By Jarrod Horak The Grade 3 Bango Stakes brings together a solid group of older sprinters at Churchill Downs on Saturday, and several runners enter in sharp form. While proven stakes performers such as Cornucopian and Dr. Venkman command respect, the improving Built appears poised to continue his strong transition into a sprint specialist. Race […]
Tag Archives: Jose Ortiz
By Jarrod Horak The Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown on June 20 has a purse of $500,000 and a field of ten sophomores are set to travel 1 1/8 miles on the main track. Pace Scenario Favors the Favorites One of the most important handicapping factors in this year’s Ohio Derby is the projected […]
By Jarrod Horak Ohio Derby Day at Thistledown features a strong supporting stakes lineup, including the $250,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes for fillies and mares. Scheduled as Race 11 with a post time of 5:35 p.m. ET, the race will be contested at 1 1/8 miles on the main track and has attracted a competitive field […]
By Jarrod Horak The 2026 Kentucky Oaks (Race 13 at Churchill Downs, post time 8:40 p.m. ET) offers a deep and competitive field, which is exactly where I want to hunt for value. My approach is simple: identify improving fillies sitting at 10-1 or higher on the morning line and evaluate them using advanced performance […]
By Jarrod Horak I’m always hunting for value in a race like the Kentucky Derby. With a full field, unpredictable pace, and massive public attention, this is where longshots can light up the tote board—especially underneath in exotics. Using the Today’s Racing Digest past performances, I’m breaking down three live longshots who bring improving numbers, […]
By Jarrod Horak The Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap headlines the Saturday, April 18 card as Race 11, offering a $1.25 million purse for older horses going 1 1/8 miles on the main track. This is a fascinating matchup between elite older runners and top-class four-year-olds returning from layoffs. I’m approaching this race as a classic […]
Fair Grounds Lecomte Stakes 2026 picks Today’s Racing Digest — This is the Grade 3, $250,000 Lecomte Stakes on Saturday, January 17, 2026, and it’s a Derby-points type of race where trip and pace matter as much as raw talent. I’m going to keep it practical: who gets the right run, who can improve, and […]
Four year old filly for Richie Baltas made her 5th career start on Saturday, but first in California, in a maiden special weight at ¾ on the turf for older female runners. Off at 6/1 in a field of 10, she broke OK under Jose Ortiz and was 5th down the back side, just four […]
By Jarrod Horak In this horse racing handicapping video, I analyze the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course using Today’s Racing Digest past performances. This race is a prep for the Grade 1 Travers on Saturday, August. 23. Jim Dandy field: 1 – Baeza (3-1), 2 – Sandman (6-1), 3 – […]
By Jarrod Horak In this video, I look back at the opening week of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet. This video includes stakes recaps, winning jockeys and trainers, and track bias information.