Rick Francis – Handicapping

By Rick Francis —- Sunny skies and a dry track await a field of seven accomplished sprinters in the running of the Grade 1 Vanderbilt Handicap; let’s take a look at the contenders. Saratoga Race 9) Grade 1 Vanderbilt Handicap 6 Furlongs Post Time 5:44 EDT 1) Mitole...

By Rick Francis —- As neighboring tracks have cancelled their Saturday race cards due to excessive heat, the 51st running of the Grade 1 TVG.com Haskell Invitational will go to post. MONMOUTH PARK Race 12) 1&1/8th Mile TVG.com Haskell Invitational S. OM HASKELL...

By Rick Francis —- Race 9) 1 Mile. (Inner Turf) Lake George S. Grade III. Purse $150,000 INNER TURF FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD Post Time 5:51 EDT Trainer Chad Brown sends out a trio of sophomore fillies in the running of the Grade 3 Lake George Stakes, contested at a mile...

By Rick Francis —- Once again New York-bred 2-year-old filles headline the Saratoga race card as a field of six go to post for the running of the Stillwater Stakes; let’s have a look at the starters. Race 3) Stillwater Stakes 2yo Fillies 6 Furlongs Post Time 2:12 EDT...

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...