27Jan

Applebee: Pegasus / Pegasus Turf – Gulfstream 1.28.23

January 27, 2023By Handicapping, Handicapping Articles, News

Happy Pegasus Day! Today marks the first big race day of 2023. The Gulfstream card has seven graded stakes with the Pegasus Turf and Pegasus World Cup headlining the day. While the 2023 Pegasus field lacks a superstar, it sports a competitive field where a solid case can be made for a half dozen entrants. It’s just an old fashioned good betting race – with a $3 million purse. The Pegasus Turf features a similarly competitive field that was expected to include two time defending champion Colonel Liam – but he was recently retired with an ankle issue. Race 12 – The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes…

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02Dec

Applebee Closer Look: Cigar Mile, Remsen 2022

December 2, 2022By Handicapping, Handicapping Articles, News, Race of the Day
Happy Cigar Mile Day!  There are four graded stakes at Aqueduct today headlined by the Cigar Mile which is the last of thirty-six Grade 1 races run in New York this year.  It honors the magnificent Cigar who won this race when it was known as the “NYRA Mile”.  The Remsen is part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series and the top five finishers will be awarded Derby points (10-4-3-2-1).  This race is the first Derby prep to go nine furlongs. You will have to wait until the Withers in February for the next Derby prep to go as far.  Race 7 The Remsen – Grade…
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25Nov

Applebee Closer Look: 11.26.22 Fall H’wt and Red Smith

November 25, 2022By Handicapping, Handicapping Articles, News, Race of the Day
Happy Fall Highweight Day!  The Highweight dates to 1914 when the filly Comely won the inaugural running as a two year old competing against older colts.  Recent editions have seen hard-knocking fan favorites Stallwalkin’ Dude, Life in Shambles, Salutos Amigos, and Caixa Electronica take the top prize.     The Red Smith is the feature race today, and it marks the end of graded stakes turf racing in New York for 2022.  We won’t see another graded stakes turf race in New York for five months.     Race 8 – The Fall Highweight Handicap – Grade III  Six Furlongs on the Dirt for Three Year Olds and Upward  This is…
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04Nov

11.5.22 Breeders’ Cup Saturday

November 4, 2022By Handicapping, Handicapping Articles, News, Race of the Day
Happy Breeders’ Cup Day! It’s Super Saturday at Keeneland with nine Breeders’ Cup races headlined by the Turf and Classic. Flightline looks to stamp himself as one of the best in this era in the Classic. In addition, Jackie’s Warrior tries to round out his career resume with a Breeders’ Cup win and the Distaff is packed with top shelf fillies and mares. Race 10 – Breeders’ Cup Turf– Grade I One Mile and One Half on the Turf for Three Year Olds and Upward The Bill Mott trained mare War Like Goddess headlines the American contingent against a group of European runners led by Charlie Appleby’s Nations…
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03Nov

11.4.22 Breeders’ Cup Friday

November 3, 2022By Handicapping, Handicapping Articles, News, Race of the Day
Happy Future Stars Friday! Welcome to Future Stars Friday – we have five Breeders’ Cup race today featuring two year old fillies and colts. I’ll tackle the Juvenile and Juvenile Turf.   Race 9 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – Grade I One Mile and a Sixteenth on the Dirt for Two Year Olds Remember that this race finishes at the first finish line which tends to benefit horses on or near the lead while making it more difficult for closers since most of the late runners are trained to move in the stretch rather than on the turn. The Runners 1. Hurricane J: Stretches out to a route…
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08Oct

Sat 10.8.22: Happy Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Day!

October 8, 2022By Handicapping Articles, News
Happy Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Day!  Today’s Belmont at the Big A card features three graded stakes races; the Grade III Matron, the Grade II Vosburgh, and the Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.  I’ll tackle the Joe Hirsch and the Vosburgh.  Race 5 – The Vosburgh – Grade II  Seven Furlongs on the Dirt for Three Year Olds and Upward  Our graded stakes in New York have tended to be on the small side this summer and fall, but they have been good fields. You can’t make that assertion about this rendition of the Vosburgh. This field is not a Grade II caliber group – but it…
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02Sep

Jockey Gold Cup Preview

September 2, 2022By Handicapping, Handicapping Articles

This Fall we get Belmont at the Big A while construction occurs in Elmont. Well, today we get a touch of Belmont at the Spa as two longtime Belmont Fall stakes are run at Saratoga for the second year. The Flower Bowl features a nice field of seven led by War Like Goddess along with the obligatory three Chad Brown runners. The Jockey Club Gold Cup is a very competitive ten furlong affair on the dirt for the colts.

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02Sep

Saratoga preview: Sat 9.3.22 JCGC, Flower Bowl

September 2, 2022By Handicapping, Handicapping Articles, News
Happy Jockey Club Gold Cup Day!  This Fall we get Belmont at the Big A while construction occurs in Elmont. Well, today we get a touch of Belmont at the Spa as two longtime Belmont Fall stakes are run at Saratoga for the second year.  The Flower Bowl features a nice field of seven led by War Like Goddess along with the obligatory three Chad Brown runners. The Jockey Club Gold Cup is a very competitive ten furlong affair on the dirt for the colts.  Race 10 – Flower Bowl – Grade 2  One Mile And Three Furlongs On The Inner Turf   For Fillies and Mares Four Years…
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26Aug

Saratoga Preview 8.27.22: Travers and Sword Dancer

August 26, 2022By Handicapping, Handicapping Articles, News
Happy Travers Day!  Today’s card has five Grade I races.  Only Belmont Stakes Day has more Grade 1s on the New York racing calendar. There are three reigning Champions running today - Malathaat, Jackie’s Warrior, and Letruska -  along with Channel Maker who won the 2020 male turf division.   I’ll tackle the Sword Dancer and the Travers. But just a word about the Forego where the great Jackie’s Warrior goes for an unprecedented fifth Saratoga Grade 1. He won the Saratoga Special (Grade 2) and the  Hopeful (Grade 1) as a two year old. Then came back last year as a three year old and won the Amsterdam…
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