A.P. INDY was seemingly born to greatness. He was sired by Triple Crown Winner SEATTLE SLEW. His successful dam (mother), WEEKEND SURPRISE, was no surprise, as she was sired by SECRETARIAT, another Triple Crown Champion. Wealthy, ambitious owners will pay massive sums for such regal bloodlines, so it was no surprise that Japanese owner Tomonori Tsurumaki went to $2.9 million dollars before the auctioneer’s hammer … Continue reading A.P. INDY
Nick Zito grew up near Aqueduct Racetrack. His father would take him to the track as a young lad. But back in the day there were age restrictions on admission to the track. So the elder Zito would leave young Nicholas with a friend of his, who just happened to be a security guard at the Big A. It was there and then that Zito … Continue reading A Classic New York Bred
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced Friday that America’s Day at the Races will broadcast its final edition of 2020 with coverage and analysis of Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 dollar Cigar Mile at Aqueduct Racetrack. Presented by America’s Best Racing and Claiborne Farms, America’s Day at the Races will air Saturday from 1-4:30 p.m. on MSG+ and 3:30-4:30 p.m. on FS2. The Cigar Mile … Continue reading TV Coverage Wrapping Up For The Year
There are numerous reasons to explain why a long list of outstanding horses were thwarted in their bid to become a Triple Crown Champion. Some are predictable; others are surprising. Premature moves, suicidal paces, injuries, medications, exhaustion and bad trips have all played a role in the Triple Crown drought that stood at 37 years until AMERICAN PHAROAH completed the sweep in 2015. There was … Continue reading Hi-Yo SILVER
There is at least one racing term that immediately inspires respect, and even awe, from people within the racing industry, long-time railbirds, and even from those with little knowledge of the sport – the Triple Crown. The difficulty of capturing the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes, at three different distances, on three tracks, all in the span of five weeks can not be … Continue reading Triple Crown Mystique
Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez secured his 2,000th Win at Belmont Park in the 4th race on Friday when riding first-time starter MALATHAAT to a 1 3/4-length Victory for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Shadwell Stable. The Win came in a seven-furlong Maiden special weight for juvenile fillies on the fast main track. MALATHAAT paid $3.70. The 48-year-old Velazquez, was inducted into the National … Continue reading Here’s Johnny !
Saturday is the Preakness Stakes. In a normal year the Preakness takes place two Saturdays after the Kentucky Derby. Three weeks after the Derby the Belmont Stakes is contested. Those are the three jewels of horse racing’s Triple Crown series. This year’s Triple Crown schedule has been unlike any other thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, and many racing fans are still shaking their heads at … Continue reading Change The Triple Crown ?
The newly minted Triple Crown season will finally kick off on Saturday at Belmont Park, with the $1 million dollar Belmont Stakes. It’s time for the old-schoolers to set aside the discussion about the new distance and the altered sequence caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and start handicapping. For the first time in history, the Belmont Stakes kicks off the Triple Crown series, and it … Continue reading The Belmont Stakes
In this, the most unique of racing seasons, the Belmont Stakes — traditionally the last and longest of the three Triple Crown races for 3-year-olds — will for the first time ever, lead-off the classic season while running at the shortest distance of the three jewels. A field of 10 was entered in the Belmont, which this year has been shortened to 1 1/8-miles from … Continue reading Belmont Stakes Line Up
There will indeed be a 2020 version of the Triple Crown, though in this rendition the last shall be first. The New York Racing Association announced the $1 million dollar Belmont Stakes will be contested June 20th at Belmont Park without fans. That makes this years Belmont the opening leg of the series that has been shuffled by the COVID-19 pandemic. Aside from the new … Continue reading The Belmont Stakes
