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Cheltenham Picks & Preview – Day 2

The first gasp. The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill finally did what he had been threatening to do and stepped long and low at the fourth hurdle, crashing to the ground. His first fall. His first loss. The second gasp. The 2024 Champion Hurdle winner State Man grinding toward the last hurdle, the race … Read more

Cheltenham Picks & Preview – Day 1

It’s Cheltenham. Day 1. The beginning of the best week of jump racing. Anytime. Anywhere. Our week kicked off early with a win at Taunton. Hey, who said they didn’t like a five-day Festival… Race 1. 9:20 a.m. ET. The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The Michael O’Sullivan Memorial. Grade 1. 2 miles, 87 yards. … Read more

Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour with Phil Bauer

Phil Bauer volunteered Fireball Shot, a maiden with more than $100,000 in earnings at the time, as his horse way back in 2018. Joining perennial little guys Robbie Davis, Kerry Metivier and Eddie Barker in the Little Guys’ Stable Tour, the Kentucky-based trainer had just wrapped up a 0-for-12 record at Saratoga. Fireball Shot had … Read more

Lawn Job – CCA Oaks Preview

Hernandez rolls into Saratoga with sights on another big one Deck height. Dinner plans. To do lists. Life’s choices. That’s what most people think about while mowing grass.  For Brian Hernandez Jr., nah, none of those.  “You’ll be riding around on the lawnmower and you’re like, ‘Wow, I really did win the Derby,’ ” Hernandez … Read more

Tsk Tsk

Clifford Nass says multitasking is a fallacy. But yet we try.  Nothing tests the Stanford professor’s theory like working in racing. And working from home. Still in Virginia, I worked from the home office – the family room couch – Friday. Deadline Friday. It starts early. And will surely end late.  I nail Wordle in four … Read more

Diana Defense- Diana Stakes Recap

Whitebeam wires four stablemates and five others in Grade 1 Five became one.  The first 49 seconds of the Grade 1 Diana cut Chad Brown’s five-horse arsenal to a one-horse hope at Saratoga Race Course Saturday. Whitebeam loped through the first half-mile in :49.49. The lone leader sunk the four closers.  “I had these five … Read more

Farm Art

Saturday, I spent my day with Whitebeam, Mo Plex and a card full of Saratoga stars. Today, I spent it with Kissin Conquest, Just Blue, Apse and Eagle Poise. Two career maidens, a Saratoga hurdle winner and a Grade 3 flat winner. On a farm in Virginia. Our Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.  Bred by John Franks, … Read more

Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour with Cherie DeVaux

“Anytime.” That’s how Cherie DeVaux answered when asked about hosting the Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour. It helps when you’re walking out of the winner’s circle after your second win, just three days into the meet. DeVaux added another win Sunday to make it three.  With a gaudy 50 percent strike rate, DeVaux stood even with Chad … Read more