Archive for January 2015

2015 Martha Washington Stakes Preview

The Arkansas section of the Kentucky Oaks trail begins on Saturday with the Martha Washington Stakes.  This year’s edition offers a $100,000 purse, as well as Road to the Kentucky Oaks points (10-4-2-1) for the top four finishers.  The race has been a fixture at Oaklawn Park since 1979.  Originally run at six furlongs, the... Read more »
By Nicolle Neulist,
January 29, 2015 at 7:47 pm
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2015 Sam F. Davis Day Stakes Preview

For many years, the alpha and omega of wintertime racing in Florida was Gulfstream Park.  Gulfstream still serves as a premier venue, but Tampa Bay Downs upstate has carved itself a nice wintertime niche.  While the everyday cards at Tampa Bay feature convergent claiming and allowance equine puzzles featuring snowbirds gone south (you won’t have... Read more »
By Paul Mazur,
January 29, 2015 at 12:47 am
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2015 Las Virgenes Stakes Preview

While the road to the Kentucky Derby this week goes through Tampa Bay Downs and its Festival Preview Day, and the road to the Kentucky Oaks also stops at Oaklawn with the Martha Washington Stakes, the richest race of the weekend resides on the west coast.  That race is picked and pondered in this space. ... Read more »
By Paul Mazur,
January 28, 2015 at 9:48 pm
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Voting for 2014's Illinois Equine Champions

Picks & Ponderings is proud to announce that it is voting once again for equine champions in Illinois. Votes are made for Illinois Horse of the Year, as well as in a number of different age- and gender-restricted categories. Said voting is conducted by the Illinois Breeders and Thoroughbred Owners Foundation (ITBOF). Voters cast votes... Read more »
By Paul Mazur,
January 25, 2015 at 11:26 am
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2015 Holy Bull Day Stakes Preview

More than other group, the three-year-olds get the ink and the stories most times in racing.  Whether they’re chasing that Kentucky Derby prize or are a late-developing Breeders’ Cup type, the progress of three-year-olds is scrutinized and dissected most in racing and turf writing circles.  This week, Picks and Ponderings contributes some ink (well, the... Read more »
By Paul Mazur,
January 21, 2015 at 5:08 pm
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2015 LeComte Day Stakes Preview

This weekend, Picks and Ponderings heads south to the Fair Grounds for its Road to the Derby Kickoff Day.  True to its name, its series of Kentucky Derby prep races gets underway with the Grade III Lecomte Stakes.  The card also sees the fillies kick off the series of Oaks preps at Fair Grounds in... Read more »
By Paul Mazur,
January 14, 2015 at 7:49 pm
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2015 Busanda Stakes Preview

The Busanda Stakes was originally scheduled for Saturday, January 10.  However, it was postponed to Friday, January 16 due to safety concerns and cold weather.  The rescheduling of the race may have been a blessing in disguise for the Busanda.  The original field consisted of a meagre six horses, but the redrawn race drew a... Read more »
By Nicolle Neulist,
January 11, 2015 at 6:24 pm
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2015 Sham Stakes Preview

Also this week, be sure to check out Nicolle’s preview of the Busanda Stakes from Aqueduct. Everyone has their archrival, their nemesis, the one that competes with them and drives them to their best.  In horse racing, Affirmed had Alydar and Sunday Silence had Easy Goer among their rivals.  (Beyond the racing world, there’s also... Read more »
By Paul Mazur,
January 7, 2015 at 8:53 pm
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