Author Archives: Peter Applebee

Happy Whitney Day!  This is one of the top cards of the year. Four Grade 1s including the Fourstardave, the Test, the Derby Invitational, and it’s headlined by the $1 million Whitney. The Whitney is loaded, you will not find a better field of older dirt horses anywhere outside of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.    Trivia Question: Which all-time great horse won the Whitney three times during the 1960s?  Race 9 – The Saratoga Derby Invitational– Grade I  One mile and Three Sixteenths on the Mellon Turf For Three Year Olds  Capitol Hill: Came from the clouds in the Manila Stakes to just get up for second (83 Beyer).…

Happy Coaching Club American Oaks Day!  It would have been nice to get a rematch between Good Cheer and La Cara in the CCA Oaks after La Cara’s Acorn Stakes triumph. While La Cara is entered today the connections for Good Cheer are aiming for the Alabama Stakes later in the meet. Maybe we’ll get the rematch then. But we do have are three very strong graded stakes led by the CCA Oaks and the Vanderbilt Handicap – both of which are very betable races.  Trivia question: Which trainer has won the Coaching Club American Oaks the most times?    Race 10 – The Coaching Club American Oaks…

Happy Belmont Oaks Invitational Day!  Strong card at the Spa with three graded stakes co-headlined by the Grade I Belmont Oaks Invitational and Grade III Kelso.   Trivia question: Which horse has won “Horse of the Year” honors the most times?  Race 10 – The Kelso Stakes – Grade III  One Mile on the Inner Turf for Four Year Olds and Up  Neat: In the Dinner Party on Preakness Day, he faltered and was eased. Looks to regain his three year old form when he won both the Manila and Hall of Fame Stakes. The mile should suit – but he has been off the boil for a while…

Happy Belmont Day!  Great match-up today in the Belmont with Derby winner Sovereignty meeting Preakness winner Journalism for a rematch. If either one wins today, they become the undisputed divisional leader.   Trivia question: If either Journalism or Sovereignty win today, they will be the first horse in seven years to win more than one leg of the Triple Crown, who was the last horse to do so?  Race 12 – The Manhattan – Grade I  One Mile and Three Sixteenths on the Mellon Turf for Four Year Olds and Upward  1. Endlessly: Came off a nine month layoff in the American Stakes and finished a decent third (89…

Happy New York Stakes Day!  Today we have a huge card with six graded stakes and four Grade Is. NYRA has truly made this a racing festival by having such strong cards leading into Belmont Day. It would have been nice to have had Thorpedo Anna in the Phipps today – but she was poor in the La Troienne and now appears to be on an extended break. What we do have is an excellent renewal of the Ogden Phipps where you can make a case for almost all the entries.   Trivia Question: Four mares have won the Ogden Phipps Stakes twice – who was the most recent…

Happy Intercontinental Day!  Four stakes races today at the Spa headlined by the Grade II Intercontinental and Grade III Poker along with the Tremont and Astoria for 2 year old colts and fillies, respectively.    Trivia Question: Who is the Intercontinental Stakes named for?  Race 7 – The Intercontinental – Grade II  Five and One Half Furlongs on the Mellon Turf  For Filles and Mares Four Year Olds and Upward  Pandora’s Gift: Hasn’t won in three North American starts but was a head bob second to Future Is Now (97 Beyer) last out in the Giant’s Causeway. She likes to attend the pace and will need to prevent getting…

Happy Preakness Day!  We won’t have a Triple Crown winner this year as Sovereignty’s connections have passed on the Preakness. But this sets up the potential for a real nice Belmont where the Derby and Preakness winners could face off for the divisional lead. As for today, we have a very interesting Preakness with three Derby runners coming back, several stakes winners who didn’t make the Derby, a new shooter from Baffert, an overseas shipper, and a local hero. THAT is quite a collection.   Trivia Question: Why is Pimlico nicknamed “Old Hilltop”?  Race 12 The Dinner Party – Grade III  One Mile and One Furlong on the Turf…

HAPPY DERBY DAY ! Today is the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby and all the pomp and circumstance that goes along with it. The forecast for rain once again on Derby Day so it looks like an off track at Churchill Downs. Trivia Question: D. Wayne Lukas has his fifty-first Kentucky Derby starter in the form of American Promise – it’s a race he has won four times. How many active trainers have a graded stakes race at Churchill Downs named for them? D. Wayne, that’s who. Who was Lukas’s first Derby winner? Race 11 The Turf Classic – Grade I One Mile and One Furlong on…

Happy Wood Memorial Day!  The Big A takes the stage with the 100th running of Wood Memorial. This is the first big card on the New York racing calendar which also features the Grade II Carter, and a couple Grade IIIs – the Gazelle for three year old filles, and the Distaff for older fillies and mares.     Trivia question: Where was the Wood Memorial run before it was held at Aqueduct?  Race 10 – The Carter Handicap  – Grade II  Seven Furlongs on the Dirt for Four Year Olds and Upward  Crazy Mason: Won two in a row to start his four year old season defeating N1X and…