbor (both once a-year-horse players by the way) are asking me for my 2013 Kentucky Derby pick.

I haven't touted any one particular horse because the field isn't quite set, final preparations (workouts) haven't been completed, and post positions not yet drawn. But I'll be completed honest, after watching all the preps, there were some performances that truly made me believe certain horses just aren't cut out to compete with the very best three-year olds. There were also some performances that indicated certain horses may improve on Derby day and will be on

Fort Erie 2013: Alive and Kicking

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:34:06 GMT

Hi everyone. Back in 1980, in the closing seconds of the Olympic hockey game between the United States and Russia, in which the U.S. stunned the powerful Soviet team who had won nearly every world championship and Olympic tournament since 1954, announcer Al Michaels asked, "Do you believe in miracles? YES!"...And all of us old enough to recall that moment, remember the joyous feeling.

I reference that opening because of the recent announcement that Fort Erie Race Track reached a deal with the Ontario government for transition funding to ensure another season of racing will return in 2013. Many thanks go out to the countless number of people involved in getting the deal completed days before the March 31st, 2013 deadline. The now 116-year old facility will have 50 thoroughbred race dates, with opening day set for Sunday, May 26th. The pact also ensures the Prince of Wales Stakes, will once again be held at the "Grand Old Lady." The date for the 2nd leg of the Canadian Triple Crown is still to be determined.

At the close of 2012 racing season,

Winning A Final Prep: Derby Glory or Derby Curse?

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:20:29 GMT

If Itsmyluckyday, winner of the January Holy Bull Stakes, reigning juvenile champion Shanghai Bobby, runner-up in the aforementioned stakes, or Fountain of Youth conqueror, Orb, should win Saturday's Florida Derby, the colt will likely be considered one of the betting favorites for the Kentucky Derby on May 4th.

But here's an early Derby betting tip: Don't put to much emphasis on who wins the preps.

Though winning one of the final major prep races- Florida Derby, Wood Memorial, Santa Anita Derby, Arkansas Derby and Blue Grass Stakes-is often considered a gigantic step toward a win at Churchill Downs, the numbers suggest otherwise. In the last 20 years, only 7 of the winners of one of those races have gone on to Derby glory-while 64 runners from those final preps finished off the board completely in the Run for the Roses. Last year was the first time since 2008 that a major prep winner, I'll Have Another (Santa Anita Derby), basked in glory in Louisville.

Holy Bull (1994), Unbridled's Song (1996), Harlan's Holiday (

Final Derby Preps: All Roads "Point" To Louisville

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:00:04 GMT

As we enter into the final stages of the Kentucky Derby trail this spring, thoroughbred racing fans around the country are revving up as post time draws near for the 139th running of America's most prestigious horse race. In a little more than a month, the hopeful masses will be narrowed down to the top 20 thoroughbreds who are fortunate enough to accumulate enough points to qualify for “The Sport of Kings” ultimate prize. Only this upper echelon of horse flesh will have the honor of running for the roses beneath Churchill Downs’ Twin Spires in Louisville, Ky., on the first Saturday in May, this year on May 4th.

A main topic of conversation throughout the prep journey has been on the controversial point system Churchill Downs inaugurated to determine which 3-year olds make the 20-horse cutoff for the Run For The Roses, replacing the graded-stakes earnings standard that’s been used since 1986.

If you have been out of touch with reality, let me bring you up to date. Last June, Churchill Downs, in one of the most essential developments in the storied history

A Rebel Yell

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 03:28:27 GMT

The 2013 Kentucky Derby trail travels through Hot Springs, Arkansas, this Saturday for the G2 Rebel Stakes. The $600,000 race is the final prep for the G1 Arkansas Derby next month. There's no shortage of talent as a strong field of 11 competitors will be battling for points towards gaining entry into the Churchill Downs starting gate on May 4th. The 1 1/16 mile Rebel will give the top-four finishers 50-20-10-5 points and move one step closer to running in the Kentucky Derby.

Canadian-bred Sunny’s Halo put the Rebel Stakes on the map after using it as a springboard to his 1983 Arkansas and Kentucky Derby wins. More recently, Smarty Jones (2004) swept the entire Oaklawn Park 3-year old prep series before going on to capture the 130th running of the roses.

This race and all of the rest of the preps take on added meaning because of the point system and the 2013 Rebel features a strong field going postward on their quest for Kentucky Derby glory, therefore, look for this contest to be very competitive.

The race's top contender

Gotham Stakes: Analyze This

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 23:05:22 GMT

As part of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series, The lure of $240,000 and 50 Derby points to the winner drew a full field of 12 runners at Aqueduct on Saturday for a sturdy 3-year old test in the G3 Gotham Stakes in the Big Apple. Let's take a look at the field from the rail out.

Grade 3 $400,000 Gotham Stakes 1 1/6-Miles

Coupled Entries – Transparent, Now and Then

PP Horse Jockey/Trainer

1. Champion Boy/ Castro/Guerrero--Colt is still a maiden with just two starts. One of those runs came exactly a month ago when he contested the G3 Withers here, finishing fifth.

2. Escapefromreality/Cohen/Schettino--Has never been off the board in his three lifetime starts, all recorded over track. Scored nicely in his debut and hasn't been far from the winner's circle by more than a neck in his two second-place finishes. The latter race was a very game runner-up showing to the top 3-year old prospect, Revolutionary, in the G3 Withers. His Big A inner track experience coupled with his good closing abilities, makes him an strong contender.

3. Ore Pas