Two weeks ago, we saw Kentucky Derby futures prospect Mutasaabeq impressively move from the turf to the dirt. The question this week is, can Rock Your World do the same thing? The Circa Sports Derby futures book seems to think so. It put 33/1 odds on the Candy Ride colt, […]
Horse Racing
Independence Hall, Coastal Defense, Ride a Comet Grab Pegasus Invites
With Charlatan and Mucho Gusto passing up Pegasus invites, Independence Hall and Coastal Defense became the latest two invites for the Jan. 23, $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational. They’ve earned spots on the also-eligible list for the Grade 1 race. Along with that, Ride a Comet parlayed his victory […]
Baffert’s Charlatan Will Follow the Money to the Saudi Cup
In a clear case of following the money, Charlatan will pass on the Pegasus and likely set down at the Saudi Cup. That’s what trainer Bob Baffert told Santa Anita’s Ed Golden on Sunday. Following the money, in this case, takes the 4-year-old son of Speightstown to Saudi Arabia on […]
NYRA, TSG Ban Trainer Guillot Over Racist Horse Name, Twitter Reference
Both the New York Racing Association and The Stronach Group’s 1/ST Racing affiliate banned trainer Eric Guillot from racing any of his horses or reserving barn space at any of their tracks after Guillot tagged one of his horses with an apparent racially offensive name. The horse’s name was Grape […]
At 99/1, Just a Command Takes Charge of a Track Record Trifecta Payout
Just a Command was just moments away from being shipped to Arizona’s Turf Paradise. Instead, he ran into the Santa Anita Park record books as the key to the biggest trifecta payout in track history. Going off at 99/1 in Santa Anita’s sixth race Saturday, Just a Command scored a […]
Golden Gate Fields Gets Go-Ahead to Restart After COVID-19 Outbreak
Golden Gate Fields, shut down in November after a COVID-19 breakout ravaged its workforce, will resume racing Jan. 15, according to track owners, The Stronach Group. That ends a two-month shutdown of the Northern California track imposed when 24 workers initially tested positive for COVID-19. In the wake of that, […]
Monomoy Girl Starts Her ‘Monster’ Season at Oaklawn’s Bayakoa Stakes
Trainer Brad Cox called her “a monster,†but you probably know her as the best mare of her generation. Either way, Cox says you’ll see Monomoy Girl return Feb. 15 at Oaklawn Park for the Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes. The $250,000, 1-1/16-mile Bayakoa marks Monomoy Girl’s 2021 opener and a […]
Seeking Horseracing’s Fastest-Growing Wagers? Take Five or Pick Six
One of the eternal allures and constant truths about betting on horses is the ability to win a lot by wagering a little. And, when it came to the most popular and fastest-growing wager types in 2020, this eternal truth manifested itself in multiples. Multiples – as in multiple-race wagers. […]
Oaklawn Park Will Allow Limited Spectators Inside for 2021 Meet
Oaklawn Park officials said Wednesday they plan on admitting limited spectators inside the gates for their 2021 meet, keeping in line with an Arkansas Department of Health directive allowing the move. The 57-day Oaklawn meet begins Jan. 22 and runs through May 1. Last year, Oaklawn was one of only […]
Defending Pegasus Champ Mucho Gusto Suddenly Retired After Injury
Illustrating once again the fragile nature of modern Thoroughbred horses, defending Pegasus World Cup champion Mucho Gusto was suddenly retired Tuesday after suffering a soft tissue injury. Bob Baffert, Mucho Gusto’s trainer, said the injury happened Tuesday. He told Horse Racing Nation that due to the nature of the injury […]
CDI Bets You’ll Like Rebranded TwinSpires More Than BetAmerica
Seeking a single-brand strategy for its sports wagering and online platforms, Churchill Downs Inc. announced Tuesday it will discontinue using its BetAmerica brand. Instead, it moves that segment of its business to its familiar TwinSpires brand. According to a release announcing the move, the transition begins later this month, when […]
How Close is Too Close? Derby Futures Boards Reward Sham Stakes Runner-Up
Proving that Kentucky Derby futures boards and futures bettors view such matters through a kaleidoscope, Medina Spirit finished second in Saturday’s Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park. At 9/1, he needed a furious stretch rally to even get near race winner and fellow Bob Baffert stablemate, Life Is […]
Swiss Skydiver Returns to Track, Virus Knocks Maxfield Out of Pegasus
As one 2020 standout returned to training, another one returned to the shelf – albeit temporarily. Swiss Skydiver hit the track, running for the first time since November’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff, while a report said Maxfield suffered a virus that will keep him out of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational. […]
Pletcher’s Trio Leads Pegasus World Cup Turf Invite List
Todd Pletcher’s considerable depth at Gulfstream Park manifested itself again when the Hall of Fame trainer snagged three of the 16 invites to the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, the companion race to the Pegasus World Cup Invitational. The Grade 1, 1-3/16-mile Pegasus Turf runs Jan. 23 as […]
Knicks Go, Charlatan, Mucho Gusto Headline Pegasus World Cup Invites
Bob Baffert will take two of his older mainstays, Mucho Gusto and Charlatan, into his bid for a third Pegasus World Cup Invitational title. Those two are among the 16 horses earning invites to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park. The 1-1/8-mile Pegasus headlines a seven-graded […]
Despite Topsy-Turvy Year, Horseracing’s 2020 Handle Falls Only 1.3%
Tracks closed, spectators were absent, and schedules were changed beyond recognition. Yet, amid a year unlike any other in Thoroughbred racing, the total 2020 US handle dipped only 1.3% from its 2019 totals. What was remarkable about that modest dip — from $10.871 billion in 2019 to $10.727 billion in […]
Capo Kane Introduces Himself to Derby Watchers With Decisive Win
Capo Kane was the forgotten horse in the Jerome Stakes, the horse without a Kentucky Derby futures number next to his name on the two prominent Las Vegas futures boards: Circa Sports and William Hill Nevada. Now, Capo Kane is tied for fourth on the Derby points ladder with the […]
Mutasaabeq Trades Turf for Dirt As Mucho Macho Man Favorite
You’ve seen Mutasaabeq on the front page of Kentucky Derby futures prospects. Now, you’ll see him back on dirt in Saturday’s Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park. When you do, you’ll see the Todd Pletcher-trained, son of Into Mischief take marquee status in Gulfstream Park’s first Derby prep of […]
Can Life Is Good Duplicate His Electric Debut In Sham Stakes?
Yes, Saturday’s Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park is only a Grade 3. And yes, only five horses are entered. But no. These facts scare away exactly nobody interested in New Year Kentucky Derby reconnaissance. That’s because one of those five is Life Is Good. The same Life Is Good […]