Author Archives: Peter Applebee

Hapy Red Smith Day!  Today we have two graded stakes on the turf at the Big A, both with big competitive fields. The Pebbles has some nice up and coming three year old filly turf milers, and the Red Smith is oversubscribed with a number of salty veterans.    Trivia Question:  Who was Red Smith?  Race 6 – The Pebbles – Grade III  One Mile on the Turf for Three Year Old Fillies  Implicated: Started brightly last year breaking her maiden and wining the overnight Chelsea Flower Stakes with a 74 Beyer. Came back last month off a year layoff in N2X company for Chad Brown and she tired…

Happy Breeders’ Cup Day!  Christmas comes a touch early today for horse players as we have nine Breeders’ Cup races headlined by a very competitive Classic.     Race 8 – Breeders’ Cup Turf– Grade I  One Mile and One Half on the Turf for Three Year Olds and Upward  Shahryar: Has only raced twice this year with a fifth in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan and a no show eleventh in Japan in the Sapporo Kinen. In the Sheema Classic he dwelled toward the rear and made sustained run for fifth – but was no threat. Passing. Onesto: Was a strong third in the Arc de Triomphe…

Happy Future Stars Friday!  Welcome to Future Stars Friday – we have five Breeders’ Cup races today featuring two year old fillies and colts.   Race 8 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – Grade I  One Mile and a Sixteenth on the Dirt for Two Year Olds  The Wine Steward: Just missed in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland where he was bested by Locked (92 Beyer). That narrow loss was preceded by three straight wins to start his career which included wins in the Bashford Manor and New York bred Funny Cide Stakes. Steadily improving speed figs puts this one right there and his ability to rate helps as well.…

Happy Mother Goose Day!  There are three stakes on the BAQ card today headlined by the Mother Goose and Forty Niner. The Forty Niner was previously run as the Kelso, but no worries, the mighty Kelso still has a stakes race honoring him. The former Forbidden Apple at Saratoga was renamed for Kelso this year.  “Once upon a time there was a horse named Kelso. But only once.” – Joe Hirsch  Trivia Question: What is the Mother Goose Stakes named after?  Race 8 – The Mother Goose  – Grade II  One Mile and One Furlong on the Dirt for Three Year Old Fillies  Foggy Night: Wants a dry…

Happy Joe Hirsch Turf Day – Take 2!  The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic was planned for last weekend but the record rainfall downstate meant the turf course at the Big A was not available, so the race has been redrawn for today.  As a result, we now have a “Super Saturday” card with six graded stakes including three Grade 1s.   These are the last Grade 1 races in New York for the year. The next Grade 1 in New York will be the Carter Handicap run on Wood Memorial Day six months from now. But wait, what about the Cigar Mile that’s run in December?  That great race…

Note: According to a NYRA press release, “The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has moved Saturday’s 11-race card at Aqueduct Racetrack to Sunday and pushed Sunday’s 10-race program to Wednesday due to torrential rainfall causing widespread flooding and hazardous conditions in the New York metropolitan area.” Happy Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Day!  We have four graded stakes at Aqueduct headlined by the Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic along with three Grade IIs; the Woodward, the Vosburgh, and the Gallant Bloom. Plan for off going as it appears the NYC metro area will get several inches of rain Friday into Saturday.  Trivia Question: Only two fillies have…

Happy Jockey Club Gold Cup Day!  While the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup is the feature race today, the real feature is the former Lucky Coin Stakes, which has been renamed for the late, great Harvey Pack.  For decades Harvey held many important roles promoting and covering New York racing, but if you are of my vintage then you fondly remember Harvey hosting the DRF Siro’s handicapping seminars.  They were by far the best handicapping events I ever witnessed and eventually they generated so much interest that Capital OTB televised them. Harvey was the master of ceremonies each morning on the stage outside at Siro’s in his…

Happy Travers Day!  Today is the big day with five Grade I stakes. The Travers field contains the three winners of the Triple Crown races as well as Forte, who took control of the division with his narrow (and controversial) win in the Jim Dandy. This race could very well settle divisional honors.  Trivia Question:  Which jockey has won the most Travers Stakes?  Race 11 – Sword Dancer Stakes – Grade I  One Mile And A Half On The Inner Turf For Four Year Olds And Upward  Soldier Rising: In the Bowling Green as he was significantly impacted by Rebels Romance clipping heels and he had to check…

Happy Alabama Day!  The Grade 1 Alabama Stakes has is a deep field that includes the top three finishers from the Coaching Club American Oaks. The Lake Placid has four Chad Brown entries, per usual.  Trivia Question:  Why is there a major historic stakes race at Saratoga called “The Alabama”?  Race 7 – Lake Placid Stakes – Grade II  One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Inner Turf for Fillies Three Years Old  Heavenly Sunday: Won the Edgewood Stakes two back at Churchill via a front running trip (86 Beyer) and then came back in the Tepin at Ellis six weeks ago where she set the pace but…

Happy Fourstardave Day!  The Fourstardave Handicap is named for “The Sultan of Saratoga” who won a race at the Spa for a record eight consecutive years from 1987 to 1994.  He was a New York bred, a blue collar horse, and was beloved by all Saratoga race fans. Dave is forever with us at Saratoga as he is buried on the backside at Clare Court.  Trivia Question: Who won the first running of the Fourstardave Handicap in 1996?   Race 8 – Saratoga Special – Grade II  Six and One Half Furlongs on the Dirt for Two Year Olds  This Grade II is a prep for the Hopeful Stakes…