Tag Archives: Bob Baffert

Reincarnate captures the 2023 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park on 1-8-23.

Big day for Kentucky Derby pace casualties

By Jarrod Horak The 2023 Kentucky Derby featured a blistering pace and place finisher Two Phil’s was the only forwardly placed runner around at the end. On July 8, two pace casualties from the Derby got back on track with stakes victories.  First up was Verifying in the Grade 3 Indiana Derby. He dueled from […]

Los Alamitos Derby 2023 Analysis & Wagers

By Jarrod Horak The 2023 Los Alamitos Derby at 1 1/8 miles on July 8 looks like a match race on paper between Grade 3 Sham hero Reincarnate and Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby show finisher Skinner. The former has the tactical edge and the latter has the most upside.   Last week, I covered […]

Was the 2023 Belmont Stakes a Strong Race?

By Jarrod Horak The 2023 Belmont Stakes was loaded with graded talent and Arcangelo parlayed a ground saving trip into a 7-1 upset over Forte and Tapit Trice in the final jewel of the Triple Crown at Belmont Park on Saturday, June 10. Jena Antonucci had this one primed to run a big race and […]

Was the 2023 Preakness Stakes a Strong Race?

By Jarrod Horak Only one Kentucky Derby 2023 participant competed in the Preakness and Mage was that runner. The Derby hero faced six rivals in Baltimore and Blazing Sevens was the only other graded winner.  The Preakness sure did not look like a strong race on paper and it got even weaker after the defection […]

Beyond the 2023 Triple Crown: June Rankings

By Jarrod Horak The 2023 Triple Crown is in the rear-view mirror and we are speeding towards the big summer targets. The 3-year-old division is wide open at this stage and it is time to catch up with the sophomore leaders.  Two Phil’s appeared to reach the top of the leaderboard after an impressive score […]

Was the 2023 Kentucky Derby a Strong Race?

By Jarrod Horak The early pace was swift and Mage rolled home from off the pace to capture the 2023 Kentucky Derby. Five horses scratched and the Florida shipper ended up defeating 17 runners on the first Saturday in May, and the strong early pace really helped the late runners. Ten horses have run back. […]

Arcangelo Rides the Rails in Belmont Stakes 2023

By Jarrod Horak Arcangelo took advantage of a ground saving trip to win the 2023 Belmont Stakes. Javier Castellano rode the winner for Jena Antonucci. It was the first Belmont win for rider and trainer, and Antonucci became the first female conditioner to capture the Belmont and first to win any of the Triple Crown […]

Belmont Stakes 2023 Final Thoughts

By Jarrod Horak The 2023 Belmont Stakes will be run later today at Belmont Park and the conditions could not be more ideal. The track is fast with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70’s. It is time to take one final look at the nine entrants. 1 – Tapit Shoes (20-1): Brad Cox’s […]

Unwrapping the Belmont Stakes Pace Puzzle

By Jarrod Horak I took a look at the Preakness pace scenario prior to the second jewel of the Triple Crown, and this time I will see if I can unwrap the puzzling Belmont Stakes race shape.  In the Kentucky Derby, the pace was sizzling and Mage rumbled home from the back of the pack. […]