LET'S GO TO THE RACES - Apr 6-7



A quick reference tool meant to help the newer fan (like me!) 

NOTE:   AFTER A RACE HAS BEEN RUN, you can return here, click on the CARD to view the Results and watch a REPLAY.

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BIG RACING WEEKEND ON TAP!

FOUR GRADE 1 RACES top the weekend racing fare!  A total of 5 DERBY PREPS plus one Grade 1 that could be considered an OAKS PREP for the fillies. Main racing action will be at Aqueduct, Keeneland, Santa Anita and Hawthorne (Illinois), with some side action at Oaklawn.

Here are the majors:  the WOOD, BAYSHORE, ILLINOIS DERBY, SANTA ANITA DERBY, on Saturday, and the TRANSYLVANIA on Friday.  These are the so-called "official", although a couple of others some consider Derby Preps as well, along with a two or three I consider to be Kentucky Oaks preps:  the ASHLAND, COMELY, and the PROVIDENCIA.

COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN:   Everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-but-didn't-know-what-to-ask site!!  A must-read" is Jeremy Plonk's weekly rundown on the Road to the Derby.  DRF: Week 14 - April 6, 2012   He covers the week that was as well as looking toward the upcoming weekend.  He also digs into some of the undercard action.  Includes videos of last weekend's races.

Under the race descriptions below you will find a "CARD" for each race.  If the race is in the U.S. you can come back here after the race and click on that Card to watch a race replay.

FLASH:  DRF will LIVE STREAM ALL THE RACES AT THE FOLLOWING TRACKS:
ASHLAND  at KEENELAND, Saturday, April 7:  Click here
SANTA ANITA DERBY, Saturday, April 7:  Click here

WOOD MEMORIAL day at AQUEDUCT,  Saturday, April 7: Click here
ILLINOIS DERBY at HAWTHORNE,  Saturday, April 7: Click here

Brisnet PPs today's races

Ten Things You Should Know About The Wood Memorial

NBC will be covering races Live from 4:30-6:00 Eastern Daylight Time on Saturday.    

Full cards are shown below, listed in time order, all adjusted to ET.

Just want a simple list of the races, time ordered?  click here

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ZENYATTA!

April 1, 2004, "Little Tige" was born, by Street Cry out of Vertigineux

                And, she lived happily ever after!
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LET'S GO TO THE RACES - Mar 31 - Apr 1



A quick reference tool meant to help the newer fan (like me!) 

NOTE:   AFTER A RACE HAS BEEN RUN, you can return here, click on the CARD to view the Results and watch a REPLAY.

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BIG RACING WEEKEND ON TAP!

This is a huge racing weekend, and for the next couple of weeks, the races get pricier and more important for those three year olds who might want a spot in the starting gate the First Saturday in May for the Kentucky Derby!

Free PPs from Brisnet

What's up this weekend, and what makes it even more fun, is WORLD CUP DAY, where the richest race in the world, the WORLD CUP, along with 7 other races, will be run in Dubai for a LOT of big purses, including the richest, the WORLD CUP, which will be for a whopping $10,000,000!  That means you don't even have to win to take home a big paycheck!  About the World Cup  Dubai World Cup guidebook

Some American horses hoping to bring home the big prize include a filly, ROYAL DELTA!  She's a Grade 1 winner and is considered one of the favorites to win the coveted WORLD CUP, run at 1 1/4 miles, and she has already won at the distance.  In addition, Bob Baffert's GAME ON DUDE, is also listed as a favorite for this race.  Game On Dude barely missed winning the Breeders' Cup Classic last fall, when he was surprised at the wire by Drosselmeyer to wind up in a strong second.  Bob Baffert's THE FACTOR is considered one of the favorites to win the Dubai Golden Shaheen, a sprint at 6 furlongs.

Another Breeders' Cup graduate, ST. NICHOLAS ABBEY, trained by world class conditioner, Aidan O'Brien, will contest the 1 1/2 mile DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC.  O'Brien's son, Joseph, will be in the saddle, and together they won at the distance last fall at the Breeders' Cup.

