http://www.drf.com/feeds/xml/news-categories/handicapping en http://www.drf.com/news/dick-jerardi-parx-based-evening-show-shows-signs-becoming-special-filly In Evening Show, trainer Kathleen Demasi said she thinks she might have a filly capable of winning Pennsylvania-bred stakes or even open stakes. Handicapping Bryan's Jewel Down Town Allen Evening Show Dick Jerardi: Parx-based Evening Show shows signs of becoming special filly 1371577975 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:09:23 +0000 Dick Jerardi 295695 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-text field-field-byline"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dick Jerardi </div> </div> </div> <p>Trainer Kate Demasi felt pretty confident when she brought first-timer Evening Show to the Parx Racing paddock on Dec. 23, 2012 – until she saw the Tony Dutrow-trained Margin Trade.</p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/news/dick-jerardi-parx-based-evening-show-shows-signs-becoming-special-filly" target="_blank">read more</a></p> The 5-year-old mare Bryan's Jewel won the John Rooney Memorial Stakes and the Grade 3 Obeah on consecutive Saturdays at Delaware Park. Hoofprints, Inc. http://www.drf.com/news/watchmaker-watch-weekly-divisional-ratings Weekly Thoroughbred racing divisional ratings by Mike Watchmaker, national handicapper for Daily Racing Form. Horses must have at least one start in North America. Handicapping Watchmaker Watch: Weekly divisional ratings 1371478174 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:14:13 +0000 Mike Watchmaker 102512 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-text field-field-byline"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Mike Watchmaker </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Updated: June 17, 2013.</strong> Weekly Thoroughbred racing divisional ratings by Mike Watchmaker, national handicapper for <em>Daily Racing Form</em>. Horses must have at least one start in North America.</p> <p><strong>More Watchmaker:</strong> <a href="http://www.drf.com/blogs/mike-watchmaker">Handicapping blog</a></p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/news/watchmaker-watch-weekly-divisional-ratings" target="_blank">read more</a></p> http://www.drf.com/news/trip-notes-vanity-stephen-foster-pegasus-and-more Michael Hammersly's weekly "Trip Notes" report, which recaps all of the previous weekend's graded stakes. This edition includes the Pegasus at Monmouth, among others. Handicapping Trip Notes: Vanity, Stephen Foster, Pegasus, and more 1371478030 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:06:42 +0000 Michael Hammersly 295631 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-text field-field-byline"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Michael Hammersly </div> </div> </div> <h2> Saturday, June 15, 2013</h2> <h3> Belmont<p><a href="http://www.drf.com/news/trip-notes-vanity-stephen-foster-pegasus-and-more" target="_blank">read more</a></p> http://www.drf.com/news/weekend-warrior-june-15-picks-stephen-foster-centaur-matt-winn I’m giving Fort Larned another chance when he runs in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs. Handicapping Fort Larned Successful Dan Take Charge Indy Weekend Warrior for June 15: Picks for Stephen Foster, Centaur, Matt Winn 1371354860 a:5:{s:15:"field_race_date";s:19:"2013-06-15T00:00:00";s:16:"field_track_name";s:15:"Churchill Downs";s:16:"field_track_code";s:2:"CD";s:17:"field_race_number";s:1:"8";s:13:"field_session";s:1:"D";} Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:57:51 +0000 Mike Watchmaker 295218 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-text field-field-byline"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Mike Watchmaker </div> </div> </div> <p> <div class="container" style="width: 100%;"> <div class="videoWrapper" style="padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0;"> <iframe src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/pd16/media/719509166001/719509166001_2477713860001_SaturdayStakes-06152013.mp4" style="height: 100%; width: 100%;"></iframe> </div> </div> With the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs owns the the first weekend of the Triple Crown. It can safely be said that Churchill also owns the weekend after the Triple Crown with its Stephen Foster card.</p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/news/weekend-warrior-june-15-picks-stephen-foster-centaur-matt-winn" target="_blank">read more</a></p> http://www.drf.com/news/steve-klein-itsmyluckyday-best-option-pegasus A speed bias could change things, but I would rather choose Itsmyluckyday to win Sunday's Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park based on his strong form on fast tracks, than hope that Verrazano rebounds strongly enough to beat him. Handicapping Itsmyluckyday Teddy's Promise Verrazano Steve Klein: Itsmyluckyday best option in Pegasus 1371237134 a:5:{s:15:"field_race_date";s:19:"2013-06-16T00:00:00";s:16:"field_track_name";s:13:"Monmouth Park";s:16:"field_track_code";s:3:"MTH";s:17:"field_race_number";s:2:"11";s:13:"field_session";s:1:"D";} Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:37:55 +0000 Steve Klein 295383 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-text field-field-byline"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Steve Klein </div> </div> </div> <p>The last time Verrazano and Itsmyluckyday raced against each other was in the Kentucky Derby. Verrazano stayed closer to the fast early pace that day than Itsmyluckyday did, but still finished one position, and 6 1/2 lengths ahead of him.</p> <p>But how significant is that comparison when the Derby was run on a sloppy track, and neither of those horses ran races that even vaguely resemble their best recent form?</p> <p>We should have a better handle on their relative merits following the running of the 1 1/16-mile, Grade 3, $150,000 Pegasus at Monmouth Park on Sunday.