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By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Although I’m sure many race fans are still trying to absorb the epic racing action of yesterday afternoon, those that overlook Sunday’s racing action will be missing out on a pair of key preps for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. I) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. I). These prep races are ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') There’s little doubt in my mind that of all the days of racing throughout the year, ''Super Saturday'' is one of the greatest. As usual, an incredible ten grade I races—five at Belmont, five at Santa Anita—are scheduled to be run on Saturday, along with the grade II Kelso Handicap at Belmont. It’s going to ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') He’s arguably the most beloved three-year-old racehorse since Smarty Jones. His dominating victory in the Kentucky Derby was breathtaking to behold. His gritty victory in the Preakness Stakes was thrilling. His gallant fourth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes, achieved on an injured hoof and with a ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') This week’s extensive selection of top-notch international racing continues on Sunday with a trio of graded stakes races at Woodbine, including a pair of prestigious grade Is that have drawn talented horses from Canada, the U.S., and England. With such deep fields, there are bound to be some solid longshots ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') As Saturday is a rather slow day for racing in the U.S., with only a trio of grade IIIs and a single grade II on the agenda, the attention of this blog post shall be focused across the waters in Ireland, where a spectacular eight-race card at Leopardstown is highlighted by an terrific renewal of the group I ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Believe it or not, when the first stakes races of the second annual Churchill Downs September meet are held this Saturday, the road to the 2015 Kentucky Derby will begin with the running of the $100,000 Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) for two-year-old colts and geldings. Sure, it’s a bit early to be talking about ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Just as the opening of Saratoga in mid-July marks the beginning of summer for racing fans, the closing of Saratoga on Labor Day marks the arrival of fall. It’s always a bittersweet occasion, but the closing-day races promise to be special ones, highlighted by the $350,000 Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) and the ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') My, how time flies! It seems like yesterday that the Saratoga meet began, but believe it or not, the upcoming August 30th card will be the final Saturday program of the meet. Fortunately for racing fans and handicappers alike, the card promises to be a special one, with four graded stakes races on the ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Get ready, folks! On Saturday, Saratoga will host a spectacular fourteen-race card featuring four graded stakes races, including a trio of grade I events headlined by the $1,250,000 Travers Stakes (gr. I). Each race has drawn a wide-open field of talented competitors, and there should be plenty of ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') With less than a week remaining before the running of the historic Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, I thought I would share my preliminary thoughts on some of the major contenders and try to get a feel for how the race might unfold. So without further ado, here’s my analysis of six well-regarded Travers ...