Handicapping the Backstretch way

Even the most cursory of looks at racing newspapers, websites, and magazines yields a plethora of handicapping strategies. Beyer guys, Sheets disciples, avowed trip handicappers—everyone’s got an angle, out there for the taking. I attended and bet on races for years before I became cognizant of my own handicapping strategies. Armed with past performances, I…

Claire Novak’s Sexy Jockeys

According to Claire Novak, Mike Smith is the sexiest jockey riding in the Breeders’ Cup. How do we know this? Because at ESPN.com, Novak, encouraged by Horseplayerpro.com’s Joe Kristufek and with input from other racing media (both male and female), posted her list of 10 sexiest jockeys riding in this weekend’s races at Santa Anita.…

Drugs and soda and kisses and contamination

The issues of drugs in racing was back in the news recently, as the New York Racing Association banned Jeff Mullins and his horses from its tracks for six months, following Mullins’s attempt in the detention barn at Aqueduct to administer a substance to Gato Go Win last April. Concern about the use of drugs…

Breeders’ Cup Redux

So here it is, a little more than 72 hours out from post time for the Breeders’ Cup, and I haven’t written a thing about it. It would be silly of me to pore through past performances and hazard handicapping guesses. I can’t write about what’s going on on the backstretch or in the morning,…

A Couple of Favorites

Two sentimental winners took Saturday’s stakes races at Aqueduct, perhaps the most unsentimental of race tracks. The grade III Bold Ruler was run as the fourth race; in a field of five, Jack Bruner’s Sing Baby Sing was the favorite; Allen Jerkens’s Le Grand Cru was the longest shot at 7 – 1, a fact…

Race 7: $43,000 Maiden-special-weight for 2yo’s at 6 furlongs Tough race to get a gauge on so check the board; on paper ODYSSEUS has the look of a live newcomer for a solid debut barn; helps that Maragh has done little wrong of late. ROYAL STOCKS had little chance in his Spa debut after breaking…

Thursday morning quick picks

In the Aqueduct post yesterday, I meant to include this terrific article by Mike Jarboe from March 2001. Writing in the Times Union, Jarboe evinces an infectious affection for the homely (in both senses of the word) track. Saratogians and other Capital District residents: looking for a way to celebrate Hallowe’en and contribute to a…