Author Archives: Peter Applebee

Happy Coaching Club American Oaks Day!  We have another excellent rendition of the CCA Oaks as Kentucky Oaks winner Always a Runner and Acorn winner Counting Stars face off in their third head to head battle. If either win today they will become the clear leader of the three year old filly division.   Trivia question: Who was Alfred G. Vanderbilt?  Race 9 The Alfred G. Vanderbilt  Handicap Grade II  Six Furlongs on the Dirt For Four Year Olds and Upward  Damon’s Mound:Has been running primarily against Florida breds this year while earning a career best 100 Beyer. Has handled open company as shown by his win in the Bold Ruler last Fall (91 Beyer). Finished a distant fourth in this race last year. Six of nine career wins are at six furlongs. Race flow doesn’t suit with speed to his outside that will crossover. Looking elsewhere.  Crazy Mason:Closing…

Happy Dunkin’ Diana Day!  Chad Brown has dominated the Diana like no other Grade I – winning nine of the past ten editions with only Charlie Appleby’s Athiqa in 2021 breaking up his run. Chad has four in the Diana today and they all look live.  Trivia Question: While Flavian Prat has piloted the last four winners of the Diana – which jockey has the most wins in this Grade I?  Race 5 – The Dunkin’ Diana Stakes – Grade I  One Mile and One Furlong on the Inner Turf for Fillies & Mares Four Years Old and Up  Dynamic Pricing:Chad (1/4) Started 2026 in the Jenny Wiley where she got up for fourth (93 Beyer). Then in the Beaugay she was a decent second. In both races she did not show a strong turn of foot although she did level off late. She moves up if there is cut in the ground. Has been freshened since the Beaugay. Zayas takes over for Irad who is at the Haskell. Exotics. …

Happy Bowling Green Day! Given that the United Nations Stakes is run at Monmouth next week the seven horse field for the Bowling Green is very solid.  The Caress Stakes has strong field where five of the six starters look like contenders. Weather looks great and these stakes should stay on a Firm turf course. Trivia Question: Three horses have won the Bowling Green Stakes twice – who was the most recent to accomplish this feat? Race 5  The Caress Stakes – Grade II Five and One Half Furlongs On The Mellon Turf for Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward Zeitlios: Was second in this race…

Happy Fourth of July! Happy 250th Birthday to the good old USA! Today’s card today is led by Belmont Oaks and Belmont Derby, and we also have the 140th renewal of the historic Suburban Handicap which has been won by many all-time greats including Kelso, Forego, Mineshaft, and Easy Goer. Trivia question: Who was hailed as the “hero of the Battle of Saratoga” for the Continentals? Race 7 – The Belmont Oaks Invitational – Grade I One Mile and One Furlong on the Inner Turf for Three Year Old Fillies Just Aloof: Just missed in the Edgewood where she sat a perfect pocket trip and then was on…

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,…