This column is dedicated to a friend and follower of the Daily Racing Blog, Alan Bennett. Mr. Bennett is a life-long fan, and backer of Edgar Prado. And while the two of them hail from different backgrounds, both possess the DNA of stellar individuals loyal to their fathers. Nearly a month since his last mount – and after traveling to Peru to mourn the loss … Continue reading Edgar Prado
The Belmont Stakes is the oldest of the three Triple Crown races. As such, it has seen a fair share of upsets- the majority of which have occurred in the last 50 years. During the post-World War II era, 20 horses have come into the Belmont Stakes with Wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, only to have their bid for immortality denied. In … Continue reading Historic Belmont Upsets
This year’s Belmont Stakes will be held June 5th at Belmont Park. While there is no Triple Crown on the line, the race is shaping up to be one of the deepest and most competitive editions in recent memory. The COVID-19 pandemic turned the 2020 Triple Crown calendar up-side-down, as the Kentucky Derby was postponed to the first Saturday in September, and the Preakness Stakes moved … Continue reading Belmont Knowledge
The Belmont Stakes is noted for being the final leg of the Triple Crown, but it is so much more than that. From its history to fun facts, here is a basic Belmont primer- giving the uninitiated all the information needed in order to appreciate the huge day of racing at Belmont Park. WHO: Elite 3-Year-Old Thoroughbreds. Winning the Belmont Stakes is literally a once-in-a-lifetime chance … Continue reading The Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is Saturday, June 5th. Trainer Bob Baffert had not committed any horses to run in the third leg of the Triple Crown. He did however consider entering other horses in his barn in various races on the card that day. But not so fast Baffy. The New York Racing Association has stepped in to quell the idea of any Baffert horses running … Continue reading New York Racing Association Sends A Message
Trained by Todd Pletcher protégé Michael McCarthy, ROMBAUER was an afterthought in a Preakness week dominated by headlines of doping and disqualifications. Well, this afterthought switched on his afterburners and became the talk of the town. The 12-1 shot blasted by favorites MEDINA SPIRIT and MIDNIGHT BOURBON at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday to win by 3 ½ lengths. ROMBAUER with his big outside move … Continue reading ROMBAUER Wins Preakness
As promised, here is an analysis of the field for the Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. The feature event is race 13 on a card of 14 with a scheduled Post Time of 6:50. 1. RAM [ML 30-1] Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas. Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr. Hall of Fame trainer Lukas loves running in the Preakness, a race he has Won five … Continue reading Preakness Picks
The Ringling Brothers, Baffert & Medina Circus is coming to Baltimore. The $1 million Grade 1 Preakness Stakes is this Saturday. The second leg of the Triple Crown, takes place just two weeks after the fabled showdown under the twin spires at Churchill Downs, but what a difference two weeks makes in how horseplayers approach handicapping the two races. The Kentucky Derby is typically dissected from … Continue reading Preakness Predictability
Kentucky Derby Winner MEDINA SPIRIT failed a postrace drug test. The colt’s blood sample was found to be in violation of the state’s medication protocols for racehorses. Trainer Bob Baffert said his horse tested positive for the steroid betamethasone. Rules in the state of Kentucky limits the use of the steroid to 14 days or more before a race. Any level of detection on race … Continue reading Derby Disqualification ?
The Preakness Stakes has been around for 146 years. Yet it has the vibe of a modern event. The combination of horse racing and live music had given it a festival feeling. The Preakness had become one of the biggest parties of the spring since the inception of InfieldFest in 2010, which combines a two-day-long music festival with some of the best horse racing in … Continue reading The Preakness
