The Daily Racing Form’s Race of the Day has us returning to Aqueduct Race Track for the 4th race of their card, the Grade 3 Long Island Stakes, going a mile and three-eighths, just like the Saturday race I handicapped for you. There are eight horses entered, seven in the main body of the field, and a “main track only” which will probably be scratched.
This Saturday’s featured race on the Daily Racing Form site is The Grade 2 Red Smith Stakes going a mile and three-eights on the grass at Aqueduct.
The story of Cody’s Wish is a heartwarming story that no one could root against, even if you did not bet on the defending Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile champion today. The final chapter of this amazing horse held everyone in suspense not once but twice as the suspense of a stretch long duel mirrored National Treasure’s Preakness win in May was matched by an inquiry for the bumping the two horses had down the lane.
White Abarrio powered past front running Arabian Knight in the stretch to win the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park as the 5/2 betting favorite in the main event of the two-day championship event.
Only in the Breeder’s Cup Classic can you find a field of 12 where you can find Grade 1 winners at mouth watering 12-1 odds. It’s a race that can crown a champion on the track and present handicappers with an amazing amount of value.
Steve Carlton in a San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians or Minnesota Twins uniform. Brian Dawkins with the Denver Broncos. Michael Jordan with the Washington Wizards. Wayne Gretzky in St. Louis. Some things just don’t look right.
Joe Q’s Horse Racing picks for each of the 6 races, but below is my pick 5 and pick 4 (as of right now) for the big races at Penn National on Friday night.
Remember Steve Coburn, owner of California Chrome? After his horse lost in the 2014 Belmont Stakes, dashing hopes of the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years, Coburn was not happy with the result of the race and a fresher horse just choosing to race in the Belmont.
Somehow, the Kentucky Derby has avoided the standard protest of anything caked in southern tradition. Anytime white elitism is on full display, it tends to come under attack with some complaint (fill in the usual references of slavery and colonialism). And certainly, there is room for those conversations; they aren’t completely out-of-bounds.