Author Archives: Peter Applebee

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…

Happy Diana Day!  Chad Brown has won the Diana seven of the past eight years and with five entered in today’s edition he looks to continue his dominance in this Grade I, but his quintet faces some tough ones.   Many of the turf stakes at this meet will feature Chad Brown vs. Charlie Appleby showdowns. Today we get the first taste of that matchup in the Kelso Stakes where Chad has Carl Spackler and Appleby has Mysterious Night. So far this year in North American Appleby trainees are winning at a 30% clip and 74% have hit the board. Godolphin have made a bigger commitment to American racing…

Happy Belmont Derby Invitational Day!  There are four graded stakes at the Big A including two Grade Is, the Belmont Derby and the Belmont Oaks. These are the first of three legs of the Turf Triple and Turf Tiara for three year old colts and fillies respectively. It’s surprising to see only a field of five for Belmont Derby given the $750k purse, but it’s a very competitive field where any of the starters could win.   Trivia question: Through the first six months of 2024 which trainer has won the most Grade Is?    Race 6 – The Belmont Derby Invitational – Grade I  One Mile and Three…

Happy Belmont Day!  The term “historic” is overused, but today is a historic day. For the first time since 1967 the Belmont Stakes will be contested somewhere other than over “Big Sandy”. This is a dream card with nine Graded Stakes, including six Grade 1s. Those six Grade Is are the most on any card in North America outside of the Breeders’ Cup Classic day.   Sure, it would be nice if the Belmont could have been contested at a mile and a half, but there is no Triple Crown on the line so that doesn’t matter as much as it might. This is a great Belmont field that…

Happy New York Stakes Day!  It’s ladies day at the Spa with four filly and mare Graded Stakes on the card.  I’ll tackle the Acorn and the New York along with an All-Stakes Pick 4.   Much of the turf racing during this festival will come down to a battle between Chad Brown and Charlie Appleby. You need determine what to do with the Appleby runners as a group. Do you think they will fire or will the North American based turf trainers led by Chad Brown hold their ground? Appleby has already had a strong year in the U.S. with five wins in Graded Turf Stakes from sixteen…

Happy Preakness Day!  This is a nice Preakness field headlined by Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan.  The scratch of Muth clarifies the race flow and sets up Imagination as the likely early pace. The question is whether he will get an easy uncontested lead.  The other impact of the Muth scratch is to ensure that Mystik Dan will be a heavy favorite, and therefore an underlay in my view.  Trivia Question: The Dinner Party Stakes was first run in 1870 during Pimlico’s first meet. Who won that first rendition of The Dinner Party?  Race 12 The Dinner Party – Grade III  One Mile and One Furlong on the…

Happy Derby Day!    With the Baffert trainees ineligible to run, the Derby would appear to be a two horse race between Sierra Leone and Fierceness. However, in a twenty horse field plenty of things can go awry. The Turf Classic features a Euro vs. American match-up with a Charlie Appleby trainee taking on an uncoupled Chad Brown entry with a strong Shug runner.  Race 11 The Turf Classic – Grade I  One Mile and One Furlong on the Turf for Four Year Olds and Upward   Integration: In the Makers Mark Mile he couldn’t run down Master of the Seas as he was wide on the far turn…

Happy Wood Memorial Day!  Today we get our first big race day of the year in New York with four graded stakes headlined by the Carter Handicap and the Wood Memorial. It’s a nice full field of thirteen in the Wood.  Trivia question: Who is the Carter Handicap named for?  Race 4 – The Carter Handicap  – Grade II  Seven Furlongs on the Dirt for Four Year Olds and Upward  Castle Chaos: Was very good two back in the Fred Hooper where he was wide the whole way and just missed (97 Beyer). Tired in the slop last out in the Stymie. Inside draw should help to establish…

Happy Florida Derby Day!  The Florida Derby headlines a monster card at Gulfstream Park where there are five graded stakes races.  Trivia Question: The Florida Derby has produced fifteen Kentucky Derby winners, who was the most recent?  Race 11 – The Gulfstream Park Oaks – Grade II  One Mile and a Sixteenth on the Dirt for Three Year Old Fillies  Power Squeeze: Has won three in a row including the Cash Run (82 Beyer) and then the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa with a nice inside trip. Inside draw should allow him to establish position for a stalking trip. Piece of it. Do Gooder: Broke her maiden in her…