By Steve Davidowitz | It was supposed to be Presidents’ Day on Monday, but Hall of Fame horse trainer Bob Baffertcelebrated his own private holiday weekend at Santa Anita and Oaklawn Park. On Saturday, the Baffert trained 5-year-old mare ELLAFITZ won her third straight stakes in the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes, a Grade 2 for fillies and mares at 1-1/16 miles on the main dirt track.

By Steve Davidowitz | After an eight month absence since he broke a small bone in his left rear leg in the Belmont Stakes, ANIMAL KINGDOM successfully returned to the races Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The 1-1/16 mile allowance race was designed by owner Barry Irwin and trainer Graham Motion as a prelude to Animal Kingdom’s next planned start—in the 1-1/4 mile,

By Steve Davidowitz | Wet track conditions can have an impact on the way in which a race is run — and won. Case in point: last weekend’s $500,000 Donn Handicap, a Grade-1, at 1-1/8 miles for 4-year-olds and up atGulfstream Park. Although the rain-soaked main track was listed as GOOD, it produced at least one bad performance. As I saw

The first edition of this year’s Top 10 Kentucky Derby contenders includes several horses in the stable of top trainer Todd Pletcher. While it’s a long road to the Run for the Roses, here’s my list of the leading sophomores from bottom to top Dave Letterman’s style: Rousing Sermon: This Cal-bred with a slew of experience is 2-2-3 in seven

By Steve Davidowitz | So the New York Football Giants came through for those who believed in them. This, after all, was a team that had lost seven of its first 14 games with only two games to play in the regular season. So something happened to turn them around. Something brought them to top form so they could run the

Horses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov, should do well next time out. These thoroughbreds won nine times, finished second three times and ran third five times since Dec. 18. They’re worth considering when developing your wagering strategy for online betting or at your favorite track. AQUEDUCT Jackin My Style: Checked when impeded by

By Steve Davidowitz | There are several good horse races on Saturday, including three for promising 3-year-olds seeking the credentials and Graded stakes money needed to make theKentucky Derby starting gate. Here are a few horses to watch or bet on if the prices are right. And then for Sunday… there’s the Super Bowl, of course. (Go Giants!) At Tampa Bay Downs

Reveron goes for his fourth consecutive victory in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs since breaking his maiden last fall at Calder Race Course. The son of Songandaprayer is coming off a victory in the New Year’s Day Gulfstream Park Derby at 1 1/16 miles, the same distance as Saturday’s race. Reveron battled Casual Trick down the

By Steve Davidowitz | The weekend was as action packed and as dramatic as anything I’ve seen on and off the racetrack in several years. First, there were numerous tight finishes and sterling performances in the annualSunshine Millions that jointly was run atGulfstream Park and Santa Anita Parkon Saturday.  Beyond that, simultaneously,  the richest handicapping tournament of all time was being run at the

by Steve Davidowitz | On Sunday afternoon at Stonestreet Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, a baby racehorse was born with a star on his forehead; a star which foreshadows the expectations he will be measured against, given his illustrious parents. The bay weanling colt weighed in at 125 pounds and resembles his mother ― 2009 Horse of the Year RACHEL ALEXANDRA. And