BARN Podcast 6/20/18
We welcome in the voice of the California Fairs Chris Griffin to talk about racing from Oak Tree at Pleasanton as well as talk about all of the Cal Fairs.
Pocono Downs offers stellar card this weekend
While harness racing enthusiasts focused much of their attention last weekend to the stellar card at Mohawk Raceway in Toronto, Canada, many of those same standardbred fans will give a close look to the Saturday program at Pocono Downs as the five-eighths mile track in Pennsylvania offers a bevy of eliminations for lucrative finals slated for the following weekend. Saturday's opener is one of the few races that is not among the list of eliminations, but it is a solid [...]
How to Bet the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot
Vazirabad winning the 2018 Dubai Gold Cup (UAE-II) at Meydan - Coady Photography It stands alone, a special remnant of times gone by. A Group 1 race held over the testing distance of 2 ½ miles—twice the length of the Kentucky Derby. Those are the remarkable conditions of the Gold Cup (Eng-I) on Thursday at Royal Ascot, a race often referred to as the Ascot Gold Cup. It’s considered to be the ultimate test of stamina in Europe, and [...]
Top 5 Ranked Turf Horses Heading into Summer Racing
The Triple Crown is over. That means two of the best meets of the year, Del Mar and Saratoga, are just about to start. Not only does Del Mar and Saratoga provide great dirt racing, both meets provide some of the best turf racing imaginable. More than a few horses will prep during Del Mar and Saratoga for the Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Festival. That means, if we wish to get a handle on North American turf [...]
Hydrangea Stars in Duke of Cambridge Stakes
Royal Ascot - Photo by Horsephotos.com When eleven fillies and mares head to post for Wednesday’s Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Eng-II) at Royal Ascot, all eyes will be on Hydrangea, who appears to tower over her rivals in the one-mile event. There’s no such thing as a sure thing in racing, but Hydrangea arguably comes close. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the well-bred daughter of Galileo has been a top-class Group 1 competitor throughout her career and went on [...]
BARN Podcast 6/19/18
We discuss the news of the day including where Justify might make his next start. We also welcome in Grade 1 winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. to talk about Stephen Foster night, leading the Churchill standings, and much more!
How to Bet the Prince of Wales’s Stakes
Hawkbill winning the Dubai Sheema Classic - Coady Photography In handicapping Wednesday’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Eng-I) on the second day of Royal Ascot, the key question to consider is simple—is #2 Cracksman vulnerable to an upset? Trained by John Gosden, the brilliant son of Frankel has won his last five starts—all at the Group 1 or Group 2 level—with varying degrees of authority. In fact, he reached the pinnacle of his career with a tremendous seven-length win [...]
Keying Rhododendron in the Queen Anne Stakes
Rhododendron breaks from the starting gate in the 2017 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf - Photo by Michael McInally/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup Fifteen starters with no clear standout—that’s what makes Tuesday’s Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot such a compelling betting race. Bettors will have plenty of options to consider in the prestigious one-mile event, which is the first race on the opening day of Royal Ascot’s five-day meet. Many of the starters were last seen competing [...]
Tip Two Win, Romanised May Have Advantage in St. James’s Palace Stakes
Royal Ascot - Photo by Horsephotos.com Historically, the one-mile St. James’s Palace Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot has been dominated by horses that competed in the top-class “Guineas” races throughout Europe—the one-mile European classics held in England, Ireland, and France. That’s why it’s interesting to see that the John Gosden-trained #9 Without Parole is the clear favorite in the St. James's Palace Stakes despite the fact that he did not contest any of the three Guineas races, missing [...]
BARN Podcast 6/18/18
We look back at a busy weekend including the Stephen Foster card that was loaded with upsets from Churchill Downs. Plus action from Santa Anita and Belmont Park.
