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. [...]
Handicapping Saratoga’s Grand Slam
Yazan: Dylan | 25 August 2011 | Comments Off
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Dylan J. provides his strategy on the Travers Day Grand Slam wager. The key to my Travers Day is the Grand Slam running races 7-10. Due to the nature of the wager (picking the winner of the last leg and a top three finisher in each of the first three legs), I handicap the last [...]
Saratoga Steeplechase – Mrs. Ogden Phipps Stakes
Yazan: Dylan | 10 August 2011 | Comments Off
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Thursdays in August are the best as once again a hurdle race will kick off the Saratoga card. This week’s feature has a unique group of fillies and mares headed postward as several entered have yet to break their maiden. #1 WELL FASHOINED (4-1) is the horse with the most upside. A rule I usually [...]
Saturday Graded Stakes Preview
Yazan: Steve | 05 August 2011 | 2 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
There are 4 graded stakes on Saturday, most notably the G.1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga for older horses and the G.1 Clement Hirsch at Del Mar for older mares. Mountainer Park Grade 2 West Virginia Derby ($750K) – 1 and 1/8 miles – Race 8 - 5:35 post time. The 2011 edition lacks the star power [...]
Saratoga Steeplechase – A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase S. (Grade II)
Yazan: Dylan | 02 August 2011 | Comments Off
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Dylan J., our resident steeplechase expert, is back with his preview of Thursday’s steeplechase feature at Saratoga. What makes summer racing at Saratoga special is not only the bounty of quality stakes races, but the commitment to steeplechasing. This week’s steeplechase feature is the Grade II Smithwick, the traditional prep for the NY Turf Writers [...]
High on Grass – Diana and Dave Edition
Yazan: Derek | 29 July 2011 | 1 Comment
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Lots to like on the lawn this weekend. Sunday’s card at Monmouth is chock full of turf stakes, but we’ll talk about that in a separate post. For today, Derek Brown (AKA NJDerek) is taking a closer look at a pair of graded turf stakes at Saratoga this weekend. Grade 1 Diana Stakes ($500K) – [...]
Weekend Graded Stakes Preview
Yazan: Steve | 22 July 2011 | Comments Off
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
With the first weekend of racing at beautiful Del Mar and historic Saratoga the racing season is heating up. Both tracks offer graded stakes on Saturday and Sunday and Arlington Park gets into the mix with the Stars and Stripes Stakes tomorrow. Here’s the rundown: Saratoga Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks ($250K purse) – [...]
Saratoga Steeplechase – Last Race of the Meet ($30K AOC)
Yazan: Dylan | 31 August 2010 | 3 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Dylan J. returns with his preview of Saratoga’s last steeplechase race of the season. Thanks to Dylan it’s been a lot of fun following this year’s action over the jumps. The final Thursday of the Saratoga meet will start with a steeplechase race in which 10 horses will travel 2 & 3/8th miles over the [...]
Back to Timonium’s Bullring
Yazan: Steve | 27 August 2010 | 4 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
The 7-day meet at Timonium fairgrounds (with its 6 furlong bullring race track) starts Friday and ends Labor Day. The track has a friendly and festive vibe (it’s part of the Maryland State Fair) and the open air grandstand gives a great view of the action. An added bonus is wagering on Saratoga’s simulcast signal [...]
Saratoga Steeplechase – G1 New York Turf Writers Cup
Yazan: Dylan | 25 August 2010 | 2 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Dylan is back with a preview of Thursday’s Steeplechase action at Saratoga. Saratoga will start Thursday’s program with the Grade I New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase Handicap featuring a field of nine going 2 & 3/8ths miles over the hurdles for $100K. With the exception of #3 SEER and #4 SWAGGER STICK, all the other [...]
Saturday Observations
Yazan: Steve | 21 August 2010 | 3 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Why is it that when you’re at the gym on the treadmill 30 minutes seem like 6 hours, but when you’re playing the races on a Saturday afternoon 6 hours seem like 30 minutes? This Saturday is chock full of great racing and betting options. One race I’m looking forward to is the Grade II [...]
Tony’s Saratoga Video
Yazan: Steve | 18 August 2010 | Comments Off
Categories: Horse Racing
Tony Bada Bing made an awesome video about beautiful, majestic, and legendary Saratoga race track. Check out Tony’s “A Leg Up” blog. If haven’t been to Saratoga, this is a great introduction. If you haven’t been in a while, this is a nice reminder of what you’re missing. Great job Tony!
Sword Dancer Invitational (G1)
Yazan: Steve | 14 August 2010 | 3 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
One of my favorite turf races of the year is the $500K Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga. Brian Appleton wrote a nice preview of the Sword Dancer on his Rail Runner blog. Check it out here: My most vivid memory of the Sword Dancer was when WITH ANTICIPATION beat DENON back in 2002. [...]
Saratoga Steeplechase – Thursday’s $30K Allowance Optional
Yazan: Dylan | 11 August 2010 | 2 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Dylan J. is back with his preview of Thursday’s steeplechase race at Saratoga: Saratoga will kick off the Thursday card with a steeplechase contest comprised of 9 runners going 2 & 1/16 miles over the hurdles. Let’s start with #7 RIDDLE (4-1). He’s had a successful return to the races this year after a lengthy [...]
Is There A New Sheriff In Town?
Yazan: Steve | 06 August 2010 | 6 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
The leader of the male handicap division, QUALITY ROAD, is putting his supremacy on the line in Saturday’s Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga going 9 furlongs over the main track. QUALITY ROAD has dominated the competition in 2010; most notably in a 12+ length victory at Gulfstream Park in the G1 Donn Handicap. The [...]
