Brian’s Derby Preps: The San Vincente

A quick look at this afternoon’s San Vincente: Santa Anita: The Grade II, $150,000 San Vicente at 7 furlongs INDIAN WINTER (#5) impressed in taking a minor stakes in his main track debut over the track and should benefit from a pace that looks suicidal on paper; call to make the last run the winning…

George Widener’s Rare Treat

The path to racing history doesn’t always run smoothly, as I unfortunately discovered earlier this week; technical difficulties at the Times website left me feeling like Tantalus, able to see the objects of my desire (articles on George Widener’s Rare Treat), but not able to touch them. Tantalus, though, didn’t have Facebook, so he couldn’t go…

Brian’s Derby Preps: The Risen Star

Brian’s back with a look at tomorrow’s Derby prep, and over the weekend he’ll provide insights on Sunday’s and Monday’s races as well. We’ll launch the Brooklyn Backstretch charity league next week, after this weekend’s preps. The first scoring race is February 26th, and I’m waiting until the last possible moment to put my (inevitably…

The Spa in the snow

Not exactly looking like the summer place to be these days, but it’s only 157 days until opening day…and it might just take every last one of them to get rid of the snow… As always, click to enlarge… The Oklahoma… And the main track… The lake…but no canoe… And maybe the saddest sight of…

A little equine love for the holiday…

In honor of the holiday, Brooklyn Backstretch is offering a little racing love this fine Monday morning: A quick check of Pedigree Query reveals that… …there have been five horses named Marry Me, three female, two male; a 1975 colt was by Bold Reason out of the The Bride; a 1996 GB-bred cold was by…

Brian’s Derby Preps: The Sam F. Davis

Tampa Bay Downs – The Grade III, $225,000 Sam F. Davis at 1 1/16 miles #1 Reprized Halo (20-1): Calder-based runner drew well and has a plethora of two-turn experience, including a shocker in the pricey In Reality for Florida-breds, but this is asking a lot for his 3yo debut; longshot. #2 Adulare (12-1): Improved…

More musings, on OTB and a retiree

On Thursday, NYRA announced that beginning tonight, Aqueduct and the Belmont Café will stay open until approximately 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Those who decide to hang out will be able to wager on Penn National Race Course, Turfway Park, Delta Downs Racetrack, Charles Town Races, and Sam Houston Race Park. I can’t decide…

Thursday morning quick picks

Groundhog Day was last week and according to the rodents, spring is right around the corner. But who needs a woodchuck to tell us that, when we’ve got Saturday racing cards at Aqueduct? David Grening in Daily Racing Form tells us that beginning this week, the Big A will offer 10 races every Saturday. Woo-hoo!…