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All Turf, All Stakes Pick 5 at Colonial Downs

Yazan: Steve | 15 July 2010 | 7 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing

For the Virginia Derby, Colonial Downs put together a terrific all turf 14-race card, featuring an “All Stakes Pick 5″ in races 8 thru 12. Throwing caution to the wind, I’ll take a stab at cracking Saturday’s Pick 5. Race 8: $50K stakes at 5.5 furlongs for two-year olds.  Tough race to handicap since most [...]

Price Plays on the Turf

Yazan: Steve | 01 July 2010 | No Comments
Categories: Horse Racing

Monmouth Park’s United Nations Handicap Stakes at 1 and 3/8 miles on the turf promises to be a great betting race.  Just as Andrew Zimmern likes to call organ meat “eater’s food,” this wide open stakes is a “bettor’s race.” Personally, I don’t see the point in betting lukewarm favorite TAKE THE POINTS at a [...]

Saturday Stakes – Giving Peace Chant A Chance

Yazan: Steve | 12 February 2010 | 9 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing

With relatively small fields, Saturday’s KY Derby preps at Tampa Bay Downs and Santa Anita aren’t the best betting races. Unless the unexpected happens.  Of course, the unexpected is what horse racing’s all about. More attractive betting options are likely to be found in Santa Anita’s Strub Stakes and Gulfstream Park’s Sprint Championship. Peace Chant [...]

Bet Hard

Yazan: Steve | 01 December 2009 | 2 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing

Walk Bet Hard My wagering experience last weekend drove home the point that handicappers should always stand firm when they have strong opinions. Case in point: last Friday’s Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.  As some may know, I’ve been high on Blame the past few months.  I was impressed with his fast finish in the [...]

Handicapping Laurel’s G1 De Francis Dash

Yazan: Steve | 24 October 2009 | 2 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing

Today’s G1 De Francis Dash at Laurel is a 6 furlong sprint on the dirt. Starting from post position #1, Vineyard Haven is the deserving favorite after an impressive performance in the G1 Kings Bishop at Saratoga.  He was DQ’d in that race for veering into Captain Candyman Can in the deep stretch. I loved [...]

Queen Elizabeth II does the Hot Cha Cha

Yazan: Steve | 18 October 2009 | No Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing

History has a funny way of repeating itself; only not in ways that are easily predictable. Saturday’s G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Invitational stakes (that’s a mouthful) at Keeneland race track was a case in point.  Heavily favored Gozzip Girl went off at 3-5 despite failing to hit the board at 2-5 in her last [...]

QE II Challenge Cup Invitational – G1 Stakes

Yazan: Steve | 17 October 2009 | No Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing

Betting Keeneland’s main track has been tricky to say the least.  The G1 QE II Invitational at 1 and 1/8 miles on the turf presents a chance for horseplayers to recoup some losses after taking a beating on the polytrack. A great thing about this race is the top 3 morning line favorites all faced [...]

11 Horse Racing Betting Angles

Yazan: Steve | 15 October 2009 | 1 Comment
Categories: Horse Racing

Here are a few tried and true betting angles to complement your handicapping strategy.  There’s tons of others and I’d like to hear about your favorites. 1) 2nd or 3rd start off a layoff: Horses usually improve in their 2nd or 3rd start off a layoff (60 days or longer unraced).  Alternatively, horses coming off very long [...]

Preview – G2 Gallant Bloom Handicap

Yazan: Steve | 26 September 2009 | No Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing

The $150K, 6.5 furlong, G2 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont on Saturday is a Breeder’s Cup “Win and You’re In” race for the Filly and Mare Sprint.  Does anybody care?  Not me, I’m concerned about how to bet the race. At first glance it looks like a glorified match race between the two favorites: Indian [...]

Regal Ransom Wires The Field

Yazan: Steve | 20 September 2009 | No Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing

Regal Ransom cruised to victory in Saturday’s Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.  As expected, veteran jockey Richard Migliore took him to the front and set a slow pace assuring Regal Ransom had plenty left for the stretch run.   Blame closed well but never seriously challenged for the win. Regal Ransom and Blame were bet [...]

Super Derby Preview

Yazan: Steve | 18 September 2009 | No Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing

Though I’m hesitant to play any stakes race with the name “super” in it, let’s take a stab at the Louisiana Downs Super Derby, a grade II at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt. The morning line favorite Soul Warrior is coming off a victory over Big Drama and Mine That Bird in the West Virginia [...]

Garden City Recap – Good News, Bad News

Yazan: Steve | 14 September 2009 | No Comments
Categories: Horse Racing

In last Saturday’s Garden City Stakes at Belmont we were proven correct in our skepticism of Gozzip Girl at 2-5 odds.  Her off the board finish was good news as we were playing against her short price based on the layoff and yielding turf conditions.  The bad news is we completely overlooked Miss World who cruised to victory.  Shared Account [...]

Preview – Garden City G1

Yazan: Steve | 12 September 2009 | No Comments
Categories: Horse Racing

Today’s 8th race at Belmont is the Grade 1 $300K Garden City Stakes for three-year old fillies at 1 and 1/8 miles on the inner turf.  With all the rain in the New York area, the turf track will likely be yielding.  In fact, all of Saturday’s turf races were taken off the turf except [...]

Overwhelming Favorites

Yazan: Steve | 06 September 2009 | 2 Comments
Categories: Handicapping

Rachel Alexandra’s race in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes on Saturday, September 5th was awesome to watch as a racing fan but also presented an intriguing opportunity for handicappers.  With post time odds of .30 to 1 (rounded to 1-4) bettors had to decide how to play a race the with such an overwhelming favorite [...]

Betting the Races at Timonium

Yazan: Steve | 01 September 2009 | No Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing

Horse racing is held at Timonium’s race track only once a year as part of the Maryland State Fair.  This year’s meet started last Friday (28 Aug) and will end Labor Day.  While at most tracks you’ll find bettors staying inside yelling at the simulcast TVs, Timonium’s horseplayers are outside enjoying the weather in the open air grandstand or [...]