Author Archives: Peter Applebee

Happy Mother Goose Day! Today there are four stakes at Belmont led by the Grade II Mother Goose and the listed Dwyer Stakes. The Dwyer features the return of Ted Noffey, the reigning two year old Champion. Trivia Question: The Dwyer Stakes has been contested since 1887. Where was it first run? Race 8 – The Dwyer Stakes – Listed One Mile on the Dirt for Three Year Olds Bravaro: Won last out at Charlestown in a $500k ungraded stakes (83 Beyer). Two back he was solid at Colonial where he battled to the wire, finishing second. Would need to improve. Overtime Rules: Two for two on dirt…

  Happy Breeders’ Cup Day!   Nine sparkling Grade 1 stakes on the Championship Saturday Breeders’ Cup card headlined by the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf and the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. Trivia Question: : Today Forever Young attempts to defend his Breeders’ Cup Classic crown – who is the only horse to win the Classic more than once? Race 11 – Breeders’ Cup Turf– Grade I One Mile and One Half on the Turf for Three Year Olds and Upward 1. Ethical Diamond: Upset winner of this race last year comes back to defend his title as he is rounding back into form winning the Ballyroan…

Happy Future Stars Friday!  The Juvenile has a heavy favorite in the form of Bob Baffert’s Hughes. The Juvenile Turf is wide open and it should be noted Aiden O’Brien has won last four editions of the Juvenile Turf and eight of the seventeen editions of the race. He has four in the starting gate today in the 10th race.  Trivia Question: Which trainer has won the most Breeders’ Cup races?  Race 9 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – Grade I  One Mile and a Sixteenth on the Dirt for Two Year Olds  Damavand: Broke his maiden in his second career race going two turns at Keeneland as he…

Happy Champagne Day! If you like two year old racing – today’s Belmont card is perfect for you with six graded stakes for juveniles. Top billing is shared by the Grade 1 Frizette and Grade 1 Champagne, both of which are “win and you’re in” races for their respective Breeders’ Cup divisions. We also have an all-stakes Pick 6 as part of the betting action. Trivia Question: Today are the last Grade 1 races in New York for the year. What was the first Grade I race in New York in 2026?   Race 8 The Champagne – Grade 1 One Mile On The Dirt for Two Year…

Happy Spinaway Day!  We are entering the last weekend of the meet and the leading rider, trainer and owners races are all up for grabs. Going into Friday’s card Chad Brown has open a five win lead over Linda Rice (38-33). Klaravich leads Linda Rice by four wins (15-11) in the race for top owner. The jockey race is interesting as Jose Ortiz (65) leads Flavian Prat (64) buy one, and Manny Franco (63) by two wins. But Jose Ortiz is riding at Kentucky Downs Saturday-Monday and Prat will be here Sunday and Monday as well. Franco will stay here and has a mount in every race on…

Happy Travers Day! Today is the big day at the Spa with five Grade 1s on the card. We have a fantastic renewal of the Travers featuring Kentucky Derby/Belmont winner Golden Tempo, Preakness winner Napoleon Solo, Jim Dandy winner Renegade, and Haskell winner Baby Vino. Trivia Question: Secretariat famously won the 1973 Belmont by 31 lengths while “moving like a tremendous machine”. Who holds the record for the widest margin of victory in the Travers? Race 11 – The Forego Stakes – Grade I Seven Furlongs On the Dirt for Four Year Olds and Upward Tip Top Thomas: Narrowly lost an optional claimer last month to Senior Officer…

Happy Alabama Day! Having already won the Acorn and CCA Oaks, Counting Stars goes for a sweep of the Summer Grade 1’s for three old fillies in New York. Kentucky Oaks winner Always A Runner does not run here and instead is being aimed to the $1 million Cotillion at Parx next month. Trivia Question: Who was the last filly to sweep the Acorn, CCA Oaks, and the Alabama? Race 10  – The Ballston Spa Stakes One Mile and a Sixteenth On the Inner Turf for Fillies and Mares 3 Years Old and Up Ozara: Defending champion is three for four over this track. In the Diana she…

Happy Christophe Clement Turf Stakes Day! Very competitive Christophe Clement Turf with a field that includes the top three finishers from the Bowling Green, the winner of the United Nations along with several quality Euros including a mare who just won the Glens Falls two weeks ago. None of the seven entrants were off the board in their most recent start – all of which were against graded stakes company. Trivia Question: The Sword Dancer, now the Christophe Clement, has been contested since 1975. Which trainer has the most wins in this Grade I? Race 9  The Christophe Clement Turf  Stakes – Grade I One Mile and a…

Happy Whitney Day! Big time card today with four Grade I’s led by a loaded Whitney and The Fourstardave which honors the “Sultan of Saratoga”. Trivia Question: Nitrogen takes on the colts in the Whitney as she attempts to become the seventh filly to win this prestigious Grade I. Who was the most recent filly to win the Whitney? Race 10 – The Fourstardave – Grade I One Mile on the Inner Turf For Three Year Olds and Upward Rhetorical: In the Turf Classic at Churchill on Derby Day he took the field all nine furlongs (107 Beyer). Then in the Manhattan his early lead evaporated as he…