The road to the Florida Derby picks up steam with the Fountain of Youth Stakes, which was restored to a 9-furlong, two-turn route this year. Buddy’s Saint, who tops many a Derby Future Book, makes his 3yo debut and faces a deep and contentious cast that looks to throw their hat in the ring. Let’s…
The path to the Louisiana Derby continues as Ron The Greek tries to prove that his LeComte upset was no fluke. In his way are some new shooters and new shippers who look to take their own place on the Derby Trail. With $300,000 on the line, the top-3 finishers will gain some important graded…
Some notes on organizations near and dear to Backstretch hearts, a couple of which are offering upcoming social opportunities for New Yorkers. Local hockey fans might be interested to hear that Ice Hockey in Harlem, an organization with which I used to volunteer, is taking the opportunity of Olympic hockey to hold a fundraiser. On…
As Backstretch friend John at The Race is Not the Swift noted recently, now is the winter of our discontent. It’s mid-February; three and a half months of racing at Aqueduct in the books (really? Is it three and a half months since, on opening weekend, we thrilled to watch Zenyatta’s win in the Classic?),…
…from everyone in the Backstretch household…
The Derby Trail heads to Oaklawn Park in a contentious and intriguing renewal of the Southwest Stakes. California shippers look to test their mettle on real dirt, the locals get to prove they’re not just the kings of their own block, Gulfstream Park and Fair Grounds send a few in for a shot at graded…
Things heat up this weekend in Florida as the path to the Tampa Bay Derby begins in earnest with the Sam Davis Stakes. Rule makes his much anticipated 3yo debut against local hope Uptowncharlybrown. In California–weather permitting–they’ll give the Robert Lewis another go as well. Let’s take a look. Tampa Bay Downs: The Grade III,…
It is undeniably that time of year. Brian’s back with his Derby prep overviews (check back later today for his analysis of the Sam Davis and the re-constituted Robert B. Lewis); Hello Race Fans! is sending out its weekly Derby e-mails (this week’s will contain my recap of the Whirlaway); and the Road to the…
It was supposed to be a pretty regular, perhaps rather non-descript day at the races. It was a freezing cold Saturday, the feature race was placed third on the card, and I had a ton of work to do. So: meet up with a friend or two early, watch the feature, buckle down. Eightyfiveinafifty would…
Coming into yesterday’s Whirlaway, all the talk was of Eightyfiveinafifty, of his prodigious speed, of his impressive maiden win, of his recent high Beyer Speed Figure. His trainer, Gary Contessa, participated in a nearly two-hour live chat on Friday night (you can read the transcript here, and I recommend that you do, especially his answer…
Brooklyn Backstretch 