Rick Francis – Handicapping

By Rick Francis —- Headlining the start of the second week of the 2019 Saratoga race meet is the inaugural running of the Rick Violette Stakes. Named for the much respected New York trainer who passed away due to complications from cancer, a field of five New York-bred...

By Rick Francis —- A winner of her first five starts, Klein Racing’s daughter out of Country Day, Break Even (4) looks to make it six straight as she tries the turf in the running of the Coronation Cup, slated as race 9 on the card. Her main threat to snap that win...

By Rick Francis —- Day 2 of the 2019 Saratoga race meet features a contest formerly run downstate at Belmont, the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple. A field of ten four-year-olds and up will test the inner turf for a one mile go; let’s take a look at the contenders. Race 9)...

By Rick Francis —- The 156th year of racing at Saratoga Race Course begins with what else, Graded Stakes. The Grade 3 Schuylerville features 2-year-old fillies followed by the running of the G3 Quick Call for three year olds testing the turf. It promises to be yet another...

By Rick Francis —- EXACTA; 50 cent TRIFECTA & DAILY DOUBLE (RACES 13-14) / 10 cent SUPERFECTA / $1.00 SUPER HIGH 5 Race 13) 1&3/16th Mile. Preakness S. Grade I. Purse $1,500,000 FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS. Post Time: ( 6:48)/ 5:48/ 4:48/ 3:48 1) War of Will...

By Rick Francis —-   PIMLICO EXACTA; 50 cent TRIFECTA & DAILY DOUBLE (RACES 13-14) / 10 cent SUPERFECTA / $1.00 SUPER HIGH 5 Race 11) 1&1/8 Mile. Black-Eyed Susan S. Grade II. Purse $250,000 FOR FILLIES, THREE-YEARS-OLD. Post Time: ( 4:48)/ 3:48/ 2:48/ 1:48 1)...

By Rick Francis —- OAKLAWN PARK Race 8) Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes 3yo Fillies 1&1/16th Miles Post Time 5:04 CDT 1) Cosmic Code (Cox/Court); 2nd in three straight and 4-of-5 in career; can rebound. 2) Filly Joel (Alvarado/Cohen); ships in from New York off a fifth place...

By Rick Francis — Race 9) 1&1/16th Mile. Central Bank Ashland S. Grade I. Purse $500,000 FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD. Post Time: ( 5:45)/ 4:45/ 3:45/ 2:45 ADVANCED FORECAST: Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny, High 74, Low 56. 1) Bizwhacks (O’Neill/Gutierrez); hung...