TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Lock it Down Batten Down had the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) on lockdown this past Saturday at Thistledown. Following the direction of veteran rider Junior Alvarado, the 3-year-old colt jumped out to an early lead and never surrendered for a...

TORONTO — By: Matthew Lomon   Free to Roam Catching Freedom was seen by many as an intriguing pick in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1). Although the 3-year-old colt didn’t win either (fourth in the Derby and third in the Preakness), he still performed well...

OHIO — By Ed DeRosa   It’s officially summer, and that means it’s regional derby season! The action starts with the Ohio Derby on Saturday at Jack Thistledown and continues on July 6 with such marquee Midwestern stakes races as the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows and the...

NEW JERSEY — By Chris Lomon   Spotlight Race: $150,000 Monmouth Stakes (G3T) at Monmouth Park   Date: Saturday, June 15 (Race 11, 5:54 pm ET)   What to do with a $20 Bet: First bet: $1 exacta box (#5 Siege of Boston, #6 Adhamo (IRE), #7 Fort Washington, #8 Tawny...

NEW YORK — By Ed DeRosa   You know how I try to get you to bet certain races by writing about them (and, yes, I realize that some of you just bet the opposite of what I say)? Well, breeding programs have similar incentive programs. So it goes with the New York Stallion...

NEW YORK — By Chris Lomon   Spotlight Race: $125,000 Mount Vernon Stakes at Saratoga Race Course   Date: Sunday, June 9 (Race 10, 5:43pm ET)   What to do with a $20 Bet: First bet: $10 to win on #1 Silver Skillet Second bet: $2 exacta – #1 Silver Skillet to...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   What a Rush While Saturday’s Blame (G3) didn’t end up being the highly anticipated duel between Tapit Trice and Highland Falls that we were hoping for, the $275,000 affair was well worth the price of admission at Churchill Downs. The...

KENTUCKY — By Chris Lomon   Spotlight Race: $250,000 Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes (G3T)   Date: Sunday, June 2nd (Race 7, 3:50 pm ET)   What to do with a $20 Bet:  First Bet- $1 exacta box on #2 Henrietta Topham, #7 Delahave, #8 Heavenly Sunday Second Bet- $7...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Keep an Open Mind Based on resume’s, the $275,000 Blame (G3) at Churchill Downs is Tapit Trice’s to lose. However, the same was said about Fierceness leading up to the Kentucky Derby, and we all know how that played out. It’s not to say history...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Espresso Yourself It’s been a rather vanilla start for Triple Espresso, who despite a superstar backing in jockey-trainer duo Irad Ortiz Jr. and Todd Pletcher, has yet to make waves on the big stage. Through six contests, Triple Espresso has...