The 2013 running of the Preakness Stakes features a moderate size field of 9 that will be running 1-3/16 miles this Saturday at Pimlico. Headlining the field, of course, is Orb, the Kentucky Derby winner who will break from the rail and is clearly the one to beat until someone else proves otherwise.
The Grade 2, $300,000 Dixie Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday at 1-1/8 miles on grass has a very well balanced and competitive field featuring a large group of 13 runners. Wilcox Inn tops the field following his runner-up finish to Amira's Prince in the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz Handicap at Fair Grounds in his last start.
The G3 $100,000 Senorita at Hollywood Park on Saturday features eight 3-year-old fillies running 1 mile on the grass. Scarlet Strike drew the outside and just won the G3 Providencia last month. Charlie Em comes from Europe and has 3 wins in 8 starts.
The G2 $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes for 3-year-olds Saturday at Belmont Park features 11 runners. Some of the top contenders include Abraham who finished a solid fourth in the Illinois Derby. Declan's Warrior recently took the G3 7 furlong Bayshore, getting up to win late. He looks like he might be able to get the distance.
The 139th running of the $2,000,000 Kentucky Derby once again features a full field of 20 runners. We are providing two simulations of the Derby - one on a fast track and one on a sloppy track - so our VIPs can catch the action in both scenarios.
The $1,000,000 Kentucky Oaks on Friday features a cast of 11 led by Dreaming of Julia who just ran a monster race in the Gulfstream Park Oaks winning it by an incredible 21 lengths - if she can duplicate that, then the field will be at her mercy.
The $500,000 G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at 1 1/8 at Churchill promises an outstanding race between two outstanding horses, Horse of the Year Wise Dan and four-time G1 turf winner Point of Entry.
The $300,000 Snow Chief Stakes features eight three-year-old colts going 1 1/8 miles at Hollywood Park. Tiz A Minister came flying for third in the G2 San Felipe two back before running a subpar race in the Santa Anita Derby. He is the class of this field.
A field of seven three-year-old fillies go post ward for the $250,000 Melair stakes at Hollywood Park. Doinhardtimeagain may go favored off the strength of her 3 1/2 lengths win last out in the Evening Jewel stakes at Santa Anita.
A large field of 14 will contest the $750,000 G3 Illinois Derbyat Hawthorne Race Course. There is no overwhelming favorite although Departing is coming off a third in the Louisiana Derby and has won three of four starts.
A field of 7 runners go postward in the $1,500,000 Grade 2 Charles Town Classic. The big favorite is Game on Dude who is coming off two monster efforts at Santa Anita, most recently having crushed the field in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap.
The $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes will consist of a crowded field of 14 runners. The race will be contested at Keeneland over the polytrack surface on Saturday.
The $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park features a group of ten 3-year-olds led by Overanalyze who won the G2 Remsen last fall but ran a mediocre race in his 3-year old debut, Oxbow who won the G3 Lecomte in January, and War Academy, who is making just his fourth career start, but won an allowance race last out so impressive
The $1,000,000 Wood Memorial Saturday at Aqueduct is headed by undefeated Verrazano who won the G3 Tampa Bay Derby with a triple digit speed figure, and Vyjack who is also undefeated having taken the G3 Gotham last out easily.
The Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday features a field of 9 runners headed by Flashback, the RB Lewis winner and Hear the Ghost who edged out Flashback last out in the San Felipe. Tiz a Minister got third in the San Felipe and made a nice charge late which he'll have to duplicate.
