Author Archives: turfcapper

New Derby Rankings, Weekend Recap 3-31-2021

Posted on March 31, 2021 by turfcapper

Fully half the field of our Derby Gate 8 is entered for this weekend, as we approach the Wood Memorial, The Blue Grass, and the Santa Anita Derby. Our three-year-old horse rankings were shuffled in the bottom half of the … Continue reading →

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There’s a New Number 1

Posted on March 23, 2021 by turfcapper

There’s a new number 1 in our Kentucky Derby 3- year-old rankings, but it’s not the way you want to see it happen. Formerly top-ranked Life is Good has been declared out of the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby … Continue reading →

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Handicapping the Handcapper

Posted on March 10, 2021 by turfcapper

How many things is too many ?  I think I found out on Saturday. I was leading the NHC free qualifier after one race.  It got worse – much worse –  from there.   I don’t love the ‘pick and … Continue reading →

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There’s a New Leader in the Clubhouse

Posted on March 8, 2021 by turfcapper

Saturday afternoon saw a busy hour with three prep races for the 2021 Kentucky Derby, and a new favorite emerged. Bob Baffert’s Life Is Good stamped himself the prohibitive favorite for the Derby, running away from the field at the … Continue reading →

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Monomoy, Mystic Shake Up Handicap Division

Posted on March 4, 2021 by turfcapper

The handicap horse division gets a bit of a shakeup off of this weeks Razorback and Bayakoa.   Mystic Guide ran a tremendous race In winning the Razorback on a very sloppy track, posting a reported 108 beyer.   That number vaults … Continue reading →

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The Derby Trail Heats Up, March 2, New Shooter ?

Posted on March 2, 2021 by turfcapper

Plenty of notes from a busy weekend of stakes action, we will start with the 3-year-old rankings, which have been updated. Essential Quality did little to hurt his number one ranking, winning well, taking his act on the road, and … Continue reading →

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What if the best horse in America – isn’t in America at all ?

Posted on February 22, 2021 by turfcapper

That’s what happened this weekend when John Gosden’s Mishriff dusted ‘em in the 20-million-dollar Saudi Cup, easily putting away Charlatan and Knicks Go, who sat 1-2 in our Handicap Division rankings. That changes this week, as Mishriff goes right to … Continue reading →

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Saudi Cup, Older Horse Rankings

Posted on February 18, 2021 by turfcapper

With this week’s Saudi Cup, I’ll debut our older horse rankings. Bob Baffert’s Charlatan sits atop the list, and can reinforce his position with a win overseas. This 4-year-old and up, or handicap division, appears somewhat undistinguished after the top … Continue reading →

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An Undramatic Week in Review

Posted on January 29, 2021 by turfcapper

Not much of an update in this week’s three year old rankings. In the Smarty Jones Caddo River did his job.  Will be interesting to see where he turns up next,  and how Brad Cox spaces his races and keeps … Continue reading →

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Pegasus Day 2021

Posted on January 23, 2021 by turfcapper

Good card for today’s Pegasus at Gulfstream. In the title feature, Knicks Go is the clear leader on paper, likely to be on the lead, and Mike McCarthy pulled this move a couple years ago with City of Light. Needs … Continue reading →

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