Fri, 03/11/2022 - 16:52

TimeformUS horses in focus for Saturday, March 12, 2022

RACE 4: ROYAL CURRENCY (#6) 

Thu, 03/10/2022 - 14:26

Weekend GamePlan for March 12, 2022: Picks for Azeri, Challenger, San Luis Rey

Debra A. Roma
Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Ce Ce stretches back out in distance in the Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Tampa Bay Downs sits at the center of this weekend’s American racing action, and their Tampa Bay Derby card, top to bottom, holds ample appeal.

Weather could be a factor. There’s going to be rain through late Saturday morning, that seems certain, but what it means for the turf and dirt tracks isn’t certain at all. By the time the featured Tampa Bay Derby comes round late in the card the dirt might mainly be dried.

Thu, 03/10/2022 - 09:15

TimeformUS horses in focus for Friday, March 11, 2022

RACE 3: SIR WILLIAM (#7) 

Wed, 03/09/2022 - 15:18

Free: Santa Anita horses to watch for week of March 7, 2022

SEE THROUGH IT

Trainer: Brian Koriner

Last race: March 5, race 1

Finish: 5th by 3 3/4

Beyer: 84

Front-running turf sprinter dueled early in salty N1X on hill, hung tough to inside eighth pole, faltered. Decent effort vs. tough rivals, follow on class drop/easier pace scenario.

 

MAURITIUS

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Last race: March 5, race 2

Wed, 03/09/2022 - 14:22

Breakout Beyers: Taiba runs to expectations, hitting triple digits in debut

Emily Shields
Taiba, a $1.7 million sale 2-year-old, gallops to victory in his debut, earning a 103 Beyer Figure.

Each week in this space, the top Beyer performances by maiden winners will be featured and analyzed. Click here for a complete archive.

Taiba

March 5, 2nd race Santa Anita, MdSpWt68k

Beyer: 103

6f 1:09.97 – 1st by 7 1/2 lengths

ch. c. 3, Gun Runner – Needmore Flattery, by Flatter

Auctions: Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling 2020 – $140,000; Fasig-Tipton Florida March select 2-year-old in training 2021 – $1.7 million

Wed, 03/09/2022 - 12:30

Free: 8-year-old Law Abidin Citizen still formidable

Shane Micheli/ Vassar Photography
Law Abidin Citizen (center) returned $4 with the victory in the Oak Tree Sprint on Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The coast-to-coast journal is full again, with notes and observations from California to Arizona to Florida and New York.

Laying down the Law

You have to love veterans like Law Abidin Citizen, the 8-year-old favored in the Phoenix Gold Cup on Friday at Turf Paradise.

“He’s getting some age on him, but he’s an old pro and doing well,” trainer Mark Glatt said.

Tue, 03/08/2022 - 14:13

DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Barbara D. Livingston
Girl With a Dream extends her winning streak to three in the Forward Gal on Feb. 5 at Gulfstream.

Daily Racing Form has served as the most trusted source of news and information about the sport since 1894, and moving forward we have decided to provide a free daily playbook – something that both hardcore horseplayers and casual observers can reference to get informed of each day’s action.

Mon, 03/07/2022 - 16:13

Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby: John Battaglia Memorial Stakes analysis

Coady Photography
In a much better performance than his seventh-place finish on dirt in the Holy Bull, Tiz the Bomb (rail) holds off Stolen Base to win the Battaglia Memorial over the Tapeta track at Turfway Park.

$125,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, 1 1/16 miles (Tapeta), Turfway Park, March 5, 2022
(10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Tiz the Bomb, by Hit It a Bomb
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Alex Achard
Owner: Magdalena Racing
Beyer Speed Figure: 82

Mon, 03/07/2022 - 14:43

Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby: Gotham Stakes analysis

Barbara D. Livingston
Morello wins the Gotham at Aqueduct on Saturday, earning 50 points toward the Kentucky Derby and a Beyer Speed Figure of 96.

Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes; one mile; Aqueduct; March 5, 2022

(50 Derby qualifying points for first, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)

Winner: Morello, by Classic Empire

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Jose Lezcano

Owner: Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor, and Diamond T Racing

Beyer Speed Figure: 96