Author Archives: Peter Applebee

Happy Cigar Mile Day!  Today we have the final big card of year at the Big A with four graded stakes races headlined by the Cigar Mile. In addition, the Demoiselle and Remsen are significant early preps for the Oaks and Derby respectively as the two year olds will go two turns. The Remsen has been maligned for not producing Derby winners – but it is a key race as these colts enter their three year old seasons. Recent Remsen winners have included Catholic Boy (Belmont, Travers), Mo Donegal (Haskell, Belmont), and Dornach (Belmont, Haskell).  Trivia question: Who was the trainer of Cigar?  Race 7 The Remsen –…

Happy Red Smith Day!  Strong card at the Big A today with three turf stakes races including two graded stakes.  It might be November, but our turf racing is still going strong in New York.    Trivia Question: Who is the Hill Prince Stakes named for?    Race 5 – The Hill Prince – Grade III  One Mile and One Furlong on the Turf for Three Year Olds  Bartlett: Once John Servis stretched this one out on dirt, he has been a different horse. He won N1X (93 Beyer) and N2X (94 Beyer) races on consecutive attempts and both races were identical he went right to the front help…

Happy Breeders’ Cup Day!  Today is the big day. We have eight Grade 1s and many of these races will determine divisional championships for 2024. Both the Classic and the Turf are pretty wide open affairs where you can go five or six different directions.    Race 7 – Breeders’ Cup Turf– Grade I  One Mile and One Half on the Turf for Three Year Olds and Upward   Rousham Park: Long shot Japanese runner won four of six starts as a four year old but has not followed that success up as a five year old with no wins from three starts and didn’t show much in…

Happy Future Stars Friday!  We have five Grade I races today at Del Mar as we celebrate the best two year old fillies and colts.     Race 9 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – Grade I  One Mile and a Sixteenth on the Dirt for Two Year Olds  East Avenue: Speedster successfully stretched out in his second start taking the field the whole way in the Breeders Futurity (95 Beyer). He’ll need to break well to establish position. If he does then he is dangerous. Using Getaway Car: Baffert stretched out this Curlin colt in the American Pharaoh and he was left chasing but ran on well for second (86…

Happy Mother Goose Day!  There are three graded stakes that anchor a nice card at the Big A today. After finishing second and third behind Thorpedo Anna respectively Gun Song and Tarifa run in the Mother Goose.  Trivia Question: Next week is the Breeders’ Cup. When is the last time New York hosted this championship event?  Race 8 – The Forty Niner – Grade III  One Mile on the Dirt for Three Year Olds and Upward  Repo Rocks: Last out he was impressive in the two turn Parx Dirt Mile where he was up on a hot pace early and still hung on for second as Coastal Mission…

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…