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Paul Halloran 
After a tumultuous week that was all about Air Quality Index, Saturday at Belmont Park was a day to celebrate the GOAT. Throw in history being made, another chapter in racing’s best story being written and idyllic weather, and it was a virtually perfect day on Hempstead Turnpike. The main event was the 155th running … Read more
The multitude of interviews were over, and Kelly Dorman was still soaking it all in standing in the Belmont Park winner’s circle. Junior Alvarado had just delivered another masterful ride aboard Cody’s Wish, arguably the best horse in training, in winning the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, more commonly known as the Met Mile and an … Read more
The skies were clear at Belmont Park Friday, a day after racing was cancelled due to poor air quality and 48 hours after it looked as if the apocalypse had arrived in New York City. The surroundings, however, don’t seem to matter to Pretty Mischievous, who shows up anywhere, anytime in any conditions, at any … Read more
After all the pre-race hoopla, the national TV interviews, another scintillating performance by a horse who is tough to beat under any circumstances and thus far impossible when his namesake is on track, and a champagne toast in the Director’s Room, Kelly Dorman pushed his son, Cody, back to their table in the First Turn … Read more
The meal may not have tasted that good for Team Godolphin in New Orleans after Pretty Mischievous was caught in the stretch of the Fair Grounds Oaks, but the conversation resulted in a Michelin-caliber decision that paid big dividends at Churchill Downs Friday. Trainer Brendan Walsh left that dinner table “75 percent” sure he would … Read more
The email came in from Tom Law at 9:34 a.m. on Travers Day with the day’s writing assignments. I drew the Forego and, for the second year in a row, the Sword Dancer. It seemed simple enough. Jackie’s Warrior was a heavy favorite and very likely winner in the Forego and I had plenty of … Read more
It was 3:30 a.m. on Christmas Day 2020 and Jessica Paquette wasn’t home sleeping or wrapping presents. She was actually working, in an office building in Wakefield, Mass., for Trakus – the computer system that provides the exact location of each horse in a race at all times – monitoring races from Turkey. At 3:30 … Read more
Anyone got a thesaurus? You’re going to need one to attempt to do justice to Flightline’s performance in Saturday’s Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park. Dominant. Exceptional. Magnificent. Are we getting warmer? Let’s ask Junior Alvarado, jockey of Speaker’s Corner, who came into the race in the best form of his career, went right … Read more
Get ready Saratoga, Jackie is coming back. After yet another command performance in winning the Grade 2 True North Stakes Friday at Belmont Park, 2021 champion Sprinter Jackie’s Warrior will return to the Union Avenue oval, where he’s been perfect in four starts the last two summers. Of course, Jackie’s Warrior is superb everywhere, having … Read more
