LET'S GO TO THE RACES - Feb 25-26

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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LOTS OF RACING EXCITEMENT THIS WEEKEND: All eyes on UNION RAGS in his 2012 debut in the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH at Gulfstream on Sunday.  This will be his first race since losing to Hansen in the Breeders Cup Juvenile in November.  He faces some stiff competition in the unbeaten Algorithms, who took Hansen down a notch when he beat him in the Holy Bull, and in the unbeaten Discreet Dancer. A fly in the ointment might be the shorter stretch distance -- 568 feet.  Need to take that into account when trying to handicap this race.  Many more races, but the other biggie will be the RISEN STAR on Saturday, another Derby Prep, with six of the contenders in the Lecomte running in this one.  El Padrino is the universal favorite, with others hoping to pick up some graded earnings including Mark Valeski, Optimizer and Shared Property.  Read more at Jeremy Plonk's in-depth analysis.

COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN:  A "must-read" is Jeremy Plonk's weekly rundown on the Road to the Derby.  DRF: Week 8 - Feb 24, 2012  He covers the week that was as well as looking toward the weekend.  He also digs into some of the undercard action.  Videos of last weekend's races.

SPECIAL OFFER FROM BRISNET:  From February 23-29, you can get FREE Ultimate PPs from Brisnet!  Just go to http://www.brisnet.com/ and register.  Free registration, and many of their products are free anytime.  I also have an account with TwinSpires, but, again, the registration is free, you aren't required to place bets, and you won't be hounded to do so.  It is without a doubt the best online horse race viewing experience, and I also have an HRTV account, which is a paid service.  The ability to watch past races for the entries on a race card is great.  You can watch racing all over the world, including Australia and Japan!

Triple Crown talk:
BHorse: Can't Miss Weekend! Triple Crown Talk
Haskin: Red, White and Godolphin Blue
Haskin:  Veni, Vidi, Valor! 
Jennie Rees, Louisville Courier-Journal: Derby Preps starting to get serious
Thoroughbred Times: A menu of all the major races this weekend.

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

LET'S GO TO THE RACES - Feb 18-20


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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THREE DERBY PREPS HIGHLIGHT THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND

Big weekend for racing, including three Derby preps:  The first, EL CAMINO REAL at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, the SAN VICENTE at Santa Anita on Sunday, and then on Monday, the SOUTHWEST STAKES will be split into two divisions to accommodate the 21 horse entries.  Each division will be run for a purse of $250,000.  Two Hall of fame trainers, D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert each have two runners in the separate divisions. 

Sunday, the DRF will LIVE STREAM the full race card at SANTA ANITA, including the SAN VICENTE STAKES, an important prep for the Kentucky Derby. No sign up or registration required. Just check in at DRF beginning 12:30 Pacific/3:30 Eastern today. www.drf.com

Creative Cause,  a Grade 1 winner as a two year old, and who is one of the top contenders on several Derby lists of contenders, is making his 2012 debut in the San Vicente.  Another Grade 1 winner as a 2yo will also contest the race. Drill, a Bob Baffert trainee, finished up his 2yo season on a couple of down notes, so the San Vicente will be a place to see if he's poised to resume his earlier form. Creative Cause and Drill are the two high weights in a field of six.

The featured races for the three-day holiday weekend are listed below, along with the Cards.  Check back to the Cards for a replay video of the race after the contest.

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

LET'S GO TO THE RACES - Feb 11-12


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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BLACK CAVIAR
Black Caviar stretches out from 6 to 7 furlongs in her quest to break Zenyatta's 19 race streak and get to 20 races before she leaves for her international tour.  A win in the C F Orr will give her #18.  This race will be run Saturday afternoon at 3:50 Melbourne time. To see it "live", you will need to watch Friday night, February 10.  However, the race video will likely be posted by the time we all get up on Saturday morning!  DRF: Australia's most talked about female is Black Caviar
11:50 pm ET C F Orr S (Aus-G1) ROH, $421,000, 3&up, 7fT, Race 6
C F Orr Stakes Grade 1 - CARD

Number 18!!!

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WATCH LIVE Saturday's Gulfstream card
The spotlight be be on Gulfstream Park on Saturday, which will have two Grade 1 stakes along with a Grade 2 Derby Prep and a Grade 3 stakes for 4 year old and up fillies and mares. The Grade 2 $150,000 Derby Prep, Hutcheson Stakes, Race 8, will go off at 3:49 pm ET, followed by the Suwanee River, a Grade 3 $150,000 stakes for 4 year old+  fillies and mares, at 1 1/8 mile on the turf.  At 4:45 ET, the Grade 1 Donn Handicap with a purse of $500,000 will be loaded with former Triple Crown race winners Shackleford (the Preakness) and Ruler On Ice (the Belmont), along with Flat Out (Jockey Club Gold Cup). Last major race on the card is the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap, where Get Stormy in his 2012 debut will have to stretch out to 1 1/8 miles.

Two other  races of interest include the Martha Washington, an ungraded stakes race for 3 year old fillies at Oaklawn Park, where the talented hot filly, Now I Know, will try to make it 7 without defeat.  The other is the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita, a 1 1/4 mile turf race for 4 year olds and up.

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

LET'S GO TO THE RACES - Feb 4-5


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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FREE LIVE STREAMING!  The Endeavor Stakes and the Derby prep, G3 Sam Davis, two features of the card at TAMPA BAY, Free Live Streaming via the DRF, with no sign-up required.  DRF Live Streaming from Tampa Bay Downs    Video Preview of Sam Davis at Tampa Bay on Saturday

FREE LIVE STREAMING! event by DRF will be the full card at AQUEDUCT, which includes the Derby prep, the G3 Withers, also featuring the Toboggan Stakes and the Correction Stakes.   Video preview of the Withers Stakes

FREE LIVE STREAMING! event by DRF will be the full card at SANTA ANITA, which includes the Derby prep, the G2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Video preview of Robert Lewis Stakes  Card also features the G2 Strub Stakes and the Arcadia, with Mr. Commons. Video preview of Arcadia, with favorite, Mr. Commons 

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

Triple Crown Insider - Jon Siegel and Joel Cunningham handicap the Triple Crown races - Feb 2, 2012