Author Archives: Peter Applebee

Happy Wood Memorial Day!  The Big A takes the stage with the 100th running of Wood Memorial. This is the first big card on the New York racing calendar which also features the Grade II Carter, and a couple Grade IIIs – the Gazelle for three year old filles, and the Distaff for older fillies and mares.     Trivia question: Where was the Wood Memorial run before it was held at Aqueduct?  Race 10 – The Carter Handicap  – Grade II  Seven Furlongs on the Dirt for Four Year Olds and Upward  Crazy Mason: Won two in a row to start his four year old season defeating N1X and…

Happy Florida Derby Day!  The Florida Derby card does not disappoint with five very playable graded stakes races along with five ungraded stakes that features the return of White Abarrio in the Ghostzapper.  The Florida Derby has an interesting field with the two ML favorites on the far outside in posts 9 and 10 which historically have tough to win from – those posts are 3/54 going nine furlongs over the past 10 years. The run up in nine furlong races has been recently increased from 70 feet to 123 feet (an increase of 54 feet) so there is some more space to gain position, but it’s still…

Happy Louisiana Derby Day!  Today is the big day at the Fair Grounds where they have eight stake races headlined by The Louisiana Derby and Sierra Leone returns as a four year old in the New Orleans Classic.  Trivia Question: Who was the last winner of the Louisiana Derby to win the Kentucky Derby?  Race 11 – The Fair Grounds Oaks – Grade II  One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt for Three Year Old Fillies   Girl Math: Improved performance with the addition of blinkers and the move to the poly track where she broke her maiden but failed to impress in her first stakes. Should come…

Happy Fountain of Youth Day!  While the forecast calls for sun in South Florida this weekend, there are dark clouds gathering over the future of Gulfstream. Legislation is now pending the Florida State House at the request of Gulfstream ownership that would eliminate the need to have horse racing in order to operate the casino at Gulfstream Park. Florida horsemen stand in opposition to this “decoupling” bill as they see it as a step towards ending racing at Gulfstream. Further, the owner of Gulfstream made some eye catching comments during an interview on Pegasus Day when she questioned if Gulfstream was appropriate as a racing venue given its…

Happy Holy Bull Day!  Strong card at Gulfstream Park today with five stakes races headlined by the Grade 3 Holy Bull. It’s a very competitive field led by Ferocious who showed a lot of promise as a two year old.  Trivia question: The Holy Bull is the first leg of the three race sequence that comprise the Gulfstream Park portion of Kentucky Derby preps. What are the other Derby preps held at Gulfstream Park that award points for the 2025 Kentucky Derby?   Gulfstream Park Race 10 – The Kitten’s Joy   One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf for Three Year Olds  Enterdadragon: Won an optional claimer at…

Happy Pegasus Day!  Today we seven graded stakes at Gulfstream Park led by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational. This is the first big day on the 2025 calendar and we have big competitive fields.  Trivia Question: Which trainer has the most wins in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational?  Race 12 – The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational  Stakes – Grade I  One Mile and a Furlong on the Turf for Four Year Olds and Upward   Siege of Boston: Six year old War Front colt who hasn’t won in eighteen months but has picked up the pieces in several Grade 3 events. Ran well enough last out…

Happy Cigar Mile Day!  Today we have the final big card of year at the Big A with four graded stakes races headlined by the Cigar Mile. In addition, the Demoiselle and Remsen are significant early preps for the Oaks and Derby respectively as the two year olds will go two turns. The Remsen has been maligned for not producing Derby winners – but it is a key race as these colts enter their three year old seasons. Recent Remsen winners have included Catholic Boy (Belmont, Travers), Mo Donegal (Haskell, Belmont), and Dornach (Belmont, Haskell).  Trivia question: Who was the trainer of Cigar?  Race 7 The Remsen –…

Happy Red Smith Day!  Strong card at the Big A today with three turf stakes races including two graded stakes.  It might be November, but our turf racing is still going strong in New York.    Trivia Question: Who is the Hill Prince Stakes named for?    Race 5 – The Hill Prince – Grade III  One Mile and One Furlong on the Turf for Three Year Olds  Bartlett: Once John Servis stretched this one out on dirt, he has been a different horse. He won N1X (93 Beyer) and N2X (94 Beyer) races on consecutive attempts and both races were identical he went right to the front help…

Happy Breeders’ Cup Day!  Today is the big day. We have eight Grade 1s and many of these races will determine divisional championships for 2024. Both the Classic and the Turf are pretty wide open affairs where you can go five or six different directions.    Race 7 – Breeders’ Cup Turf– Grade I  One Mile and One Half on the Turf for Three Year Olds and Upward   Rousham Park: Long shot Japanese runner won four of six starts as a four year old but has not followed that success up as a five year old with no wins from three starts and didn’t show much in…

Happy Future Stars Friday!  We have five Grade I races today at Del Mar as we celebrate the best two year old fillies and colts.     Race 9 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – Grade I  One Mile and a Sixteenth on the Dirt for Two Year Olds  East Avenue: Speedster successfully stretched out in his second start taking the field the whole way in the Breeders Futurity (95 Beyer). He’ll need to break well to establish position. If he does then he is dangerous. Using Getaway Car: Baffert stretched out this Curlin colt in the American Pharaoh and he was left chasing but ran on well for second (86…