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Slop or no slop, the Preakness Stakes looks pretty cut-and-dried on paper, or perhaps it should be cut-and-wet. The likely sloppy track will be nothing new to Justify and Good Magic, the two standout horses who dominate the morning line odds, with Justify being made an overwhelming 1-2 favorite. The three keys to the running of the race is ...

The color of the official Maryland Jockey Club photograph has faded some, but the memories are as bright as the day we bounded into the winner’s circle at Pimlico Race Course on Preakness Stakes (G1) Day 30 years ago. It wasn’t for the big race on the card, but the day’s first race, a six-furlong event for $30,000 claiming types. We made enough on ...

While many of the leading Preakness contenders are preparing for the second jewel in the Triple Crown at Churchill Downs and Belmont Park, several of them coming out of the Kentucky Derby, there is one horse likely waiting for the Belmont Stakes who is tucked away far from the action, enjoying the tranquility of Saratoga Race Course and ...

As Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Justify prepares for the May 19 Preakness Stakes (G1), he has plenty of trends in his favor, including Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's amazing record of winning the Baltimore classic each of the four times he's entered the Derby winner. But there is one recent trend going against this ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Kentucky Derby might be over, but handicappers with an eye on the remainder of the Triple Crown can't afford to take a week off. After all, we'll have a chance to take a look at some up-and-coming Belmont Stakes contenders in Saturday's $350,000 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) at ...

When we address the subject of dominant sires in racing today the name that is mentioned the most is Tapit, followed by a wide variety of stallions who shine on a sporadic basis, such as the most recent star, the now deceased Scat Daddy. Looking beyond the sires are the dominant influences, headed by Mr. Prospector, Northern Dancer, Fappiano, ...

At the press conference for the winning connections of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), the Churchill Downs press crew set up four chairs: one for the winning rider, one for the trainer, and two for the owner. When the winning owners entered the room, Churchill officials had to scramble for more seats. The winning owners on ...

Rick Hammerle has been racing secretary at Santa Anita for 15 years and was stakes coordinator at Monmouth Park for 12 years, and he thought he had heard everything. That is until one day in mid-February of this year. Hammerle had carded a seven-furlong maiden race for 3-year-olds, and Bob Baffert walked into his office to make sure that the ...