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News

Preakness Day stakes picks

Hi Ho Pimlico. It’s Preakness Day and the second jewel of the Triple Crown, with all eyes on Kentucky Derby Mage to see if he can add a second classic and make a run at history in three weeks. The son of Good Magic scored a 15-1 upset two weeks ago in Louisville and won’t … Read more

Final Jump: Picks & Preview for Radnor

And then it was over. The National Steeplechase Association’s spring season winds to a close with a five-race card at the 92nd renewal of the Radnor Steeplechase in Malvern, Pa. The jumpers tackle the W. Burling Cocks Memorial Racecourse, a demanding right-handed oval (rectangle?) with a testing uphill climb to the finish. Thirty-six horses compete … Read more

Black-Eyed Susan Day Stakes Picks

The Triple Crown makes its way to the Mid-Atlantic for one of racing’s great traditions, Preakness Stakes Week. Black-Eyed Susan Day kicks off the weekend, with full fields for most of the day’s stakes including the headliner. All eyes on the undefeated Faiza in the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan as she ships in from Southern California … Read more

McDermott, Snap Decision team up again in Iroquois

And there it was, not three minutes into a nine-minute phone conversation with Sean McDermott late Friday afternoon. “I don’t really have time for pressure,” the steeplechase jockey said while finishing up his evening stables in Maryland. “I haven’t thought about it. I know the horse well. I know the track pretty well. He’s straightforward.” … Read more

Picks & Preview for Iroquois, Willowdale jump meets

The end of the National Steeplechase Association’s spring slate is right around the corner and the jumpers double up Saturday, heading to Nashville’s Percy Warner Park for the 82nd Iroquois Steeplechase and to Kennett Square, Pa., for the Willowdale Races. The Iroquois card features seven races – three stakes – worth $445,000, the richest meet … Read more

The Saturday Special – May 13

Turn the page. Another memorable Kentucky Derby in the books – for both the right and a few wrong reasons – and time to look ahead to next week’s Preakness Stakes. If it were only that simple. Some of the shrapnel from Derby Week remains, with five scratches including the morning-line favorite and an uncomfortable … Read more

Coming True: Cody’s Wish delivers more magic

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

Lessons Learned: Mage upsets 149th Kentucky Derby

Ramiro Restrepo and Gustavo Delgado Jr. combed the sales grounds before last year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale of 2-year-olds and settled on two prospects they thought could work and fit their budget. Hip 592, a colt from the first crop of champion Good Magic, went through the ring first and about a half-hour before Hip … Read more

Kentucky Derby Day stakes picks & bankroll challenge

The big day is finally here, the 149th Kentucky Derby and all its pomp and circumstance. All the time watching the countdown clocks and checking those Derby watch lists and top 10s, dozens, 20s and all don’t really matter since it’s time to put up or, you know. Churchill Downs rolled out a stacked card … Read more

No Trouble: Pretty Mischievous hangs onto Kentucky Oaks

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