February 2012
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thoughtsonracinglifeandmore asked: I don't think Union Rags will be second choice for when betting closes. Then again, I'm just basing this on how popular he is on Tumblr. That post got 15 notes, very impressive for just a short news bit on his ML.
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NEHRO'S RUNNING TODAY!
4th race. Fair Grounds. Already scared off half the 12-horse field in allowance conditions. Nehro > all other four-year-olds. BRING IT. Edit: And he needs to win… it’s his birthday today!
Oh, and don’t forget guys, the Derby Handicap Risen Star picks are due in my belly today by 4:55pm EST. Fair Grounds card overall looks badass for today.
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Fountain of Youth Stakes Video
Working on some nifty assets to make a Fountain of Youth Stakes video to have online TOMORROW!
Do you have an opinion as to who will win? Who are you rooting for? Any questions for me to answer? I’m filming this early tomorrow afternoon when I wake up.
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“You don’t want to go against the champion in his first start after a loss. He...”
– Co-owner Dr. Kendall Hansen of juvenile champion colt Hansen, who is preparing for a big comeback against Consortium and others in the Gotham Stakes (III) next.
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Derby Watch: Seriously Street Sense
First off, I could have sworn I published this weeks ago… this is what happens when you have 30+ posts in draft at any given time.
I wasn’t into legitimate handicapping— scouring over past performances, speed figures, track preferences, rider switches, imposts, etc.— until somewhat recently, so it still astonishes me today how I was able to pick some Derby winners based...
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El Padrino's the Big Easy Favorite in Risen Star
***DERBY HANDICAP CONTEST Week 5 of 12! - Email or message me your trifecta pick to earn points towards winning the Derby Handicap Contest. You have until 1 hour before post time to send/edit picks. See details in the Contest tab!*
A virtual rematch of the Lecomte Stakes (III) is spiced up by notable invaders and promising stakes maidens alike, making the Risen Star an interesting...
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“He’s a little bitty thing – maybe not even 900 pounds – but he’s got a heck of a...”
– Trainer Wilson Brown of Kentucky Derby hopeful Ted’s Folly
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"She Was My Holy Grail" - Behind the Lens of a...
Every picture tells a story, and while that story may or may not surpass a thousand words, horse racing snapshots are among the most beautiful and action-packed in all of sports. But, despite their effortless beauty, they’re also among the most difficult to capture.
You may have already seen Jamie Newell’s bright, saturated candids on NTRA.com or during coverage of the Belmont Stakes....
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Weekend Stake Tip: It's Freezing in Florida
A good Saturday was topped off by a heartburn-filled Sunday with Creative Cause failing to catch up to the two speed horses, American Act and Drill, in the San Vicente (II). I haven’t heard any excuses as to what happened, so let’s just assume he needed more ground. Before that happened, I was achieving an all-time high weekend bankroll thanks much to the races at Gulfstream Park on...
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Racing Beat: February 20
Psst… Derby Handicap Contest people… Fair Grounds has posted the Risen Star field for Friday early if you want to get a head start ;)
I realized yesterday that I have failed to pick the winner of every single three-year-old Derby prep so far, despite being on fire for the two-year-old preps. I AM WALLOWING IN MISERY! Union Rags, please don’t be the next glorious prospect to...
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Southwest Stakes A Tilted Affair
If I have my info right, there hasn’t been a division of a stakes race since 1993. That said, the 21 entries being split up into two separate $250,000 stakes races for the Southwest Stakes (III) is kind of a big deal. At the same time, I wish they had used their heads in how they decided to separate entries.
One race features nearly all past stakes competitors, including top finishers from...
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Anonymous asked: Hey there, I'm looking for an opinion before I nag my father to death about this filly. She is by Pollard's Vision(Carson City) out of Alleycat Coat, by Caller ID. She's hit the board four times, with one win, in 14 starts. She's a 4yo and still running, but is a claimer. Would it be wise to look into her to continue running her, or would she make a good mama? Her DP is 10 7 5...
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Prize Update Cometh
A three-day weekend for me with all three days hosting good stakes races? Dream cometh true…
Hey ya’ll, hope you have a lovely Presidents’ Day weekend (international peeps, disregard our flimsy bank holiday) full of Animal Kingdom’s return at 2:25pm EST today at Gulfstream and some more nice stakes races lining up the schedule.
