Turfway Park: The $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks at 1 1/8 miles (20-8-4-2) by Brian Nadeau While the Polytrack Era has died down in a big way, and the synthetic/turf specialists here probably won’t have a direct impact on this year’s Kentucky Derby, there is an outside chance the winner will qualify with the 20 points…
Santa Anita: The Grade II, $400,000 San Felipe at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 50-20-10-5) #1 Bolt d’Oro (2-1): The long awaited 3-year-old debut is at hand for this son of Medaglia d’Oro, who was a deserving odds-on favorite when last seen in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar in November but…
Aqueduct: The Grade III, $300,000 Gotham at 1-mile (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 50-20-10-5) by Brian Nadeau #1 Dial Operator (10-1): Exciting newcomer has looked awesome rallying in two wins against tons lesser to kick off his career at Monmouth and Laurel Park, respectively, and now ships up I-95 for the acid test to see where…
Tampa Bay Downs: The Grade II, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 50-20-10-5 by Brian Nadeau #1 Arazi Like Move (50-1): Big longshot was a well-beaten seventh behind today’s rival World of Trouble in the local Pasco in January when last seen and picks one heck of a tough…
Gulfstream Park: The Grade II, $400,000 Fountain of Youth at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 50-20-10-5 by Brian Nadeau #1 He Takes Charge (20-1): Experienced runner took five starts to break through but did look good winning over the track and distance last time, and this rail draw is perfect for his stalking…
Oaklawn Park: The Grade III, $500,000 Southwest at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 10-4-2-1) by Brian Nadeau #1 My Boy Jack (12-1): California invader was a well-beaten third in Santa Anita’s GIII Sham to Baffert hotshot McKinzie, who is atop several Derby lists at this point, so that run should give him some…
Golden Gate Fields: The $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 10-4-2-1) by Brian Nadeau With the locals looking like a bit of a mixed bag, it’s no surprise to see #1 PAVED as the favorite, and judging by that romp at today’s distance on the turf at Santa Anita in fast…
Fair Grounds: The Grade II, $400,000 Risen Star at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 50-20-10-5) by Brian Nadeau #1 High North (15-1): Versatile son of Midnight Lute makes his 3-year-old debut for a potent Cox barn that’s having a banner meet and will look to pull off a surprise with a colt who…
Sabrina Moore didn’t grow up in the horse business. No one in her family was involved, either. But when she was nine, Moore got her first horse, and thus began the 15-year process of her, and her mother’s, pretty much complete immersion in the industry. When Moore’s mother Angie was a little girl, she’d look…
Happy 10th anniversary to the Brooklyn Backstretch Charity League. It’s taken several forms over the year, inspired by the Saratoga Special Derby fantasy league, run by Brian Nadeau, way back in the days of yore. Last year we raised just under $1,900 for racing charities across the country, donated by our top three finishers with the…
Brooklyn Backstretch 