Fair Grounds: The Grade II, $400,000 Risen Star at 1 1/16 miles #1 Proud Strike: Up-and-coming son of Smart Strike sure looked good blasting a pair of repeat winners in his MSW romp over the track and distance last month and seems like a real comer in the division for Asmussen. Tactical sort should be…
Oaklawn Park: The Grade III, $300,000 Southwest at 1 1/16 miles #1 Officer Alex: Son of Officer failed miserably in his acid test when a well-beaten sixth behind several of these in the local Smarty Jones, his two-turn and open company stakes debut. Tactical sort drew well and could improve off that trial run, but…
Horseplayer Now’s Brian Nadeau checks in witha look at today’s Derby prep; he’ll be back later this weekend with analysis of Monday’s Southwest Stakes. Golden Gate Fields: The Grade III, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles #1 Wildcat Moon: Speedster enters off a fine second last month to fellow rival Zeewat in…
Santa Anita: The Grade II, $200,000 Robert Lewis at 1 1/16 miles #1 Little Jerry: Baltas colt impressed when rallying from far out of it in his debut over the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park in November, then was beaten up in the GI CashCall there in December. Sire Candy Ride was a long-distance freak…
Tampa Bay Downs: The GIII, $250,000 Sam F. Davis at 1 1/16 miles #2 Silver Day: One-time winner spun his wheels in his seasonal debut in the local prep, the Pasco, behind several of these and will need a form reversal to threaten. If you’re a believer, you’re getting a price, but on paper he’s…
Aqueduct: The GIII $200,000 Withers at 1 1/16 miles #1 Long River: The first half of a sharp Darley entry adds blinkers off a relatively disappointing fourth in the local GII Jerome, when he basically ran around the track without making an impact after a solid MSW win over the track. The good news is…
Gulfstream Park: The GIII, $400,000 Holy Bull at 1 1/16 miles #1 Shanghai Bobby: Undefeated juvenile makes his 3yo debut after going 5-for-5 last year, which culminated in a win in the BC Juvenile at Santa Anita to cement his championship. Sure, he was a drunken soldier in the lane over a paved highway at…
With great pleasure, I welcome handicapper Brian Nadeau back to Brooklyn Backstretch. As he has since 2009, he’ll guide us along the road to the Kentucky Derby, offering insights and selections for the major Derby preps. You can read more from Brian at Horseplayer Now. And with that…we’re off! Fair Grounds: The GIII Lecomte at…
Day two of the Breeders’ Cup kicks off at 2:50 ET Saturday with the $1 million Juvenile Turf; TV coverage begins at 3:30 pm ET on NBC Sports Network and switches to NBC at 8 pm ET for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. The eight Breeders’ Cup races on the Saturday card offer a…
The arguably two best betting days of the year are upon us, with the Breeders’ Cup on Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Full, competitive fields in 15 races offer the opportunity for big scores with a lower-than-usual investment, The races will be broadcast on Friday from 4 pm to 8 pm ET…
Brooklyn Backstretch 