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By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman  While this week's racing action might be a bit quiet compared to the last couple of weekends at Belmont Park and Churchill Downs, there's still a solid lineup of stakes races scheduled to be run, including the $500,000 Ohio Derby (gr. III) at Thistledown, which includes ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman One week after a spectacular day of racing at Belmont Park, the attention of racing fans and handicappers across the country will turn to Churchill Downs, where an eleven-race card including five graded stakes races will be held. The feature of the night is the $500,000 Stephen ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman On Saturday, Belmont Park will host a spectacular day of racing highlighted by the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I), the third and final leg of the Triple Crown. The last-minute defection of champion Classic Empire due a foot abscess has left the Belmont Stakes without a ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Who's ready for a fantastic weekend of competitive racing? The lineup of stakes races scheduled for this Saturday is impressive, making it difficult to choose a single race to handicap. Therefore, we'll turn our attention to a trio of races this weekend that I believe offer the ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman This Saturday, Santa Anita will host a fantastic nine-race card that includes four graded stakes races and a couple of very competitive maiden special weights. The day's feature is the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita (gr. I), a ten-furlong race that has drawn a strong field of nine ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Two weeks after an exciting Kentucky Derby that saw Always Dreaming cruise to a decisive victory, the field is set for the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (gr. I) at Pimlico, the second leg of the Triple Crown. Nine challengers will line up to face the Derby winner, though according to ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman During the two-week gap between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, racing fans will get a chance to look ahead to the final leg of the Triple Crown when Belmont Park hosts the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II), a nine-furlong prep race for the Belmont Stakes. Although the ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman  The stage is set. The horses are ready. The question is, are the handicappers ready? The 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) is the culmination of a long winter of Derby prep races that were at times predictable and at times inscrutable. A maiden won the Blue ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman One of the most important factors to consider when handicapping the Kentucky Derby is the pace of the race. Correctly determining how fast or slow the pace will be can be the key to finding the winner, although doing so is easier said than done. All you have to do is look at what ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Now that the Kentucky Derby prep races are over and the field for the ''Run for the Roses'' is coming into sharper focus, we can temporarily turn our attention to a different division of racing. Older males will get a chance to shine in the $1,250,000 Charles Town Classic (gr. II) on ...