Author Archives: Jarrod Horak

Saratoga weekend stakes previews (July 29-30)

By Jarrod Horak This weekend’s stakes action at Saratoga features an intriguing renewal of the Grade 2 Jim Dandy. The co-feature on Saturday is the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt and that race will probably be a battle between Elite Power and Gunite. Sunday’s main event is the Grade 2 Bowling Green on turf.  Click […]

Del Mar opening week stakes recaps (July 21-23)

By Jarrod Horak The 2023 Del Mar summer meet is off and running. There were five stakes races on opening week and four of those were flat mile turf events. We saw some impressive performances including Anisette’s scene-stealing performance in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes on Saturday, July 22. Click here for Del Mar Racing […]

Saratoga week 3 stakes previews (July 26-28)

By Jarrod Horak We are rapidly wrapping up the month of July and the weekday stakes action at Saratoga kicks off with Echo Zulu in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss. She is 2-for-2 at the Spa and looks tough to deny on Wednesday. Next is the one to catch in the Birdstone, and Drew’s Gold […]

Saratoga stakes recaps: Nest shines in Shuvee

By Jarrod Horak Saratoga’s second week of the 2023 summer meet is in the books and seven stakes races were run from July 19-23. We witnessed big performances from Scotland in the Curlin and Wet Paint in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, but the star of the week award goes to Nest after […]

Geaux Rocket Ride zooms away in Haskell

By Jarrod Horak Richard Mandella means business when he ships a horse to Monmouth Park for their marquee race. He previously won the Haskell in 2000 with Dixie Union. This year, his lightly raced California invader Geaux Rocket Ride stalked the pace and spurted away from Kentucky Derby hero Mage and Bob Baffert’s highly regarded […]

Kentucky Derby winner Mage returns in Haskell

By Jarrod Horak Eight sophomore males take center stage in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, July 22. Bob Baffert has won the Haskell a record 9 times and he is represented this year by undefeated colt Arabian Knight, the 5-2 morning line favorite.   Click here for Haskell […]

Saratoga stakes previews: Nest returns in Shuvee

By Jarrod Horak The second weekend at Saratoga features a trio of graded stakes races including the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks. Todd Pletcher has live contenders in two of the graded races including Nest in the Grade 2 Shuvee on Sunday, July 23.  Click here for Saratoga Racing Picks, Tips, and Insider Analysis Grade […]

Del Mar 2023 summer meet: 5 horses to watch

By Jarrod Horak Del Mar is definitely a horse for course track. It is truly a unique experience with ocean breezes, tidal shifts, and ever-changing salty moisture content. Some horses thrive at the seaside oval and closers seem to love the turf course, but some horses fail to rise to the occasion. Take these two […]

Saratoga stakes previews: Blazing Sevens returns

There are four stakes races scheduled at Saratoga Race Course from July 19-21. The second week of the meet gets underway with a pair of New York Stallion Series events on July 19 and 20. On Friday, Blazing Sevens is using the restricted Curlin Stakes as a prep for the Grade 1 Travers. Also on […]