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 [...]
Test of a Champion – Blue Grass Stakes Preview
Yazan: Steve | 14 April 2012 | Comments Off
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
This preview was originally published on Thorofan Saturday’s Grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Racecourse is one of the last major prep races prior to the 2012 Kentucky Derby. Despite its Grade I status, few winners of the Blue Grass have gone on to actually win the Kentucky Derby (the most recent was [...]
The Transylvania – Keenland Spring Renewal
Yazan: Dylan | 05 April 2012 | Comments Off
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Just like the Masters Tournament in golf, or MLB Opening Day, the sight of horses in the starting gate at Keenland is a sure sign of spring, quality racing, and big time stakes action soon to follow. The opening day feature is the $100k Transylvania Stakes, a one and one sixteenths mile turf race for [...]
Solar System of Handicapping – Week 17
Yazan: Steve | 23 April 2011 | 2 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
This week’s Solar System of Handicapping community race is the G2 $150K Jerome S. at Aqueduct. It’s a one-turn mile on Aqueduct’s main track and features a competitive field of 8 headlined by potential KY Derby starter ASTROLOGY (5/2). For me, the value of the race looks like #5 RATTLESNAKE BRIDGE (6-1) and I’ll bet [...]
Finding Green in the Blue Grass for Under $50
Yazan: Derek | 15 April 2011 | 4 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Regardless of what happens Saturday, the Derby picture will still be just as murky. I’ll be looking to take down Keeneland’s $.50 pick five, which looks to be a bit chalky in a few legs, so even budget players like myself can jump in with a manageable investment. Race 6 – Shakertown Stakes (G3) – [...]
Hunting Value in the G.3 Sycamore Stakes
Yazan: Steve | 20 October 2010 | 4 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
In Thursday’s $100K Grade III Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland, the overwhelming favorite is likely to be PRESIOUS PASSION, especially now that CLOUDY’S KNIGHT has scratched (and headed for a well-deserved retirement). PRESIOUS PASSION (3-1) earned plenty of respect in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf when he valiantly battled CONDUIT only to come up a half-length [...]
“High on Grass” – Woodbine, QE II, Athenia, and Oak Tree Derby Edition
Yazan: Derek | 14 October 2010 | 6 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Derek Brown (aka NJDerek) is back for another look at this weekend’s turf stakes. Our longshots ran very well last weekend, keyed by PRINCE WILL I AM winning the Jamaica at 10-1. Let’s look at Saturday’s big turf stakes and try to cash again. The Woodbine races are especially tricky because, for many of the [...]
“High on Grass” – NJ Derek Has Good News and Bad News
Yazan: Derek | 08 October 2010 | 5 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Please welcome Derek Brown (aka NJ Derek) to WirePlayers as a contributing handicapper. He’s a kindred spirit as he loves betting the lawn. Here’s his take on this weekend’s turf racing action. The good news is this weekend is a turf racing fan’s dream with graded stakes from coast to coast. From a wagering perspective, [...]
Checking out Keeneland’s Carpet
Yazan: Steve | 22 April 2010 | 3 Comments
Categories: Horse Racing
Going to Keeneland three days after Charles Town won’t only lead to culture shock, but you can also bear witness to two of racing’s more disruptive trends: the “racino” (at CT) and the synthetic track (at KEE). Keeneland installed their own synthetic concoction, Polytrack, in October 2006. Some like it, some don’t. Seems ironic that [...]
A Journey into the Heart of American Horse Racing
Yazan: Steve | 30 October 2009 | 4 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Making our annual pilgrimage to Keeneland racetrack this weekend – the sixth straight year we’ve driven 8+ hours from DC to Lexington. Lexington’s gotta be the only place in America where everyone’s into horse racing. Horseplayers who are pariahs in their home town can feel perfectly at home here. In DC, no one talks about [...]
Queen Elizabeth II does the Hot Cha Cha
Yazan: Steve | 18 October 2009 | Comments Off
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 | Comments Off
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 [...]
