Fiona Derek

The 40^th Breeders’ Cup Championship Saturday at Santa Anita on November 4 provided a bonanza for bettors who followed the favorites on day two. That did not diminish the excitement as photos were needed to confirm the result of thrilling contests.more…

The five-furlong 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint provided an excellent start for the Europeans who filled the first three places at Santa Anita on November 3. The winner, Big Evs was the 3/1 second favorite butmore…

The sloppy track looked ugly at Parx on September 23 but the 11/10 favorite, Saudi Crown put on a spectacular show for his many supporters, winning the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby from the front.more…

The big money race of the weekend, the grade two $1.7 million Kentucky Turf Club Stakes at Kentucky Downs on September 10, was the least profitable one for most bettors. It was Mark Casse’s 19/1 shot Get Smokin who soonmore…

A photo was needed to confirm Bright Future (7/2) as the winner of a brief but hard-fought duel in the 2023 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at Saratoga on September 2. Trained by Todd Pletcher for Repole Stable and St Elias Stable, thismore…

Jena Antonucci added to her credentials as an exceptional trainer when Arcangelo, the 3/1 second favorite for the 2023 Travers Stakes, powered home to win on a muddy track at Saratoga on August 26.more…

Set Piece rallied spectacularly from last to first when Florent Geroux asked him to quicken in the 2023 Arlington Million Stakes at Colonial Downs on August 12. Trained by Brad Cox formore…

Geaux Rocket Ride did not have the race record of most of his rivals but he beat them easily in the $1,017,000 Haskell Invitational Stakes on July 22 at Monmouth Park. Sent off at 12/1 under Mike Smith, he beat the 4/1 second favorite and Kentucky Derby hero Mage by almost two lengths.more…

Chad Brown saddled the 1/5 favorite In Italian in the $485,000 2023 Diana Stakes but it was her barnmate, Whitebeam, sent off at 8/1 that beat her a nose on the wire at Saratoga on July 15. Owned and bred by Juddmonte in the UK, it was Whitebeam’s first grade one start.more…

The winner’s purse of the grade one $500,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational is often claimed by European shippers but few bettors thought that Aspen Grove was likely to continue the trend on July 8 at Belmont Park.more…

Brad Cox’s Set Piece was the evens favorite in the 2023 Wise Dan Stakes on July 1 but it was Greg Foley’s 46/1 shot Stitched who stayed on to win on the turf at Ellis Park under Flavien Prat. He beat themore…

The 2023 Belmont Stakes betting suggested that it was a three-horse race but it was the progressive Arcangelo who triumphed at more generous odds of 7/1 on June 10 at Belmont Park under Javier Castellano for Jena Antonucci.more…

The 148^th Preakness Stakes produced a blood-pumping finish for bettors who chose to follow the 3/1 second favorite, National Treasure at Pimlico on May 20. Having led from flagfall under John Velazquez he was briefly headed by Blazing Sevens (5/1) in themore…

Javier Castellano had waited a very long time to ride a Kentucky Derby winner and Mage provided it for him on his 16^th attempt on May 6, 2023 at Churchill Downs. Saddled by Gustavo Delgado, Mage wasmore…

European trainers have become much braver when it comes to putting their stable stars on to a transatlantic flight and hopes are high for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup. This year it is not just the big names in the training ranks who are making the journey to Keeneland.more…

Epicenter has proved expensive to follow at the top level but rewarded his supporters in convincing style in the 2022 $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday August 27. Saddled by Steve Asmussen formore…

Nations Pride rewarded his UK-based trainer Charlie Appleby’s decision to campaign him in the US for Godolphin by winning the 2022 $1 million Saratoga Derbymore…

Stamina was at a premium as Cyberknife kept on best in the stretch to beat shorter-odds rivals in a thrilling finish to the $1million 2022 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park (Saturday, July 23).more…

The unexpected 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike will skip the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico and run next in the Belmont Stakes on June 11, in pursuit of the third jewel in the Triple Crown.more…

There was tremendous talent displayed on Future Stars Friday at the 2021 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on November 5 with considerable success for many horse race bettors before drama andmore…

If ever a colt deserved to score at the top level it is Hot Rod Charlie and he finally gained his first grade 1 win in the 2021 $1 million Pennsylvania Derby run over a mile and a furlong at Parx on September 25.more…

War Like Goddess was expected to register her sixth win in the 2021 $600,000 Flower Bowl and did so easily on September 4, delighting her trainer Bill Mott. Relocated from Belmont Park, it was the first time this grade 1 for fillies and mares run onmore…

Bettors who supported Essential Quality heavily in the 2021 Travers Stakes had an extremely tense time as he dueled with Midnight Bourbon all the way to the wire on August 28 at Saratoga. The Godolphin homebred was the 2/5 favorite and rewarded his followers, winning bymore…

A month ago Malathaat had her first experience of defeat, but on August 21 she reasserted her superiority over her regular rivals in the $600,000 2021 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga under John Velazquez. Bettors did not lose confidence inmore…

Bettors were right to favor the Irish raider Santa Barbara on the day in the 2021 Beverly D Stakes at Arlington International Racecourse on August 14. Owned by Michael Tabor, Mrs John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, she won withmore…

A shipper from Ireland was expected to win the 2021 Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 7 but not the Joseph O’Brien-trained 21/1 shot, State Of Rest. This son of Starspangledbanner owned by Teme Valley Racing chose a great time to achieve his second score, grabbing the lion’s share of the $1 million prize fund.more…

Maracuja did not know that place money was her only feasible target when she headed the unbeaten and supremely talented 3/10 favorite Malathaat in the 2021 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday July 24.more…

Bolshoi Ballet was the heavy favorite for the 2021 Belmont Derby but he did not look likely to reward his followers until late in the stretch at Belmont Park on July 10.more…

Trainer Wesley Ward had to wait for the decision of the stewards after his Campanelle was narrowly beaten in the 2021 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, England on June 18. Sent off at 5/1 under the talented Italian Frankie Dettori, the filly was bumped andmore…

Essential Quality lived up to his name and proved a worthy favorite in the 2021 Belmont Stakes for Godolphin at Belmont Park on Saturday June 5. There was nail-biting duel with the long-time leader, Hot Rod Charlie, in the stretch that he eventually won by amore…