One of the most mysterious things in the sports world today is finding the formula for a Kentucky Derby winner. How do you make it happen? Bloodlines, workout patterns, prep race competition, what’s the solution? Perhaps it will take a Mystik to find the answer.   Mystik Dan is a speedy three-year-old that has run himself into Derby contention. An out of this world performance in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on February 3 gave us all some answers about this son of Goldencents.   Running out of the Ken McPeek barn, Mystik Dan has displayed lots of promise since breaking ..read more

This time of year often times focuses on the three-year-olds as the Kentucky Derby takes center stage. Nysos may not be running in the 150th Run for the Roses due to a suspension of trainer Bob Baffert from entering horses in races at Churchill Downs, but this son of Nyquist looks like the real deal. In his most recent start, Nysos looked every bit the best there-year-old male in the country as he won the Bob Lewis Stakes by an easy 7 1/2 lengths. Covering the one mile distance in 1:36.65, this grandson of Bernardini made it look all too easy. The two-time Triple Crown winning trainer Baffert ..read more

  Since 2017, the first big money race of the year has taken place in South Florida. The purse may have diminished a bit since the first running of the Pegasus at Gulfstream Park, but the miraculous performances have not.   The eighth running of this now $3 million race took place on January 27 with a familiar result. Front end speed holding on https://horseracingscoop.com/wp-admin/edit.php?post_type=pageand a Bob Baffert trainee waltzing to the winner’s circle made this a déjà vu all over again scenario.   National Treasure came into this eighth running of this mile and an eigh ..read more

  The sport of kings is just that…royalty. With that in mind, let’s take a look in the rearview at the 2023 racing year and dish out a few accolades. Because we are a card-carrying Southern boy, we will put a little Tennessee twist on some awards that we want to pass out in recognition of a job well done. The envelope please…. THE MULTIPLE CHOICE POP QUIZ Remember when your teacher would throw a pop quiz at you to see how smart you were? Of course, I always wanted it to be multiple choice so I could at least maybe guess right. It was 4th grade and we were just coming off a heavy ciphering ..read more

  The West coast is obviously the best place to find California-bred race horses. As is the case with all areas that feature facilities for the sport of kings, winning in the backyard in which you were born is always good. For one California-based trainer, recent times have been great for the home team.   Peter Miller has enjoyed many measures of success in the game of Thoroughbred racing. Growing up the sport, this Los Angeles native became the first trainer to win back-to-back Breeders’ Cup races with the same horses when he conditioned both Roy H (Sprint) and Stormy Liberal (Turf ..read more

    If you watch enough sports, sooner or later you get to see one of those WOW performances. An effort that is a real jaw-dropper. One of those smack your momma good things. And when you bear witness to such, it truly is a treat. The wonderful world of Thoroughbred racing has featured some of those this year, but the win by Hoist The Gold in the Cigar Mile might have been the cake-taker. Saturday, December 2 was a big day at Aqueduct. The crowning event of the day was the grade 2 Cigar Mile. Twelve runners were chasing year-end glory and their share of $500,000. Considered a speed m ..read more

  On November 24 the Clark will be run at Churchill Downs for the 149th consecutive year. Always the centerpiece of a spectacular fall meet, this mile and an eighth drive over the Churchill Downs dirt has featured much magnificence. This year should be no different as ten accomplished runners will line up looking for their share of $600,000. Let’s take a peek at the field for this grade 2 event and provide a thought on each.   1 Straight Arrow (8-1)-This son of Arrogate ships in from New York after back-to-back wins at Aqueduct. Local jock Florent Geroux gets the call as this four-ye ..read more

  The Breeders’ Cup has always been a showcase for talent. These year-end World Thoroughbred Championships oftentimes tells us just how strong a runner really is. At the 2023 event, there were three runners in particular that performed a pose down.   Cody’s Wish came to Santa Anita as the defending champion in the Dirt Mile. As a real fan favorite, this son of Curlin was thought to be perhaps the biggest slam dunk on the card. Having won seven of his past eight starts, this Bill Mott trainee faced seven others on a surface that was favoring frontrunners. Preakness champion National T ..read more

Future stars Friday at the Breeders’ Cup gives us a glimpse of things to come… we think. Some of these promising two-year-olds go on to great things while others don’t quite pan out. So who was perhaps the most impressive of the five winners on November 3? The boys normally get more of the notoriety in this game and Fierceness was exactly that in the Juvenile as he won by 6 ¼ lengths. Perhaps more impressive was Just FYI, the Juvenile Fillies winner. Trained by Bill Mott, this daughter of Justify is now unbeaten in three career starts. Chasing the highly regarded Tamara through a swift opening ..read more

A FEW BREEDERS’ CUP PICKS AND PANS FOR 2023   The Breeders’ Cup is traditionally the greatest two days of racing on North American soil. Events like the Kentucky Derby and other Triple Crown races feature “big” weekends as well as some blockbuster stakes days throughout the year, but nothing can compare top to bottom to the Cup. The beauty of this wonderful event is layered like an onion. The competition, pageantry, athletic excellence, and of course the speculation is off the charts. With all that mumbo-jumbo in mind, let’s give a few thoughts on Championship Saturday as far as wagering ..read more