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Maiden claiming races are the lowest races on the class scale and arguably the least entertaining to watch. None of the entrants have won a single race, and all are for sale. But are maiden claimers the worst betting proposition in racing? Personal handicapping style dictates your answer to that question. I find plays in maiden ...

In light of impressive victories by Game on Dude in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) and Mucho Macho Man in the Suburban Handicap (G1), I've updated my Breeders' Cup Classic rankings. With a second-place finish in last year's Classic and two powerhouse efforts since returning from Dubai, Game On Dude would be my morning ...

The list of challenges the sport of horse racing faces is long. Not appearing on that list of problems: ''Field sizes are too big!''The correlation between field size and handle is proven. The more horses in a race, the higher the payoffs and the more attractive the betting propositions. But that didn't deter the New York Racing ...

Two-year-olds are back in focus at Churchill Downs on Saturday night, and on That Handicapping Show I selected Romans Avenue in the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3). This Street Sense colt is one to watch this weekend and down the road. I loved how he moved in the debut victory regardless of the speed figure (it came back a little slow on Beyer and ...

A matchup of East vs. West begins to play out today at Belmont Park, where top Southern California rider Joel Rosario has moved his tack. Rosario, 27, has targeted the lucrative Saratoga meeting (July 20-Sep 3), but he came to New York a little early to get his foot in the door. Southern Califiornia always has ...

There is no doubt that maidens often run big and can win graded stakes races for two -year-olds. But it still feels like a bit of wiseguy play when I land on one. Such is the case in the $100,000 Debutante Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Slated for 5:25 p.m. ET, the six-furlong dirt race drew a field of 10 two-year-old ...

With the Triple Crown over, the road to the Breeders' Cup begins. I thought I'd take an early shot at ranking the candidates for the Breeders' Cup Classic. My #1 ranked horse -- the 4-year-old Empire Maker filly Royal Delta -- is currently being aimed for a repeat victory in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, but there is plenty of time ...

An all-graded stakes Pick 4 highlight's an excellent Saturday night card at Churchill Downs this week. Here's what I noted on my first pass through the PPs. The Pick 4 begins at 7:57 ET with the Matt Winn Stakes (G3), for three-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on dirt. I could see myself going deep in this five-horse field on my main ticket (four of ...

Racing didn't get a Triple Crown winner, but it got a compelling race in the Belmont Stakes. Union Rags was a deserving winner. He showed class and stamina rallying up the rail to beat Paynter by a neck. Union Rags was America's best two-year-old in 2011, and there is still an outside, remote shot he could be our best three-year-old in 2012. ...

We taped That Handicapping Show this morning, and I selected Paynter as my key horse in the Belmont Stakes. I'll Have Another clearly has proven to be the best of this crop. But for gambling purposes, I can't take 4-to-5 on a horse trying a new distance. Additionally, I'll Have Another could be worn down by the first two legs of ...