Rick Francis – Handicapping

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...

By Rick Francis —- FAIR GROUNDS Race 13) Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby Purse $1 Million 3yo 1&1/8th Miles Post Time 5:13 CDT 1) Roiland (Amoss/Graham) M/L 12-1; hard to tell if he improved in the Risen Star (which he did by finish), or just passed tiring foes;...

By Rick Francis —- Due to an overflow of entries, most notably from Santa Anita, the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes for 3-year-olds will split into two contests, now carded as the eighth and tenth races; let’s have a look at the fields. OAKLAWN PARK RACE 8) G2 Rebel Stakes 3yo...