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Kentucky Oaks: First Top 10 Rankings of 2019

Fresh off a purse increase to $1.25 million, the 2019 Kentucky Oaks maintains its place as the premier race for 3-year-old fillies in the United States. While its male counterpart, the Kentucky Derby receives most of the attention, I always like to give the fillies their due. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top early contenders for the big race contested at Churchill Downs on the first Friday of May …

1) Bellafina (Quality Road–Akron Moon, by Malibu Moon) – Out of the gate early in 2019, this Simon Callaghan-trained filly was impressive enough in her seasonal debut to take the top spot on my list away from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner. Bellafina actually went favored in the BC, but did not bring her “A” game. In California, though, she’s been absolutely dominant,

NFL Playoff Picks 2019: Colts vs. Chiefs and Cowboys vs. Rams

After a successful score last week with Clemson in the NCAA National Championship game, my attention is now focused on two of the four NFL divisional round playoff games this weekend: the Indianapolis Colts versus the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys versus the Los Angeles Rams.

Kentucky Derby 2019: Mihos, Gunmetal Gray win weekend preps

In the Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream Park, Mihos took the next step forward on the road to Kentucky Derby 2019. Although no Derby qualifying points were at stake in the one-turn mile, trainer Jimmy Jerkens was trying to find out if the son of Cairo Prince

NCAA Football Championship 2019 Preview: #2 Clemson vs #1 Alabama

Here at Derby Day Racing, not only do we love horse racing, we love the competition of all sports. Handicapping sports is just like handicapping horses: you need to find the value plays to make a profit.

Kentucky Derby 2019: Mind Control takes the Jerome

Mind Control answered questions about whether he belonged on the 2019 Kentucky Derby trail when he drew off to victory in the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct.

The winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga during the summer.

The Derby Day Racing 2019 fantasy Triple Crown challenge

So we finally turn the page onto 2019 with the hopes and dreams of six horseplayers wondering if they’ve got the goods to win the second annual Derby Day Racing Fantasy Triple Crown Challenge. I’ll spare you the intrigue of who won the first challenge...

McKinzie would add serious spice to the Pegasus World Cup

Third start off the layoff, and this time, McKinzie was ready to roll. Looking very much like the colt that got bet down to 7-2 second choice against a deep Breeders’ Cup Classic field, and nothing at all like the one who staggered home 12th in that same race.

Bravazo keeps going, and going

Only one horse in 2018 ran in each leg of the Triple Crown, as well as the Breeders’ Cup. Yes, Bravazo is a modern day iron horse. The son of Awesome Again is not the first for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. We only have to recall the schedule of his remarkable filly Lady’s Secret, before she finally went off form

Kentucky Derby 2019: Maximus Mischief stays unbeaten

Maximus Mischief took an important step on the road to Kentucky Derby 2019 when he stretched out to two-turns while winning the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct by 2 ¼ lengths. In doing so, the Parx Racing-based son of Into Mischief stayed unbeaten in three career starts and earned his

Vasilika is the best horse you’ve never heard of

If you’ve never heard of Vasilika, don’t worry, you’re not alone. A 4-year-old daughter of Skipshot, she was running for a tag of $32,000 just a year ago. In fact, she was even competing in the lower ranks earlier this year. It’s time to get to know her. Armed with a winning streak which has reached eight,

Sooner Schooner closely related to Breeders’ Cup Champion Accelerate

Accelerate proved himself a champion once and for all with another topnotch performance on Saturday. This time it came on the grand stage of Churchill Downs and the richest race of all the World Championships. His victory from the far outside post in the Breeders’ Cup

Monomoy Girl and Accelerate: It’s time to recognize greatness

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships did exactly what it was supposed to do this past weekend and that is crown champions. Over the long racing season that culminated in a weekend full of impressive performances, two horses stood out in my mind as they answered every question…

Game Winner: another Kentucky Derby favorite for Bob Baffert

With Game Winner’s clear-cut victory in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, he not only clinched the Eclipse Award as the top 2-year-old, but he also vaulted to the top of the Road to 2019 Kentucky Derby points standings. The son of Candy Ride, who was purchased as a yearling for only

Breeders’ Cup Distaff 2018 Spotlight: Monomoy Girl

Over the last decade, horse racing fans have been blessed to witness some of the greatest fillies and mares to have ever graced the racetrack: Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra, Songbird, Beholder, Black Caviar, Goldikova, and Winx, just to name a few. It has truly been a golden age of great female race horses across …

Breeders’ Cup Classic 2018 Spotlight: West Coast

We’re just a mere week from the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and the excitement is beginning to rise as the contenders turn in their final works. Once again, I shine the spotlight on a Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) contender who I feel has a big chance of not only running …

Can Accelerate be Horse of the Year worthy?

No Triple Crown winner has ever been denied the honor of being named Horse of the Year — not one. Therefore, it would be easy to assume that this year’s race was effectively over the exact moment that Justify crossed the wire first in the Belmont Stakes. While many voters undoubtedly considered their …

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies full of potential stars

Less than two weeks from the World Championships, one of the races being talked about least so far on the entire card is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Considering the past performances of the young females who will be lining up for the 1 1/16-mile test over the main track, this is one race…

Breeders’ Cup Classic 2018 Spotlight: Catholic Boy

It’s mid-October, which means two things: The Breeders’ Cup is right around the corner (just two weeks away) and the NCAA football season is heating up with the top programs looking to emerge with an opportunity to stake their spot in the college football playoffs.

Breeders’ Cup Classic 2018 Spotlight: Thunder Snow

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships are a mere three weeks away. As the contenders for each division compete in their final preps, the Classic division has been left with more questions than answers. The Breeders’ Cup has historically provided great

Game Winner takes the American Pharoah Stakes on the 2019 Kentucky Derby Trail

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