</p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/news/steve-klein-itsmyluckyday-best-option-pegasus" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Itsmyluckyday, second to Oxbow in the Preakness, has already shown he can run well at Monmouth Park, site of Sunday's Pegasus Stakes. Barbara D. Livingston http://www.drf.com/news/breeze-figs-quick-pix-saturday-june-15th Breeze-Figs Quick-Pix for Saturday, June 15th by Bob Fierro and Jay Kilgore. Handicapping Breeze-Figs Quick-Pix for Saturday, June 15th 1371220526 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:35:26 +0000 Bob Fierro & Jay Kilgore 295367 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-text field-field-byline"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Bob Fierro & Jay Kilgore </div> </div> </div> <p>With the weathers gods wreaking havoc all over the place, it wasn’t exactly a busy, or form-filled week, on the <em><strong>BreezeFigs</strong></em> front.<p><a href="http://www.drf.com/news/breeze-figs-quick-pix-saturday-june-15th" target="_blank">read more</a></p> http://www.drf.com/news/brad-free-hollendorfer-fillys-big-brother-palace-malice-does-good Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer was not aware the Belmont Stakes on June 8 would be personally significant. As it turned out, he has closer ties to the Belmont winner than he knew. Handicapping Palace Malice Brad Free: Hollendorfer filly's big brother Palace Malice does good 1371160511 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:39:59 +0000 Brad Free 295271 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-text field-field-byline"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Brad Free </div> </div> </div> <p>INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer was not aware the Belmont Stakes on June 8 would be personally significant. Hollendorfer was busy in California, where his stable had seven starters up and down the state. The Belmont was not on his mind.</p> <p>“I wasn’t even paying attention,” Hollendorfer said. “It totally went over my head.”</p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/news/brad-free-hollendorfer-fillys-big-brother-palace-malice-does-good" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Palace Malice sets the pace in the Kentucky Derby before tiring and finishing 12th. He became the latest Derby pacesetter to return and win a Grade 1 stakes when he won the Belmont. Justin N. Lane http://www.drf.com/news/dick-jerardi-charles-town-star-lucys-bob-boy-headed-salvator-mile Trainer Sandra Dono says she thinks it is now time for Lucy’s Bob Boy to head out of town and find out just how good he really might be. She plans to run Lucy’s Bob Boy in the July 6 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park. Handicapping Lucy's Bob Boy Dick Jerardi: Charles Town star Lucy's Bob Boy headed to Salvator Mile 1370970589 Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:53:02 +0000 295058 at http://www.drf.com <p>West-Virginia bred Lucy’s Bob Boy has raced 16 times, all at Charles Town. The 4-year-old Lucy’s Bob Boy has 13 wins, 3 seconds, and earnings of $511,530. He is less than three lengths from being unbeaten.</p> <p>He has won races by 17 lengths and 11 lengths. He has three triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures. When he beat fellow West Virginia-bred and Charles Town legend Russell Road (24 of 41 lifetime with $1.4 million in earnings) by eight lengths in the 2012 West Virginia Breeders’ Classic, it was apparent this was a very serious racehorse.</p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/news/dick-jerardi-charles-town-star-lucys-bob-boy-headed-salvator-mile" target="_blank">read more</a></p> The West Virginia-bred Lucy's Bob Boy will be pointed to the July 6 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park. Coady Photography http://www.drf.com/news/countdown-crown-week-11-march-15-2013 A $600,000 purse, perfect calendar placement for a follow-up prep and Grade 2 status of Saturday’s Rebel Stakes all conspired to produce the deepest field of 3-year-olds I’ve seen so far this year. The lineup of 11 includes horses that have been graded stakes placed at no fewer than five different tracks. Handicapping Kentucky Derby Oxbow Countdown to the Crown: Week 11 - March 15, 2013 1363564637 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:06:49 +0000 Jeremy Plonk 286669 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-text field-field-byline"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Jeremy Plonk </div> </div> </div> <p><em>The eighth season of Countdown to the Crown returns as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 4 through the Belmont Stakes, Countdown keeps you apprised of the rising stars of the 3-year-old class from the maiden ranks through the Grade 1 stakes. You can access daily updates, opinions and interactive features at <a href="http://Countdowntothecrown.com" target="_blank">Countdowntothecrown.com</a> as well.</em></p> <p><strong>Straight from the gate</strong></p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/news/countdown-crown-week-11-march-15-2013" target="_blank">read more</a></p> The pedigree and stronger foundation of Oxbow (front, winning the Lecomte) could prevail in Saturday's Rebel Stakes. Alexander Barkoff/Hodges Photography http://www.drf.com/news/national-handicapping-championship-tour-title-goes-california-man Mark Streiff, a 56-year-old financial consultant from Mission Viejo, Calif., has been awarded $75,000 as the top points earner in the National Handicapping Championship Tour after distancing his rivals in the yearlong series. Handicapping DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship National Handicapping Championship Tour title goes to California man 1358979215 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 18:27:44 +0000 Matt Hegarty 281121 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-text field-field-byline"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Matt Hegarty </div> </div> </div> <p>Mark Streiff, a 56-year-old financial consultant from Mission Viejo, Calif., has been awarded $75,000 as the top points earner in the National Handicapping Championship Tour after distancing his rivals in the yearlong series.</p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/news/national-handicapping-championship-tour-title-goes-california-man" target="_blank">read more</a></p>