Top 3YO Fillies run Saturday in Alabama (G1)

 On Saturday, we will see some of the top 3 year old fillies run in Saratoga's G1 Alabama. The race will feature multiple G1 winner, Malathaat, winner of the Kentucky Oaks earlier this year. Malathaat seems to be the clear cut top of the 3 yo filly division. Her lone loss was a second last time out at Saratoga in the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks. She does seem vulnerable in this position, facing Maracjua, who beat her last time out. Army Wife, winner of the Iowa Oaks and Black Eyed Susan looks to be an improving filly with good connections. Crazy Beautiful is another improving filly. This will be an interesting and defining race for Malathaat, which will show if she is made to be the cream of the crop in the filly division. 

All credit to Kentuckyderby.com (Malathaat winning a G2 last year at Aqueduct)

Saratoga Opening Day Features Two G3's

 Saratoga returns with fans for the first time in 21 months, where we will be viewing two G3's. 

The first will feature Golden Pal in the G3 Quick Call. Golden Pal was an impressive 2YO last year, finishing off the year in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Sprint with an impressive win. The race also features Jaxon Traveler, first time on the turf with some Synthetic experience. Could be an interesting play against the big favorite Golden Pal. 

The second of the graded races is for 2YO fillies featuring Happy Soul who dominated in the Astoria at Belmont last time out. Obviously going to be the favorite in this race, but there are many others who are trying to fight for a chance to the Breeders Cup later this year. Stonestreet's Velvet Sister with good connections might be a good choice here, but she will need to step it up to contend. Pretty Birdie has the beyers to compete with Happy Soul neck and neck, but she lacks the stakes experience that Happy Soul has. 

Santa Anita Opening Day Preview

Santa Anita will have opening day for its meet on Saturday, December 26, featuring the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes. Charlatan will try to come back from injury, as he faces the improving Nashville. 

On the first graded race of the day, we will see a Grade 2, featuring 8-1 Storm the Court, who returns after a poor showing in the Kentucky Derby. He has gone 1 for 2 on turf, with a second place finish in a G3, earlier this year, scoring an 88 beyer. Smooth Like Straight is coming off a second in a G1 and is the 8-5 favorite. 

In the G2 San Antonio Stakes, we will see the return of Mucho Gusto, winner of the Pegasus World Cup. After a strong showing in the inaugural Saudi Cup, Bob Baffert took Mucho Gusto on a long layoff, and returns him in possible preparation for another run at next years Pegasus. Sharp Samurai has had a consistent year, showing his ability to run on both turf and dirt. He ran third in the BC Mile to Knicks Go, and a second to Maximum Security in the Pacific Classic. Maximum Security did manage to edge out Mucho Gusto in the stretch of the Saudi Cup earlier this year. 

In the La Brea, we will see 7-2 favorite Finite, who has shown a slew of solid performances this year. Probably the most well rounded horse in a field of slowly improving, but not G1 caliber horses. 

Finally, in the G1 Malibu, we will see up and comers Nashville and Charlatan go at it. Both are improving horses with a lot of potential, but they are both also front runners, so expect a speed duel to develop early on, and take note of who comes out on top. Other horses in the race include Independence Hall, winner of the Nashua (G3) and Jerome Stakes. 

Breeders Cup Juvenile Day Preview

 Welcome to the first of a two part series that will examine some of the races on Breeders Cup days on this Friday and Saturday. Over these two days, we will see many champions, future sires, and other legends race against each other for a chance at greatness and millions in pool money. This first article we will be giving an early preview into the first day of racing, consisting of the Juvenile races.  

In the Turf Sprint, we will see if Golden Pal (14) can overcome his tough post position to win the race. I watched this horse run at Saratoga earlier in the year, and he's got some serious talent, but there are going to be other challengers in this race such as Amanzi Yimpilo (a longshot, but only finished 3 lengths behind Golden Pal in the Skidmore). Second of July will look to come and increase his win streak after an impressive charge in the Futurity (G3). 

The Juvenile Turf is a race with no clear favorite, but 5-1 Mutsaabeq looks to be the best in this one, after a nice charge in the Bourbon, switching to Turf.

In the Juvenile Fillies, a line of 3; Simple Ravishing, Vequist, and Dayoutoftheoffice will look to challenge each other in an epic battle. Baffert will ship Princess Noor over, but she might be a step slower than the top 3 (about a 10 Beyer point difference in the previous races). 

Finally, in the Breeders Cup Juvenile, Jackie's Warrior will have a slew of contestants behind him, including Reinvestment Risk (looking to challenge Jackie's Warrior for a third time), Sittin on Go, and Essential Quality. It will be interesting to see if any of those three can challenge Jackie's Warrior, and if Reinvestment Risk could finally get the best of him. Definitely an interesting race to bet against Jackie's Warrior, but he might just be better. 

Kentucky Derby Analysis + What Happened With Tiz the Law

 Yesterday, in a shocking upset, Authentic, trained by Bob Baffert managed to win the Kentucky Derby, upsetting 3-5 shot, Tiz the Law, winner of the Travers and Belmont Stakes. Authentic led throughout the race, and Tiz the Law tried to chase him down in the stretch but flattened, as Authentic cruised to victory. Is Tiz the Law still the best horse in the 3 yo division: yes. Is Tiz the Law going to be the favorite in the Preakness: very likely. Will Tiz the Law win the Preakness: probably. The point is, that Tiz the Law is still incredibly talented, and even a second place finish in the greatest 3 yo race in the world is still considered a bad defeat in the eyes of horse racing fans. All we know for now is that Tiz the Law is still a spectacular horse, and just had a bad day, just like anyone else in the world. What he has accomplished is still incredible. 

In the Kentucky Oaks, 15-1 longshot, Shedaresthedevil, managed to win, beating both Gamine, and Swiss Skydiver, the two best fillies in the division. This 3 yo female division has been constantly changing. It started with British Idiom, Donna Veloce, and Venetian Harbor as the favorites for Oaks, and then went to Swiss Skydiver, then Gamine, and now it appears that Shedaresthedevil is at the top of the division now. The ultimate champion will almost surely be decided in Breeders Cup lands, but these horses will still have to take on names such as Monomoy Girl, Midnight Bisou, and Serengeti Empress. 

 

Kentucky Derby & Oaks Day Preview

 On Friday and Saturday, the Kentucky Oaks and Derby will be run, as Tiz the Law will look to further his dominance, while Gamine and Swiss Skydiver will take each-other on, as the two top fillies in the 3 yo division. We will see an array of great races, starting this Friday, and will include the Turf Classic, and Alysheba, where McKinzie and By My Standards will battle it out on Friday. It will be an exciting two days of racing, even in this pandemic, where fans will not be permitted inside of Churchill Downs. Stay tuned for more news, predictions, and results from a great two days of racing, as many try to win the most coveted race for 3 yos, and others prepare for a run towards the Breeders Cup in November. 

Tiz the Law gives Hope to Horse Racing in Dominant Travers Win

As Tiz the Law, rounded the final turn, it looked like a pure domination, as he passed Uncle Chuck, and left behind a very tough field, he won by over 5 lengths as he looked towards the empty crowd. Tiz the Law has given hope to horse racing, with his heart and pure talent, he has dominated nearly every race he has run in, and unlike big stables who put down millions on expensive yearlings and 2 year old horses,  Tiz the Law is out of the first Constitution crop of horses, and was sold to a small racing stable. Where trainers like Bob Baffert push for extremely expensive horses to run in big, expensive races, we saw a true talent, win the most coveted Saratoga race, and one of the most coveted in the world.