Author Archives: Peter Applebee

Happy Fountain of Youth Day!  While the forecast calls for sun in South Florida this weekend, there are dark clouds gathering over the future of Gulfstream. Legislation is now pending the Florida State House at the request of Gulfstream ownership that would eliminate the need to have horse racing in order to operate the casino at Gulfstream Park. Florida horsemen stand in opposition to this “decoupling” bill as they see it as a step towards ending racing at Gulfstream. Further, the owner of Gulfstream made some eye catching comments during an interview on Pegasus Day when she questioned if Gulfstream was appropriate as a racing venue given its…

Happy Holy Bull Day!  Strong card at Gulfstream Park today with five stakes races headlined by the Grade 3 Holy Bull. It’s a very competitive field led by Ferocious who showed a lot of promise as a two year old.  Trivia question: The Holy Bull is the first leg of the three race sequence that comprise the Gulfstream Park portion of Kentucky Derby preps. What are the other Derby preps held at Gulfstream Park that award points for the 2025 Kentucky Derby?   Gulfstream Park Race 10 – The Kitten’s Joy   One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf for Three Year Olds  Enterdadragon: Won an optional claimer at…

Happy Pegasus Day!  Today we seven graded stakes at Gulfstream Park led by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational. This is the first big day on the 2025 calendar and we have big competitive fields.  Trivia Question: Which trainer has the most wins in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational?  Race 12 – The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational  Stakes – Grade I  One Mile and a Furlong on the Turf for Four Year Olds and Upward   Siege of Boston: Six year old War Front colt who hasn’t won in eighteen months but has picked up the pieces in several Grade 3 events. Ran well enough last out…

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…