The Grade 1, $500,000- dollar Champagne Stakes is Saturday at the new Belmont Park. A field of six 2-year-olds will have a go at the one-turn mile, which offers a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on October 30th and some minor qualifying points for the 2027 Kentucky Derby. All six of these youngsters are seeking their first Stakes victory, and all but two of … Continue reading Who Wins The Champagne Stakes?
Over four decades (can that be right?) removed from his sensational jockey career, Steve Cauthen lives the life of a typical Thoroughbred insider in his hometown of Verona in Northern Kentucky. Best known for capturing the 1978 Triple Crown aboard AFFIRMED, Cauthen had established himself as a potential superstar in his first full year as a jockey in 1977. He was honored for that season with three Eclipse Awards—outstanding apprentice and journeyman … Continue reading Quite A Ride Kid
The New York Yankees face off against the Boston Red Sox next week in an American League Wild Card series. So, what better occasion to write about rivalries. There are a lot of so-called rivalries in sports. But there are few whose status lives on and can stand up to the test of time. It is one small three letter word that is the barometer … Continue reading AFFIRMED and ALYDAR
The $300,000-dollar Iroquois Stakes is Saturday at Churchill Downs. In addition to the purse money the winner of the one-turn mile will earn ten points toward next year’s Kentucky Derby. Here is a brief look at the field: 1. CARIBBEAN LIFE [ML6-1] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Will Waldon. Drew away in the stretch to win easily in his seven-furlong debut at Ellis Park. Has the pedigree to … Continue reading Who Wins The Iroquois Stakes?
The Grade 1, $1.25 million-dollar Travers Stakes is Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. The Mid-Summer Derby drew a field of 10 that features the winners of all of the Triple Crown races. Here is a brief look at the field: 1. EMERGING MARKET [ML 15-1] Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr. Trainer: Chad Brown. Won his first two starts, including the Louisiana Derby (G2), which put him in the … Continue reading Who Wins The Travers Stakes?
After a pair of losses to begin his 4-year-old campaign, reigning Horse of the Year SOVEREIGNITY ran back to form as he closed from the back of the pack to crush his competition in the million-dollar, Grade 1 Whitney Stakes Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. What the capacity crowd witnessed on Saturday was vintage SOVEREIGNITY. Last year’s Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers winner took his dynamic closing … Continue reading SOVEREIGNITY Rules The Whitney
The Grade 2, $500,000-dollar Jim Dandy Stakes is Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. It is the final major prep race for the Grade 1 Travers Stakes. It is a compact but talented field of five three-year-olds competing over 1 1/8 miles on the main track. The field may be small, but it features several accomplished Stakes runners with legitimate Travers aspirations. Here is a closer … Continue reading Who Wins The Jim Dandy Stakes?
Saturday is the 45th edition of the Stephan Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs. Since the turn of the century, it has been one of the most prestigious races for older dirt horses, and this year is no different. Late last month, track officials announced that the Stephen Foster purse would be doubled from $1 million to $2 million, and that increase has helped to attract … Continue reading Who Wins The Stephan Foster?
2026 is nearing its midpoint point, yet GOLDEN TEMPO appears a lot more than halfway to being crowned the Champion 3-year-old male. Winning Saturday’s $2 million-dollar Belmont Stakes five weeks after a Kentucky Derby victory, this son of CURLIN has taken two of the three jewels in the Triple Crown– which carries a lot of weight with Eclipse Award voters. There may have been some uncertainty … Continue reading This Pony Stayed Golden
Saturday is the third and final year the Belmont Stakes will be contested at historic Saratoga Race Course. Due to the shorter track configuration at Saratoga the race will be run at 1 ¼ miles. The $2 million, Grade 1 event anchors a five-day festival of racing at The Spa. The Saturday card also features several other prominent Stakes, including three qualifying races for this … Continue reading Who Wins The Belmont Stakes?
