Author Archives
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Demon Looks to Stay Hot in Mineshaft Stakes
The highlight of Saturday’s card at FG may be the Risen Star Stakes, but older horses are going to get a chance to run for a nice purse as well as the nineteenth running of the Mineshaft Stakes takes place. This race began modestly in 2005 with a $100.000 purse, and has seen the likes of Icicle, Shootfromthehip, and Class Edge earn the victory.
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50 Point Races Begin Saturday with Risen Star
As the KYD gets closer, the prep races start to carry a little more weight, and this weekend we will have our first 50-point Derby prep. It’s the Risen Star Stakes from FG, a Grade 2 that has seen some great horses end up in its winner circle, including Fusion, Moment Of Madness, Beach Dandy, and Howl Of The Hound.
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Bluesman Outkicks Proud Bo to Win The GP Turf Sprint
After nearly winning the BC Turf Sprint and settling for second, Bluesman made his way to GP to run in the similarly named GP Turf Sprint to kick off his seven year old sending. There would be a couple of others here as well that had a strong BC race, but Bluesman still seemed to be the horse the beat.
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Groovy Cashes in Her Heavenly Prize
The Heavenly Prize at AQU had a small field, and the bettors had their mind made up on who they liked the most, as Groovy was sent off as the overwhelming favorite for the race, at odds of 3/5. It does not always work out that these horses pick up the win, but Groovy delivered.
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Just Five in The Heavenly Prize
A small field of five will be heading to the starting gate to take part in the sixth running of the Heavenly Prize, held at a mile on the main track at the Big A. The race first appeared in 2017, but has taken a couple of years off, and the likely reason for that seems to be that the race did not fill.
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Bluesman May Be Tough to Beat in The GP Turf Sprint
Two of the top three runners from the BC Turf Sprint last fall have made their way to GP to take part in the 18th running of the GP Turf Sprint. This race began very modestly, for only $65.000, and even ran for just $50.000 for a couple years.
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Matamata Starts Off ’24 Like She Did ’23: Winning Bayakoa
Last year, Matamata began her four year old season by winning the Bayakoa. She would go on to win Horse Of The Year. Now, back in the Bayakoa, this Falling Angel mare had the opportunity to begin her 2024 in the same way.
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Excoriator Captures The Holy Bull
With the KYD three months away, we all want to start naming favorites for the big race. It’s still too early to do that in my opinion, but after the running of the Holy Bull, Excoriator has proven that his name should be in the conversation as well. The State Police colt came into the race having won the San Vicente last month and utilized a stalking trip here to win the Holy Bull.
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It’s a Wonderful World for Smokey Stover in The Sweetest Chant
The running of the Sweetest Chant took place Saturday afternoon, and a filly that needed a good bounce back race after the BC certainly got it. That would be Wonderful World, the winner of the Grade 1 Natalma, who only finished in the middle of the field in the BC.
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Will a Star Be Born in The Sweetest Chant?
The starting gate is full for the 16th running of the Sweetest Chant, which is for three year old fillies. It does not offer the largest purse out there, but the $150.000 is an improvement from where it stood all the way up until last year.