The Grade I, $3 million Kentucky Derby will finally take place at Churchill Downs this Saturday following a four-month postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The delay did little to abate the anticipation for the 1 1/4-mile classic, though it definitely narrowed down the list of win candidates. #17 TIZ THE LAW was set as…
Tag: Manny Franco
Gamine, Swiss Skydiver collide in Kentucky Oaks
The Grade I, $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks is Friday’s feature at Churchill Downs on the eve of the Kentucky Derby. The 1 1/8-mile event for three-year-old fillies drew a field of nine, though two horses figure to take the bulk of the betting action – #1 SWISS SKYDIVER (8-5) and #5 GAMINE (EVEN, morning-line favorite)….
Uni looks best in Just A Game
The Grade I, $250,000 Just A Game Stakes anchors Saturday’s action at Belmont Park. The one-mile grass event for fillies and mares drew a solid field of seven. Post time for the Just A Game, Race 10 on an 11-race program that features three additional graded stakes, is 6:08 p.m. ET. #6 UNI (7-5, morning-line…
Tiz the Law looks much the best in Belmont Stakes
The 152nd running of the Grade I, $1 million Belmont Stakes takes place at Belmont Park this Saturday. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the spectator-less race will be run as the first leg of the 2020 Triple Crown. Additionally, the “Test of the Champion” will be just 1 1/8-miles long, in stark contrast to the…
Vekoma can capture Carter Handicap
The Grade I, $250,000 Carter Handicap puts sprinters in the spotlight this Saturday at Belmont Park. The seven-furlong affair, Race 9 on an 11-race program, lured 11 talented runners to the gate. Post time for the prestigious Carter Handicap is 5:36 p.m. ET. #11 VEKOMA (7-2) aced his comeback race in the seven-furlong Sir Shackleton…
Tiz the Law should prove too tough for Florida Derby field
The centerpiece race of Gulfstream Park’s championship meet, the Grade I, $750,000 Florida Derby, is set for Saturday. A field of 12 (plus one also-eligible) will contest this 1 1/8-mile heat worth 170 total Kentucky Derby points (paid 100-40-20-10). The Florida Derby, which goes as the 14th and final race on a card loaded with…
Ete Indien can blaze the way to Holy Bull score
The Grade III, $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes anchors Saturday’s action at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/16th-mile heat for three-year-olds, which offers 10 Kentucky Derby points to the winner down to one point for running fourth, drew a field of seven led by the highly-touted TIZ THE LAW. The Holy Bull, carded as the 11th of…
Tiz the Law appears best in potentially-muddy Kentucky Jockey Club
The Grade II, $300,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes puts two-year-olds in the spotlight at Churchill Downs this Saturday. The 1 1/16th-mile heat, which carries 17 total points toward the Kentucky Derby (10-4-2-1), drew nine juveniles carrying dreams of wearing roses in May. Post time for the Kentucky Jockey Club, Race 11 of a scheduled 12,…
Weekly jockey review, 11/6/19; Breeders’ Cup recap
It’s time to the review the week that was in horse racing, with a special focus on Santa Anita and last weekend’s Breeders’ Cup. Irad Ortiz Jr. won the most Breeders’ Cup races of any jockey in 2019; four to be exact. He was aboard favored Four Wheel Drive in Friday’s Juvenile Turf Sprint and…
Weekly jockey review, 10/16/19
It’s time to discuss last week’s horse racing happenings, centering on jockey achievements from coast to coast. Belmont Manny Franco and Jose Lezcano continue to dominate proceedings at Belmont this fall. Franco leads all riders with 37 victories, seven of which he earned last week. Lezcano, second at 32, found the winner’s circle five times…