Author Archive
A Break From Data, A Rekindled Love For Racing
Yazan: Derek | 15 April 2012 | 7 Comments
Categories: Horse Racing, Our Philosophy
I’ve been a fan of racing since I was about eight. Many of us who fell in love with the sport have similar stories. Going to the track for the first time, seeing the brightly colored silks and getting caught up in the excitement of a stretch run. At that age, it wasn’t even about [...]
The Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (G3) – Time To Get Ill
Yazan: Derek | 24 March 2012 | Comments Off
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Originally posted at Thorofan Handicappers’ Corner Last year the Spiral Stakes shook loose from the bonds of irrelevance when ANIMAL KINGDOM parlayed his win into a Kentucky Derby triumph. While only a Grade 3, and run over polytrack, the winner of the $500,000 purse is virtually guaranteed a spot in the starting gate on the [...]
Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap Analysis
Yazan: Derek | 11 February 2012 | Comments Off
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Originally posted at ThoroFan. Just four weeks ago, many of the horses entered in Saturday’s co-feature at Gulfstream Park contested the Ft. Lauderdale Stakes over this same course. While that was run over a firm course and under sunny skies, the forecast is quite the opposite for Saturday, with showers expected on both Friday and [...]
High on Grass – Ft. Lauderdale Edition
Yazan: Derek | 13 January 2012 | 1 Comment
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Race 10 at Gulfstream on Saturday offers a sneak peak into the male turf division for 2012, with the running of the Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G3). The weather forecast calls for sunny skies and temps in the 70s, so I’ve handicapped for firm turf. Post time is scheduled for 4:45 ET, so lets take a [...]
The Business of Thoroughbred Rescue: My Interview with Caroline Betts, Director & President of Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue
Yazan: Derek | 13 November 2011 | 1 Comment
Categories: Horse Racing, Our Philosophy
One of the most informative of the weekly thoroughbred business Twitter chats I participated in recently was on the subject of thoroughbred rescue and retirement. The chat was hosted by Caroline Betts, an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Southern California, and Founder, President and Director of Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue [...]
Breeders’ Cup Challenge – WirePlayers vs Hello Race Fans
Yazan: Derek | 03 November 2011 | 4 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
In addition to our own picks and analysis, this year the handicappers from WirePlayers are going head-to-head in a BC challenge against the handicappers from Hello Race Fans. Each member will pick a winner for each race, with five points towards the overall score for a win, two for a place finish and one point for [...]
Breeders’ Cup Friday – Contenders and Pretenders
Yazan: Derek | 28 October 2011 | 2 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
The Breeders’ Cup pre-entries are out, and like most handicappers, Derek Brown is knee-deep in past performances separating the contenders from the pretenders. So who’s worth a flyer and who risks burning your money? Here’s his initial analysis for Friday’s Breeders’ Cup races. Juvenile Sprint The Contender: If you throw out VEXOR’s non-effort in the [...]
He’s Back
Yazan: Derek | 09 October 2011 | 3 Comments
Categories: Horse Racing
It was almost 1:02 pm when the horses crossed the finish line in Belmont’s first race on Saturday and the phones began to ring. The partners of Fantasy Lane Stable waited a long time for this moment and knew exactly what to say after answering the calls. Of all the responses that they had mentally [...]
High on Grass – Jamaica, First Lady & Shadwell Turf Mile Edition
Yazan: Derek | 07 October 2011 | 3 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
With only four weeks until the Breeders Cup, this weekend offers the last round of significant prep races before the big day. In honor of his one-year anniversary writing for WirePlayers, Derek Brown returns to the races from his maiden post with a trio of Saturday’s G1 stakes from Belmont and Keeneland Belmont Race [...]
Super Saturday? You Bet!
Yazan: Derek | 02 October 2011 | 1 Comment
Categories: Horse Racing
The rain held off and Saturday was a tremendous day of racing at Belmont Park. Derek Brown (AKA NJDerek) gives his recap. Belmont’s Super Saturday is always one of my favorite days of racing. Several days of rain earlier in the week left the turf courses quite soft, forcing the early races to the main [...]
A Saturday Salad of Stakes Quick Picks
Yazan: Derek | 23 September 2011 | 4 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
If fall stakes races were a gourmet meal, the Breeders Cup would be the lobster tail and filet mignon and next weekend would be a hearty appetizer of steamed mussels or crab-stuffed mushrooms. Thus, in keeping with the metaphor, Saturday afternoon offers a nice Caesar salad of stakes around the country. While they likely won’t [...]
High on Grass – Woodbine Weekend Turf Stakes Edition
Yazan: Derek | 16 September 2011 | 9 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
This weekend’s best turf stakes take place north of the border at Woodbine Racetrack, headlined by Sunday’s G1 Woodbine Mile. Saturday offers a preview of the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf races, and Sunday showcases the older turf division. In an odd twist, none of the stakes are part of any all-stakes multi-race wagers, but Derek [...]
Travers Day Pick 4 – Single or Spread?
Yazan: Derek | 25 August 2011 | Comments Off
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
At first glance, Saturday’s Pick 4 sequence at Saratoga, headlined by the Grade 1 Travers Stakes, looks to be a bit chalky. But are the horses that look like logical singles legit or worth trying to beat? With a $1 million guaranteed pool on the line, Derek Brown (AKA NJDerek) says a little of both. [...]
High on Grass – Arlington Million Edition
Yazan: Derek | 12 August 2011 | 4 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
There may be eight million stories in the naked city, but there’s $200,000 and then some up for grabs in the Windy City in Arlington Park’s all-turf stakes middle pick 4 tomorrow, headlined by the G1 Arlington Million. For the sake of this post, let’s not focus on how bad a transition that was. Here’s Derek’s [...]
High on Grass – Haskell Day Turf Stakes Edition
Yazan: Derek | 30 July 2011 | Comments Off
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Hopefully you cashed on the $331 trifecta we gave out in the Diana yesterday. Today’s 14-race card at Monmouth, headlined by the G1 Haskell Invitational, spans nearly 7 hours and offers some great betting opportunities. Derek Brown (AKA NJDerek) takes a look at the three turf stakes on the card. Jersey Derby– 8.5F – Race [...]
