TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Take My Hand Sandman enters Saturday’s $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) hoping to break through at the graded level. Taking to Oaklawn Park, the site of his last three starts and two of four graded stakes attempts, Enter Sandman has made...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   ‘Tiz the Time Tiztastic stunned his foes and Fair Grounds’ Saturday afternoon crowd with a brilliant 2 ¼-length victory in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G1). Closing as the field of 10’s fifth choice, Tiztastic, at 7-1, showed incredible...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Keep Those Options Open Let’s try this again… In last week’s edition of WOT, we wrote about undefeated colt John Hancock’s prospects of remaining perfect in the $500,000 Virginia Derby. But, as we all know, plans change. The Brad Cox charge...

NEW ORLEANS — By Ed DeRosa   When it comes to handicapping the Jeff Ruby Steaks as part of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series, I sort of have two picks on the line Saturday at Turfway Park. Poster is the first horse running in a Kentucky Derby prep that I am not only...

VIRGINIA — By Ed DeRosa   Horses and Virginia have been intertwined since the 1600s, and on Saturday that relationship will take another step forward when the commonwealth’s lone Thoroughbred dirt track plays host to Kentucky Derby and Oaks prep races.   Virginia is...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Load ‘em up   It’s been a grand slam start for 4-year-old filly Cavalieri, who remained a perfect 4-for-4 to begin her career with a hard-fought score in Saturday’s $300,500 B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile (G1).   Competing within the...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   A busy but fulfilling eight-start sophomore campaign earned Tarifa a few months of down time before her 2025 debut, which comes this Saturday in the $300,000 Beholder Mile (G1) at Santa Anita.   The three-time graded stakes winning filly...

FLORIDA — By Ed DeRosa   With apologies to Tampa Bay Downs announcer Jason Beem for completely and shamelessly stealing his line, we’re in for another “Titanic tussle in Tampa” when the starter springs the latch on this year’s Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday.   I feel...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Locked in   Locked certainly looked the part of a multiple graded stakes winner who has landed in the money each time out with a commanding 8 ¼-length triumph in Saturday’s $300,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1).   Calm and cool out of the...

KENTUCKY — By Ed DeRosa   If you haven’t gotten on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” yet, then this is where you get on because March 1 is a three-prep extravaganza featuring several of the biggest stars among this year’s current Triple Crown hopefuls.   In...