Author Archives: Peter Applebee

Happy Belmont Day! Magnificent day of racing with six Grade 1 stakes races led by the Belmont. Only the Breeders’ Cup cards offer more Grade 1s. Oh, and pack a lunch – and maybe a dinner. First post is at 11am and the last post is at 8:02pm. Trivia question: Who won the other two editions of the Belmont Stakes contested at Saratoga? Race 12 – The Manhattan – Grade I One Mile and Three Sixteenths on the Mellon Turf for Four Year Olds and Up Tiz Dashing: Didn’t fire in the Makers Mark Mile as he was in position but faded (91 Beyer). Two back in the…

Happy Ogden Phipps Day! Five stakes on the card today for the fillies led by three Grade Is. The Acorn has four of the top five finishers in the Kentucky Oaks back in the starting gate as they face each other in a re-match. It’s a short field, but all the right ones are entered. The question in the Odgen Phipps revolves around Nitrogen and whether she can regain her form after being defeated by Majestic Oops in the Azeri and the late Claret Beret in the Apple Blossom. She didn’t have an excuse on either day. She has had a bit more time between starts this time…

Happy Belmont Gold Cup Day! The Belmont racing festival heats up with three graded stakes headlined by the Grade II Belmont Gold Cup, which is a two mile, four turn race on the inner turf. Trivia Question: What is the longest graded turf stakes race in North America? Race 3 – The Pennine Ridge – Grade III One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Inner Turf For Three Year Olds Bottas: Won the first two races of his career last Fall including the Pilgrim (81 Beyer) which led to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf where he had no impact (73 Beyer). He can win with…

 Happy Preakness Day! The Preakness is being run at Laurel Park this year while Old Hilltop is being rebuilt. The plan is then to consolidate Marlyand racing at Pimlico and Laurel will become a full-time training facility pending action by the Maryland State Legislature. Trivia Question: The Preakness is Maryland’s race but it was run in New York at one point. Where and when was the Preakness contested in New York State? Race 10 – The Dinner Party Grade III One Mile and One Furlong on the Turf for Three Year Olds and Upward What Say Thee: Eight year old runs here off a win in an allowance…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 5/16/26 Featured track Laurel Park Race number 9   Race overview A modest renewal of the 100k James W. Murphy for 3yos at 1-mile on the turf.   Pace It looks honest enough, as there’s a longshot sprinter (#7) stretching out who figures to go, and more than a few others who want to be close early on. Trends N/A Best Play #3 ZIHNAL (6-1) (turf or dirt) SA invader ran a ridiculously fast figure in his debut going a two-turn mile on the main track (against older horses too), is out of a serious G2 turf winning…

Happy Derby Day! We have a very competitive renewal of the Kentucky Derby as evidenced by a lukewarm 4-1 ML favorite (Renegade). Frankly, a win by half of this field would not be that big of a surprise. Trivia Question: Why is the Derby called “The Run for the Roses”? Race 11 The Turf Classic – Grade I One Mile and One Furlong on the Turf for Four Year Olds and Upward         Corruption: Runs here after a second in the Pan American where he was collared late by Far Bridge (for the second year in a row) and earned a 97 Beyer. Might see a similar trip today,…

Happy Wood Memorial Day! The end is nigh for Aqueduct and today marks the final Carter and Wood Memorial at the Big A. The on track experience at Aqueduct will be missed. The crowd there is comprised of the most passionate racing fans you’ll find anywhere. Sharp opinions abound, and no one is afraid to share them. It’s a pure horseplayers environment. But life moves on and the new Belmont Park is a great source of optimism for the long term health of horse racing in New York. The new Belmont will have an all-weather Tapeta track surface (along with dirt and turf courses) which hopefully expands the…

Happy Florida Derby Day! The Florida Derby card is loaded with 10 … yes, count ‘em …10 stakes races! The day is headlined by the $1 million Grade I Florida Derby with the Grade II Florida Oaks for three year old fillies highlighting the undercard. The top two finishers in those races will make the Kentucky Oaks/Derby fields as both award 100-50-25-15-10 points. Trivia Question: Which filly won the Gulfstream Park Oaks and then went on to win a Triple Crown race? Race 9 – The Gulfstream Park Oaks – Grade II One Mile and a Sixteenth on the Dirt for Three Year Old Fillies 1. Betty’s Pearl:…

Happy Louisiana Derby Day! Fair Grounds takes the stage today with seven stakes races headlined by the Louisiana Derby and Fair Ground Oaks, both of which award 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks/Derby points. The top two finishers in both of these races will earn enough points to make the Kentucky Oaks/Derby fields respectively. Trivia Question: Surprisingly, only two winners of Louisiana Derby have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby – who was the most recent? Race 11 – The Fair Grounds Oaks – Grade II One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt for Three Year Old Fillies 1. Miss Metoyer: Demolished optional claimers at Delta Downs last month…

Happy Fountain of Youth Day!  There are eight graded stakes at Gulfstream Park card led by the Fountain of Youth and Davona Dale as the Kentucky Derby/Oaks preps continue to ramp up. The 50 points awarded to the winners of these two races should be sufficient to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks/Derby fields.  Trivia question: Who was Davona Dale?  Gulfstream Park Race 11 – The Davona Dale – Grade II  One Mile on the Dirt for Three Year Old Fillies   My Miss Mo:Won a state bred maiden race at 1/10 then moved to the Sandpiper Stakes where she was off the pace but did make up some ground late (54 Beyer). This is too tough.  Blazing Brat:Cross entered in the Busher Stakes for a new barn. Ran on the poly and turf until a start in the Sandpiper at Tampa. In that effort she was kept in…