Don’t forget, if you haven’t...
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nicoledowland asked: I find it so dumb how every other stable in America can take good quality photos and videos of their foals yet Stonestreet can only take crappy camera photos and video of a horse worth millions!
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Creative Cause Tops Quiet San Vicente Field
***DERBY HANDICAP CONTEST Week 4 of 12! - Email or message me your trifecta pick to earn points towards winning the Derby Handicap Contest. You have until 1 hour before post time to send/edit picks. See details in the Contest tab!*
Topping off another good weekend of racing at Santa Anita is the Sunday feature, the speedy San Vicente Stakes (II), won last year by the promising The Factor....
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WatchZenyatta’s sister Eblouissante is not amused.
“Put your ears up!”
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San Vicente Analysis Up Tomorrow
Due to the race being on Sunday and not the usual Saturday, the handicapping analysis and entry list for the Round 4 featured San Vicente Stakes (II) will be live tomorrow in case you’re looking for it. Looks like a few nice horses will make it an interesting race.
It could be worse… I could have picked you guys to try and handicap the Southwest Stakes (II) on Monday— the first...
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The Snooty Post in Which I Pick Rachel Alexandra's...
I’m not much for all these fantastic race mares going to the king of the Darley harem, Bernardini, and now that Barbara Banke has announced official as the 2012 selection for Rachel Alexandra, I’m even more all in a huff. A little while ago, I posted personal selections for Zenyatta’s 2012 mate, so why leave out one of racing’s most beloved other gals, even when it’s...
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“I beat El Vino enough times with Zenyatta in the mornings - it’s nice to...”
– Jockey Mike Smith, who rode Zenyatta’s old workout partner El Vino to a victory February 10 in a claiming race
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WatchUnion Rags, Dialed In, and El Padrino all work beautifully at Palm Meadows
merlinoftheroundtable asked: I can't remember if I've asked for your personal opinion on Hansen yet, but if not, how do you feel his chances are in the Derby? Personally I think it's great that he's traveling to New York, because it'll give my boy Alpha something serious to beat!
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Racing Beat: February 12
According to recent research, racehorses are getting slower while breaking down more often. More on that one this week.
My subconscious has a Derby favorite: I had a dream about El Padrino winning his next race in an enormous romp. Don’t take me seriously though… if you guys remember, my last race prediction dream picked Stay Thirsty to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (I), where...
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Derby Watch: All Abuzz About Fed Biz
Lots of bookmakers and bettors will pick future winners based on what jockey is riding a particular horse. This is a pretty decent angle to judge, but an even better one is when the jockey vocally boasts about the horse, and by that I mean going beyond saying, “__ ran very nicely today” after a win.
Edgar Prado begged to ride Barbaro after losing to him on another horse, Javier...
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YEAH HYMN BOOK WON!
I spent much of my Saturday sleeping off my long week of work, but woke up in time to edit some of your picks and announce that Ever So Lucky was indeed a scratch in today’s Hutcheson Stakes, the Round 3 race for the Derby Handicap Contest. This week appeared to be the week for a few breakthrough handicapping performances among participants, as Thoughtsonracinglife and Merlinoftheroundtable...
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Reminder
Hutcheson Stakes picks are due by 2:49pm EST today! Main track looks to stay sloppy so bear that in mind!
UPDATE: Ever So Lucky has been scratched. Anyone who doesn’t replace that pick will get the post-time favorite filled in as that position. If post favorite is already used, then the second post-favorite will be used, etc.
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Updates Updates
Animal Kingdom’s running in Tampa, while Shackleford and Ruler On Ice are going at it in the Donn Handicap over at Gulfstream Park. Floridians, you so lucky right now! I’m set to suffer through another small snowstorm this weekend.
I’m slowly getting around to fixing up a few things for the blog, mostly thanks to work but also trying to focus on transferring schools so I can...
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Six and Speedy for Hutcheson Stakes
***DERBY HANDICAP CONTEST Week 3 of 12! - Email or message me your trifecta pick to earn points towards winning the Derby Handicap Contest. You have until 1 hour before post time to send/edit picks. See details in the Contest tab!*
While it’s not much of a success predictor when it comes to winning a blanket of classic flowers, the Hutcheson Stakes (III) is nonetheless a solid prep race...