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...
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** Updating the column, the more I look at Bolt d'Oro the more I like everything about him, so my two win bets looking for value are Vino Rosso and Bolt d'Oro. If Vino Rosso can work out a trip from post...
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By J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman") Twitter: @J_Keelerman After months of preparation, the field for the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (gr. I) at Churchill Downs is set...
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1 Vino Rosso Todd Pletcher Curlin —Mythical Bride, by Street Cry I’ve had him ranked on top for several weeks now and see no reason to change at this point. He’s done nothing wrong, he looks fantastic...
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By J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman") Twitter: @J_Keelerman Question: How fast will the early pace be in the 2018 Kentucky Derby? That is one of the key factors to consider when handicapping the "Run for...
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1 Vino Rosso Todd Pletcher Curlin —Mythical Bride, by Street Cry He had a good competitive work with stakes-winning 4-year-old Outplay, winner of a recent seven-furlong allowance race in 1:22 3/5. Vino...
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This year's Kentucky Derby is unlike anything we've seen in many years, as it looks as if we have a number of budding superstars, some of whom have already been labeled as freaks. A couple, Justify and...
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By J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman") Twitter: @J_Keelerman Every year, one of my favorite races to handicap is the $1.2 million Charles Town Classic (gr. II) at Charles Town in West Virginia. The huge purse...
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Before I begin my analysis of Saturday's $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park, let me say now that I'm going a bit outside the box with my selection and don't necessarily advise you to follow...
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Few people have experienced the joy of breeding or racing a horse good enough to start in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). Imagine how breeder John Gunther felt April 7 after two...
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