Fourth Time's a Charm

Durability in thoroughbred horse racing is not what it used to be. Gone are the warriors of the past that danced every dance, year after year. You seldom see horses any more who can run well against the highest levels of competition over periods of four, five, even six seasons of racing. Where have horses like Kelso, Forego, and John Henry gone? There may be no timeless, gelding greats of that ilk in today’s Pacific Classic, but we do have a horse who has been unafraid to knock heads with the big boys in each of his five seasons of racing. A horse who will go anywhere, run on anything, and without fail, give 100%. His name is Awesome Gem. ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

Rachel, Turf Meets Surf, and the Spa

I have to admit it, I’m excited. A grade 1 turf stake at Del Mar, and a historic grade 1 race at Saratoga are enough to get the juices flowing, but today is about more. Any day that Rachel Alexandra runs has become a big day for yours truly. I am not sure how much longer we will see Rachel and Zenyatta on the track, so I am in full celebrate the moment mode today. People have actually told me, “yeah, but there is no one in there against her…who cares?” I care. Any chance to see Rachel run is special, and frankly, I am set for a show today. All the great horses over the years have run against inferior horses at times. You think Man O’ War was running against a champion when he won by 100 lengths? The answer of course is no, but it is not the competition we remember, rather it is what the incredible Man O’ War did that day. He won a stakes race by 100 lengths! That race was at 1 5/8 and when Secretariat won by 31 lengths, he did it in the 12 furlong Belmont, so I am not expecting Rachel to win by 30 or more, but it should be something to see. A 14 length win is my prediction, and I will be cheering for Rachel every step of the way. Now on to some more competitive races. ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

No Favorites Please

The good news is that there are several big races this weekend both here and abroad. The even better news is that in four of the biggest races, the favorites appear vulnerable and in some cases should not be favored. One of my favorite propositions as a better is when I feel strongly that the favorite will not win. Add in the fact that I have identified live horses with solid odds in each race, and my wagering interest is heightened to an even greater level. As a whole, the weekend offers great betting opportunities starting with the races from Dubai on Saturday morning. Here are my four favorite betting races of the weekend: ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here