Triple Crown

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Interesting Racehorse Names on 2021 Triple Crown Trail

Every January (and for many of us long before that), the focus of the Thoroughbred racing ecosystem shifts to the Triple Crown races and the 3-year-olds on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

I write a weekly Making the Grade blog profiling a big Derby trail winner and also a regular Heating Up, Cooling Down feature tracking which 3-year-olds are heading in the right direction and which ones took a step back.

Betting a Front-Runner in Smarty Jones Stakes

It’s hard to believe 17 years have passed since an unheralded Pennsylvania-bred racehorse named Smarty Jones rose to prominence at Oaklawn Park, winning the Southwest Stakes, Rebel Stakes, and Arkansas Derby on his way to a popular victory in the 2004 Kentucky Derby.

Gambling

Front-Running Midnight Bourbon Orders Up Breakthrough Win in Lecomte

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Midnight Bourbon made a triumphant season debut Jan. 16 with a frontrunning victory in the $200,000, Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds.

2020 Eclipse Awards Finalists Revealed, Led by Authentic

Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Authentic heads the list of finalists for the 2020 Eclipse Awards, the winners of which will be announced Jan. 28 in a virtual ceremony hosted by Spendthrift Farm.

Best Bets: Lecomte Stakes Standout, Trio of Longshots

America’s Best Racing and handicapper (and avid gambler) Monique Vág team up to provide horseplayers with their best bets of the weekend.

Vág will identify her top picks as well as at least one longshot play of the weekend, a nice opportunity to swing for the fences on a win bet or to take a shot with a show bet. She also will occasionally look for strong exacta plays for the weekend or try to spot a nice opportunity for other wagers.

This Weekend’s Bets

Gambling

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