Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Saratoga Spotlight Shines on Travers Contenders Galore
Posted on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
By GREG MELIKOV
The 139th Travers Stakes should live up to past classics of the Midsummer Derby at Saratoga on Saturday.
This year’s $1 million edition will feature a full field for the first time in many years. One handicapping point to consider: 71 winners of the Travers scored in previous outings.
Five of the dozen 3-year-olds can match that feat, including likely favorite Macho Again, who worked four furlongs in 50 seconds on Saratoga’s training track.
The son of Macho Uno is coming off a victory in the Jim Dandy. Winners of that Saratoga prep and Monmouth Park’s Haskell Invitational produced a record 12 Travers winners.
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Travers Could Attract Larger Field Than Usual
Posted on Wednesday, August 13th, 2008
By GREG MELIKOV
The 139th Travers Stakes could boast double-digit runners for the first time in 15 years since 1993 Kentucky Derby champ Sea Hero roared from back of the pack to defeat 10 challengers.
There could be that many 3-year-olds in the $1 million contest on Aug. 23. Winners of Triple Crown races the past 15 years have done well, winning seven times, including four that scored in the Belmont Stakes.
That’s a good omen for Belmont Stakes winner Da’ Tara, hoping to rebound from a disappointing seventh place finish in the Jim Dandy on July 27. He broke inward, went to the lead, dueled along the rail until the far turn and steadily faded to last, ending up 24 1/4 lengths behind Macho Again after 1 1/8 miles.
While Da’ Tara was capturing the Belmont Stakes, odds-on favorite Big Brown ended up ninth and last. However, he took the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth on Aug. 3 and will go into another race en route to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
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Nick Zito May Run Wanderin Boy Against Curlin In The Woodward at Saratoga
Posted on Thursday, August 7th, 2008
Hall of Fame race horse trainer Nick Zito may be looking to run Authur Hancock’s Wanderin Boy against Curlin in The Woodward on August 30 at Saratoga. The 7-year-old Wanderin Boy is coming off an allowance win by 3 1/4 lengths at Saratoga on July 28.
The Woodward is a weight-for-age event, with 3-year-olds carrying 121 pounds and older horses 126 pounds.
“We’ve tried to beat every big horse that we could,” said race horse trainer Nick Zito, who ruined Big Brown’s Triple Crown bid with Da’Tara in the Belmont Stakes and nearly beat Big Brown again with Coal Play in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Sunday. “He had a wonderful prep race. He likes Saratoga. I think there’s a good possibility (for him to run in the Woodward). This is certainly a good spot for him.”
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Belmont Stakes Day-After Notes
Posted on Sunday, June 8th, 2008
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito stood outside Barn 12 at Belmont Park and happily reported that Da’ Tara, upset winner of the 140th Belmont Stakes over Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown, came out of the race in great shape, along with his stablemate, Anak Nakal, who dead-heated for third with Ready’s Echo.
Horse trainer Nick Zito said both horses would be returning to Saratoga this week and pointed toward a summer campaign.
“Da’ Tara, obviously the main goal is the Travers ($1 million, Grade 1, August 23, 1 1/4 miles, Saratoga Race Course),” said Zito. “I learned one thing, Da’ Tara likes to be close to the pace. He broke his maiden going wire-to-wire. So, probably the Jim Dandy (Grade 2, 1 1/8th miles, July 27, Saratoga) and the Travers.”
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Da’ Tara Wins The 2008 Belmont Stakes; Big Brown Dead Last
Posted on Saturday, June 7th, 2008
Da’ Tara, ridden by jockey Alan Garcia, wins the $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 7, at Belmont Park and foiled Big Brown’s attempt at becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner.
Trained by Nick Zito for Robert LaPenta, Da’ Tara covered 1 1/2 miles in 2:29.65 and paid $79, $28 and $14.80. Five lengths behind is Denis of Cork with jockey Robby Albarado aboard returned $5.40 and $4.10. Anak Nakal, under jockey Julien Leparoux, and Ready’s Echo, under jockey John Velazquez, dead-heated for third and showed $7.60 and $6.20 respectively.
See the 2008 Belmont Stakes Results & Payouts.
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Big Brown Leaves From The Rail In The 2008 Belmont Stakes
Posted on Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
The Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown will leave from post position 1 in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes 140 at New York’s Belmont Park. Since 1905, the first post has produced 23 Belmont Stakes winners, the last Empire Maker in 2003.
Trying to become horse racing’s first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown will face 9 other Belmont Stakes contenders in the grueling 1 1/2-mile race dubbed the “Test of the Champion.”
Carrying 126 pounds, the Belmont Stakes post positions of horses with jockeys and morning line odds:
- Big Brown under jockey Kent Desormeaux, 2-5
- Guadalcanal under jockey Javier Castellano, 50-1
- Macho Again under jockey Garrett Gomez, 20-1
- Denis of Cork under jockey Robby Albarado, 12-1
- Casino Drive under jockey Edgar Prado, 7-2
- Da’ Tara under jockey Alan Garcia, 30-1
- Tale of Ekati under jockey Eibar Coa, 20-1
- Anak Nakal under jockey Julien Leparoux, 30-1
- Ready’s Echo under jockey John Velazquez, 30-1
- Icabad Crane under jockey Jeremy Rose, 20-1
Belmont Stakes post time is 6:25 pm EDT.
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