The eight World Cup races will be LIVE STREAMED by the DRF, so anybody with a computer can watch the races!  It will also be telecast on other horseracing television and internet sites.  Details about these races are listed below, in time order.  In the U.S., we will be watching these races on Saturday morning from 8:10 a.m. to the last race with a post time of 1:40 p.m., New York time.  Links below will take you to other sites with more details, including Past Performances, full cards for each race.

In the U.S. several RACES FOR THREE YEAR OLDS, including three important races for FILLIES:  the Grade 1, $300,000, SANTA ANITA OAKS, at Santa Anita; the Grade 2, $300,000, GULFSTREAM OAKS; and the Grade 2, $500,000 FAIR GROUNDS OAKS, all are considered "preps" FOR 3 YEAR OLD FILLIES. Some of the entries will no doubt be running in the Kentucky Oaks the day before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.  There could even possibly be a filly or two with dreams of running in the Kentucky Derby itself, as has happened on a few occasions in the past.

TWO DERBY PREPS:  The Grade 1 FLORIDA DERBY and the Grade 2 LOUISIANA DERBY, each with purses totaling $1,000,000, which will certainly pad the bank accounts for those colts needing graded earnings to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.  Over 400 horses have been "nominated" to the Kentucky Derby, and since there are only 20 slots, graded earnings are used to qualify the top 20.  For a list of the horses with graded earnings, click here

Under the race descriptions below you will find a "CARD" for each race.  If the race is in the U.S. you can come back here after the race and click on that Card to watch a race replay.  Replays of the World Cup races will be available at many sites, including YouTube.

LET'S GO TO THE RACES - Mar 17-18

A quick reference tool meant to help the newer fan (like me!) 

NOTE:   AFTER A RACE HAS BEEN RUN, you can return here, click on the CARD to view the Results and watch a REPLAY.

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OAKLAWN PARK has the honors today with the major Derby Prep race in the Grade 2, $500,000 REBEL STAKES, a 1 1/16 mile test for 3 year olds. DRF: Preview of Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park - VIDEO

Some big names among the Sophomore class of 2012 include Secret Circle, Jake Mo, Reckless Jerry, Cyber Secret, Sabercat, and Adirondack King.  Jeremy Plonk's picks (see his full rundown in the Countdown to the Crown, below) for the Rebel are Secret Circle, Cyber Secret and Najjaar.  The Rebel is scheduled to go off at 5:48 CDT.  Earlier on the card is a feature for fillies and mares, 4 years old and up, the $150,000 AZERI STAKES.  While the field is short, it does have some class with D. Wayne Lukas' Absinthe Minded and Larry Jones' Joyful Victory.  Set to go off at 5:48 CDT.

Other action today includes the GRADE 1, $300,000 SANTA MARGARITA INVITATIONAL for fillies and mares 4 years old and up at Santa Anita.  The big favorite will be the 5 year old mare, ELLAFITZ, the Bob Baffert trainee who has been burning up the season with winning her last 3 races wire to wire, and she has won 4 out of her last 5.  This will be her try for her first Grade 1.  Also today, Horse of the Year, HAVRE DE GRACE makes her 4 year old debut at the Fairgrounds in New Orleans with the $150,000 NEW ORLEANS LADIES' STAKES. 

Take a look at the cards below, where stakes action will occur at Aqueduct, Gulfstream, Oaklawn Park, Santa Anita, and The Fairgrounds.

DON'T FORGET:  Even if you can't watch the races live, you can come back here after the race has run, click on the CARD listed under the race, and watch a REPLAY!  Let's go to the races, today!!

COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN:  A "must-read" is Jeremy Plonk's weekly rundown on the Road to the Derby.  DRF: Week 11 - March 16, 2012  He covers the week that was as well as looking toward the weekend.  He also digs into some of the undercard action.  Includes videos of last weekend's races.

DRF Mike Watchmaker's Derby watch - VIDEO w/Jay Privman

Triple Crown Talk: 
DRF: Top 20 for Kentucky Derby
Steve Bailey, TTimes: On the road to the Triple Crown, trainers adjust
DRF Jay Privman: For 2012 Derby, BC Juvenile is looking to be key

World Cup - March 31 - Meydan, Dubai

Full cards are shown below, listed in time order, all adjusted to ET.