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By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The $600,000 Alabama S. (G1) at Saratoga is often a predictable race. Seven of the last 10 editions have been won by favorites starting at odds of 1.75-1 or less. But once in a while, something unexpected happens. Like in 2018, when 9-1 longshot Eskimo Kisses launched a ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The 1 1/4-mile $1 million Arlington Million (G1) and the 1 3/16-mile $500,000 Beverly D. Stakes (G1) long ranked as the highlights of the summer racing season at Arlington Park. When Arlington closed down following the 2021 meet, the two races transitioned to Churchill Downs and ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The road to the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) takes a fascinating turn this Saturday with the running of the $1 million Whitney S. (G1) at Saratoga. Fascinating, because the 1 1/8-mile race could change the entire Breeders' Cup Classic picture in less than two minutes. Held over 1 1/8 ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The $500,000 Jim Dandy S. (G2) at Saratoga boasts an impressive roster of recent winners. Epicenter (2022) and Essential Quality (2021) went on to win Saratoga's Travers S. (G1) and earn champion three-year-old male honors at the Eclipse Awards. Mystic Guide (2020) eventually won a ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman A spectacular day of racing awaits at Monmouth Park this Saturday. Half a dozen stakes (five of them graded) are on the agenda, led by the $1 million Haskell S. (G1) for three-year-olds traveling 1 1/8 miles. The Haskell often seems like a fourth leg of the Triple Crown, and this ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The summer racing action is heating up in a big way with the opening of Saratoga. The meet kicked off on Thursday, and I'm excited for the upcoming Saturday card, a stakes-packed day of racing with lots of talented horses in the entries. Let's check out four of the races taking ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The biggest race taking place in North America this week is the $750,000 Belmont Derby (G1) for three-year-old racings 1 1/4 miles on turf. But there are also three other Derbys on the weekend agenda, all slated to take place on dirt. I don't have any strong opinions in the Belmont ...