Up to four horses that chased Whitney winner Blame home on Aug. 7 will be aiming to improve on their performances in the 57th Woodward, including runner-up Quality Road.
The son of Elusive Quality lead most of the 1 1/8 miles, but saw his 1 ½-length margin evaporate in the stretch and was edged by [...]
Author Archives: Greg Melikov
Woodward Features Several That Chased Blame in Whitney
September 1, 2010 – 5:42 pm
How Saratoga’s 141st Travers Will Go
August 25, 2010 – 4:55 pm
Horses that win the Travers Stakes have been voted the top 3-year-old five times dating back two decades. Only one that didn’t capture a single Triple Crown event was so honored: Holy Bull in 1994.
Compare that to 13 winners of the Preakness that were voted the best sophomore since ’90. Lookin at Lucky could still [...]
Richard’s Kid Defends Pacific Classic Crown
August 24, 2010 – 4:30 pm
Richard’s Kid will attempt to become the third horse to score back-to-back victories in the Pacific Classic since the stakes race was launched at Del Mar in 1991. However, the $1 million contest looks wide open.
Tinners Way, trained by the late Bobby Frankel that passed away last fall at 68, won the ’94 renewal as [...]
Horses to Watch at YouWager Racebook
August 23, 2010 – 2:01 pm
Horses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov, should do well next time out. These thoroughbreds won six times, ran second four times and finished third seven times since Aug. 1. They’re worth considering when developing your wagering strategy for YouWager.com or at your favorite track.
ARLINGTON PARK
Golden Teardrop: Raced fifth [...]
Gio Ponti Guns for Back-to-Back Arlington Millions
August 18, 2010 – 4:38 pm
Racebook at YouWager.com
Multimillionaires John Henry, Manila, Star of Cozzene, Awad, The Tin Man and Gio Ponti have a winning race in common: Each captured the Arlington Million.
But only the great John Henry triumphed twice, the second time in 1984 three years after winning the first of 27 contests. Gio Ponti guns for back-to-back victories on [...]
Travers Is America’s Stakes Race for the Ages
August 17, 2010 – 5:55 pm
The Travers is America’s oldest recorded stakes race for thoroughbreds staged in a most historic setting – Saratoga Springs.
The area about 160 miles north of New York City began attracting wealthy pilgrims because of carbonated mineral springs. It’s where decisive battles were fought during the American Revolution and Civil War.
The 1777 Battle of Saratoga, considered [...]
Real Reason Why Lookin at Lucky Won’t Go in Travers
August 13, 2010 – 6:54 pm
Shortly after Lookin at Lucky came up with a temperature last week following his impressive Haskell Invitational victory, trainer Bob Baffert announced on his Facebook page the colt would miss the Travers.
His daily reports on the colt’s progress were welcomed by many, including me, and some of them follow:
Aug. 3: No Travers for Lucky. Woke [...]
YouWager Racebook: Horses to Watch!
August 9, 2010 – 5:36 pm
Horses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov, should do well next time out. These thoroughbreds won four times, ran second five times and finished third six times since July 4. They’re worth considering when developing your wagering strategy for YouWager.com.
ARLINGTON PARK
Adistan: Raced four lengths behind in sixth after a [...]
Whitney Pits Quality Road Against Five Challengers
August 4, 2010 – 4:02 pm
The 83rd Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on Saturday features the top older horse in the nation that has lived up to his name this year — Quality Road.
The son of Elusive Quality, with three consecutive stakes victories, is one of three 4-year-old contenders in the $750,000 Grade 1 field that’s unbeaten in 2010. The others [...]
Haskell Features Cream of Triple Crown Runners’ Crop
July 28, 2010 – 6:09 pm
The cream of the 3-year-old crop that won or finished second in at least one of the Triple Crown legs collide on Sunday in the $1 million Haskell Invitational..
In addition, three runners have six Grade 1 triumphs to their credit. Preakness champ Lookin at Lucky has accounted for three of them. His trainer Bob Baffert [...]