It’s here. It’s Derby weekend. For weeks the prognostications have been coming; handicappers, analysts, turf writers have weighed in, posited picks, watched workouts. It’s time to make the call. Later today, Brian will be here with some serious handicapping; but first, here are the third annual Backstretch Derby picks, by the letters. For the poetically inclined,…
You know how every week I remind you that you can check out Brian’s handicapping for NYRA races at Horseplayernow.com? That he participates in a live chat about three-year-olds every Friday at 2pm? He also participates in chats on Saturdays during the Derby preps, and if you’d been listening last Saturday, you’d have heard him…
Oaklawn may not have gotten Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra Friday in the Apple Blossom, but they did get a pretty solid renewal of the Arkansas Derby. The newly minted Grade I has a trio of top Kentucky Derby contenders in Rule, Noble’s Prospect and Dublin, and there are some decent new shooters looking to make…
Don’t forget to activate your power horses for this week’s preps, and if you want a little more of Brian’s handicapping, he talks about the NYRA races every Friday at Horseplayernow.com. He’ll be participating in “Countdown to the Crown” live chats every Friday at 2 pm, accessible from the main page of the site, chatting for…
See? I wasn’t making up all that stuff about a site renovation. If you hate it, blame me; if you like it, all credit goes to the designer, who has spent uncountable hours on the revision. I can’t thank her enough, and if she lets me, I’ll thank her by name. Back home in Brooklyn…
With three preps this weekend, we’ll space out the analysis, starting today with Brian’s look at the Wood Memorial. Don’t forget that you can check out Brian’s handicapping for NYRA races at horseplayernow.com. He’ll also be participating in “Countdown to the Crown” live chats every Friday at 2 pm, accessible from the main page of…
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…
Some Derby notes: Don’t forget that you can check out Brian’s handicapping for NYRA races at Horseplayernow.com. He’ll be participating in “Countdown to the Crown” live chats every Friday at 2 pm, accessible from the main page of the site, chatting for an hour about anything and everything for three year olds. And if you…
A very warm welcome back to Brian Nadeau, who will once again guide Backstretch readers through the Derby trail, with insight and handicapping on all major Derby prep races. In addition to his work at the Saratoga Special and Steeplechase Times, Brian is now handicapping NYRA races at Horseplayernow.com. He’ll be participating in “Countdown to…
Brooklyn Backstretch 