Fri, 02/21/2025 - 14:03

Cut the Dust in tough against Rookie Card

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Rookie Card notched an 85 Beyer Speed Figure in his debut last summer at Saratoga.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Josie Carroll figured she’d be catching a relatively cushy spot when entering her impressive maiden winner Cut the Dust against Florida-breds for the first time in Sunday’s co-featured ninth race. Her colleague Danny Gargan likely thought the same when putting his talented 3-year-old prospect Rookie Card in the same race.

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Friday night’s NBA schedule features nine games, including a national doubleheader on ESPN.

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Fri, 02/21/2025 - 13:34

Maximus Meridius taking easier route to Carter

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Instead of running in next weekend's Grade 3 Tom Fool, Maximus Meridius will run in a Parx allowance to prep for the Carter.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Coming off victories in the Gravesend and Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct in his last two starts, the Parx-based Maximus Meridius seemed a natural fit for next Saturday’s Grade 3 $175,000 Tom Fool Stakes.

But with an eye toward the Grade 2 Carter here on April 5, trainer Butch Reid wanted to give Maximus Meridius an easier race and found one in a Pennsylvania-bred allowance race Tuesday at Parx where he is the 1-5 morning-line favorite in a field of nine.

Fri, 02/21/2025 - 13:31

Pair of unbeaten statebreds expected to headline Gotham

Coady Media
Normandy Coast looks like the main threat to a pair of unbeaten New York-breds in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y.– The prospective runners for next Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct will all be getting a class test as they make their graded stakes debut in the one-mile race.

The field is expected to be led by unbeaten New York-breds Sand Devil (3 for 3) and Sacrosanct (4 for 4), who have yet to win outside of restricted company. Several horses will be shipping here, including Normandy Coast, who is expected in from New Orleans for trainer Eddie Kenneally.

Fri, 02/21/2025 - 13:15

Quick Broadway return shouldn't bother Sweet Brown Sugar

Sweet Brown Sugar wins Jack Betta Be Rite at FL Oct. 21 2024
SV Photography
Sweet Brown Sugar is running back 17 days after a win. She has won twice before on short rest.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Coming off a solid 3-year-old campaign in which she won 5 of 9 starts, the New York-bred Sweet Brown Sugar appeared to take a step forward when she won her 4-year-old debut against open company at Aqueduct by 1 3/4 lengths on Feb. 6.

Sunday, Sweet Brown Sugar returns to statebred company but does so in a competitive renewal of the $125,000 Broadway Stakes going seven furlongs at Aqueduct.

Fri, 02/21/2025 - 11:54

Low-profile card still has some intriguing betting options; $51,650 pick six carryover

Barbara D. Livingston
Despite not having a stakes, Sunday's card at Santa Anita still offers some intriguing options for bettors.

ARCADIA, Calif. – On a quiet Santa Anita program without a Sunday stakes race, the focus is on an appealing maiden sprint for California-bred fillies midway through the card and two allowance races for older California-breds at the end.

Fri, 02/21/2025 - 11:21

Amoss looks to stay hot with You'll Be Back in Dixie Belle

Coady Media
Off a win in the Mockingbird Stakes, G W's Girl will likely be favored in Monday's Dixie Belle at Oaklawn.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Tom Amoss will attempt to keep his strong Oaklawn Park meet motoring along Monday when he saddles You’ll Be Back in the $150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes.

The race, which was rescheduled after a torrential downpour led to its cancellation, is for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs. Amoss won last weekend’s counterpart for males, the $150,000 Ozark, with I Got Game.

Fri, 02/21/2025 - 11:06

With 13 entries, Honeybee has the look of a key Kentucky Oaks prep

Walter Wlodarczyk/NYRA
Muhimma is unbeaten in three starts and has been working at Florida’s Payson Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Grade 3, $500,000 Honeybee on Sunday at Oaklawn Park appears to have the makings of a key prep for the Kentucky Oaks, as the field of 13 includes such leading prospects as Muhimma, Quickick, Look Forward, Take Charge Milady, and Quietside.

The first five finishers in the 1 1/16-mile race will earn Kentucky Oaks qualifying points on a scale of 50-25-15-10-5. The Honeybee, which received a purse boost of $100,000 for 2025, is part of a card that includes the Rebel.

Fri, 02/21/2025 - 10:46

First Mission back from layoff to face red-hot Banishing in Razorback

Debra A. Roma
First Mission will make his first start since the Whitney in Sunday’s Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The millionaires shippers First Mission, Crupi, and Red Route One will face the sharp local runner Banishing in Sunday’s Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

The 1 1/16-mile race is part of a Rebel Day card that was moved from Saturday to Sunday due to a winter storm. First post is noon Central.

Top sportsbook promo offers, best bets for Thursday’s 4 Nations USA vs. Canada championship

Olympic-style patriotic hockey snares the sports betting spotlight Thursday night as Team USA battles Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship.

“We expect the USA-Canada final to be the most bet hockey game of the year,” BetMGM Sportsbook senior trading manager Christian Cipollini stated Thursday.