When a fifth-race pick three kicks off at Del Mar, many horseplayers will be singling Lakota Road (#7). One can understand the reasoning – she already has won a starter allowance, she consistently runs the highest Beyer Speed Figures, and she enters this race in sharp form.
When Jonathan Sheppard sent out the first two finishers in last year’s Jonathan Kiser, it marked the 45th consecutive year the Hall of Fame trainer has saddled at least one winner at Saratoga.
DRF handicapper Matt Bernier takes a closer look at juveniles running at Del Mar.
DRF handicapper Dave Litfin takes a close look at Wednesday's card at Saratoga.
Wednesday’s featured Grade 2 Lake George drew a nice field of 3-year-old turf fillies but ultimately is all about Daring Dancer.
Charged with making a pick “something” play on a Friday Saratoga card that – while perfectly fine in terms of quality – just doesn’t move me, the pick-three sequence encompassing races 4, 5, and 6 is where I landed.
DRF handicapper Mike Watchmaker takes a close look at Thursday's card at Saratoga.
DRF handicapper Dan Illman looks at Thursday's juvenile race at Saratoga.
With the first three races on the Wednesday card at Del Mar failing to inspire, the inclination is to wait for race four before diving into the betting pool.
A surprise during opening week was how well speed performed in routes on Polytrack. There were five routes, all at one mile. Three were won by the pacesetter, and two other winners were positioned within a half-length at the first pace call. The profile will be tested in race 3, a restricted (non-winners of two) $16,000 claiming race at one mile.
