Wed, 02/19/2020 - 08:32

Illman: Laurel horses to watch for week of Feb. 17, 2020

By Dan Illman

CREATIVE ALIBI

Trainer: Lacey Gaudet

Last race: Feb. 14, 2nd

Finish: 1st by 1 1/2

Beyer: 46

Tue, 02/18/2020 - 16:05

Road to the Derby: El Camino Real Derby analysis

By Jay Privman
Shane Micheli/Vassar Photography
Azul Coast won his first stakes in Saturday's El Camino Real Derby.

Listed, $101,800 El Camino Real Derby; 1 1/8 miles (all-weather); Golden Gate Fields; Feb. 15, 2020

(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

 

Winner: Azul Coast, by Super Saver

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Rafael Bejarano

Owner: Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman

Beyer Speed Figure: 74

Tue, 02/18/2020 - 13:16

Road to the Derby: Southwest Stakes analysis

By Jay Privman
Coady Photography
Silver Prospector, ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., wins the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 17 at Oaklawn.

Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes; 1 1/16 miles; Oaklawn; Feb. 17, 2020

 (10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Silver Prospector, by Declaration of War

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

Owner: Ed and Susie Orr

Beyer Speed Figure: 97

Mon, 02/17/2020 - 11:30

Free: Finite steps up as British Idiom is flat in Rachel Alexandra return

By Brad Free
Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography
Finite wins the Rachel Alexandra. She earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure, by far the best in her career.

Too much was expected from last year’s best 2-year-olds. Ask any Monday-morning handicapper.

You want order and consistency from season to season. You want top 2-year-olds to return as top 3-year-olds. Sometimes it happens, usually it does not. This year is a not.

British Idiom got dusted Saturday at Fair Grounds in her first start since she won the Breeders’ Cup with a 79 Beyer, second-lowest by a Juvenile Fillies winner. British Idiom, odds-on, was dusted Saturday by Finite, who did something new – she ran fast.

Mon, 02/17/2020 - 08:52

Trip Notes for February 15-16, 2020: Risen Star, Rachel Alexandra, and more

By Michael Hammersly
Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges, Jr.
Finite paid $7.40 for her win Saturday in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes.

Feb. 15

Gulfstream
Royal Delta (race 11)

Sun, 02/16/2020 - 16:20

TimeformUS Aqueduct Horses in Focus for Monday, Feb. 17, 2020

By David Aragona

RACE 6: RUDE AWAKENING (#5)

Sun, 02/16/2020 - 15:16

Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby: Risen Star (second division) analysis

By Jay Privman
Amanda Hodges Weir/Hodges Photography
Modernist earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84 for his victory in the second division of Saturday's Risen Star Stakes

Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (second division), 1 1/8 miles, Fair Grounds, Feb. 15, 2020
(50 Derby qualifying points for a win, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)
Winner: Modernist, by Uncle Mo
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Owner: Pam and Marty Wygod
Beyer Speed Figure: 84

Sun, 02/16/2020 - 12:26

Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby: Risen Star (first division) analysis

By Jay Privman
Hodges Photography/Jan Brubaker
Mr. Monomoy earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92 for his win in the first division of Saturday's Risen Star Stakes.

Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (first division), 1 1/8 miles, Fair Grounds, Feb. 15, 2020
(50 Derby qualifying points for a win, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)
Winner: Mr. Monomoy, by Palace Malice
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Owner: Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, and Doheny Racing Stable
Beyer Speed Figure: 92

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