Author Archives: Peter Applebee

Happy Champagne Day!  There are two Breeder’s Cup “win and you’re in” juvenile races at the Big A: the Champagne for the colts and the Frizette for the fillies. These Grade 1s also award points to the 2025 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks respectively. This very nice card is rounded out by two Grade IIIs: the Belmont Turf Sprint and the Jockey Club Derby Invitational.   The four graded stakes comprise the first four legs of a mandatory payout Pick 5. I give two ways to play a caveman Pick 5 ticket one where I single the strong favorites in two legs and another that uses alternatives in each…

Happy Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Day!  Nice card at the Big A today with four graded stakes headlined by the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. The wonderful seven year old mare, War Like Goddess, who has won the last two renditions of the Joe Hirsch is back today to defend her crown against the boys.    The Woodward comes up short as it will be scratched down to four with Mott indicating that Kay Army won’t run. Nonetheless it is a competitive group where the the case can be made for three of the four runners. Sadly, the Woodward is getting squeezed and I fear for the future…

Happy Flower Bowl Day!  The Flower Bowl features 2021 winner War Like Goddess along with 2023 winner Parnac. In a time where too many horses exit the game quickly, War Like Goddess and her connections should be celebrated. She’s won ten graded stakes during the past four years and has banked over $2.7 million. She’s also taken big shots against the boys including beating the colts in both the 2022 and 2023 renditions of the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. A classy and talented mare who isn’t done yet.  Trivia Question: The Queens MG is attempting to sweep the three graded stakes for two year fillies at Saratoga: the…

Happy Travers Day!  This is an excellent renewal of the Mid-Summer Derby. We have four Grade I winners in the field – Dornach, Fierceness, Sierra Leone along with the filly Thorpedo Anna. She will attempt to become the first filly since 1915 to win the Travers – Lady Rotha won it via DQ that year.  The Sword Dancer comes up a bit short, but that’s a comment on the state of the older male turf division as much as anything. It does include two excellent Godolphin runners – Measured Time and Silver Knott. If they were coupled they would be 2/5 against this group.   Trivia Question:  Who was…

Happy Fourstardave Day!  Today’s rescheduled feature race honors the “The Sultan of Saratoga” who won at the Spa for a record eight consecutive years (1987-1994).  When he retired there was a Fourstardave Day, Dave was paraded between races and he was given an edible key to the city.  His career stats are from a completely different era: twenty-one wins from one hundred starts. 100 starts!   Trivia Question: How many times did Fourstardave win this race when it was the Daryl’s Joy?  Race 10– The Fourstardave Handicap – Grade I  One Mile on the Inner Turf, For Three Year Olds and Upward  Strong Quality: Speedball who should set the…

Happy Saratoga Special Day!  The Fourstardave and Saratoga Derby have been moved to the Sunday card due to the expected heavy rains. So now the Saratoga Special is the feature race and it’s an excellent two year old stakes race with several live ones. Given the weather of the past week I am reminded of the old Allan Sherman classic “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah” … and yes it will be more fun when it stops raining. Let’s all say the horseplayer’s prayer for Fast and Firm.  Race 8 – Saratoga Special – Grade II  Six and One Half Furlongs on the Dirt for Two Year Olds  Smoken Wicked:…

Happy Whitney Day!  This is a great card with five stakes headlined by the Whitney Stakes. The Whitney appears to run through National Treasure who we last saw romping the Met Mile.  The Saratoga Derby is an evenly matched race where just about any of them could pull it off.    In the Troy Stakes, Cogburn comes back after setting a North American record at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf in the Jaipur Stakes tripping the timer in 59.80. In the Test Stakes we have a potential budding star in the form of Ways and Means who looked the part last out when she posted a 104 Beyer…

Happy Coaching Club American Oaks Day!  The three year old filly division might be wrapped up today if Thorpedo Anna recreates her dominate Acorn and Kentucky Oaks performances. If she does win the question becomes does she run in the Alabama or does she take a shot in the Travers.  McPeek pulled off something similar with Swiss Skydiver in the Preakness. It’s heady stuff, but she needs to win here first.   Trivia question: Which trainer has won the most Coaching Club American Oaks?  Race 10 – The Lake George – Grade III  One Mile on the Inner Turf Course For Three Years Old Fillies  Gavea: In her only…