Tag: Santa Anita Handicap

By Richard Rosenblatt He’s a Hall of Famer, and one of the most well-respected trainers in the business — ever. Pretty successful over the past 30 years or so, too, primarily in southern California. Every …

By Richard Rosenblatt The Fountain of Youth. The San Felipe. The Gotham. The John Battaglia Memorial. And much, much more. A huge dose of stakes races featuring four Kentucky Derby preps, three Kentucky Oaks preps, …

By Noel Michaels The weather could play a significant role on Big ‘Cap Day at Santa Anita, with heavy rains expected Friday and a 40% chance of showers on the big day Saturday – an …

  By Richard Rosenblatt Call us crazy, but we’re celebrating Wayne’s Week on the road to the 148th Kentucky Derby (G1) – and the Oaks (G1). Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas finds himself …

By Mike Farrell Handicappers sometimes feel lost in a fog. Saturday was one of those blurry days where horseplayers were dazed and confused by the two biggest events: the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) and …

  By Mike Farrell Halfway around the world, King Abdulaziz Racetrack hosts the richest race of the year on Saturday, the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1). This is the first time the race carries a …

By Richard Rosenblatt Pending appeals — and there will be appeals — we have a new 2021 Kentucky Derby winner: Mandaloun. More than nine months after Medina Spirit apparently gave Hall of Fame trainer Bob …

By Richard Rosenblatt The world’s richest day in horse racing – $31 million Saudi Cup Day – is a week away and contenders from around the world are arriving at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. …

  By Richard Rosenblatt We’re off and running on the road the 148th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7, which means the first installment of the usracing.com Derby Top 10 Rankings. This year’s …

By Mike Farrell Todd Pletcher is hotter than a firecracker as he blazes through the graded stakes at Gulfstream Park’s championship meet. Pletcher leads all trainers at the meet with over $4 million in earnings, …

  By Richard Rosenblatt Even for fans armed with a racing program, it’s been difficult trying to keep up with who’s riding, who’s sidelined, and who’s out due to Covid protocol. Here’s few updates heading …

By Richard Rosenblatt Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher could be looking at a possible 1-2 repeat in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational in three weeks. Pletcher’s defending Pegasus Turf champ Colonel …

By Ed McNamara Breaking into a major circuit is usually a serious challenge for a jockey. You must cultivate new relationships with trainers and getting prime mounts early on is difficult. But not if your …

By Noel Michaels Irad Ortiz, Jr. is at the end of his 30-day suspension, brother Jose Ortiz is riding in New York this winter, so take it away Luis Saez in the race for top …

By Mike Farrell “Tempus fugit!” the Romans proclaimed several millennia ago. Yes, time seems to take flight at an even quicker pace this time of year as we replace the calendars on the wall with …