By Steve Davidowitz | SECRET CIRCLE was supposed to be ‘just’ a sprinter. The label put on him last fall was reinforced when he won the inaugural running of the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint Stakes at Churchill Downs. The sprinter label seemed right on point when longshot I’LL HAVE ANOTHER caught him in the one mile Sham Stakes at Santa

Here’s my updated ranking of the Top 10 Kentucky Derby contenders from bottom to top Dave Letterman’s style: Gemologist: One of the colts in the Todd Pletcher stable that has scored twice at Churchill Downs. The son of Tiznow shares the same connections as Super Saver who captured the 2010 Kentucky Derby. Next start: Oaklawn Park’s Rebel on March 17.

By Steve Davidowitz | As I said in my column this week in the Bovada Racebook, there are two very importantKentucky Derby prep races being run at Santa Anita and Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, March 10. Here is a list of my current ‘Derby Dozen,’ including several horses who are going to be in action in the San Felipe Stakes, while the

By Steve Davidowitz | The emerging 4-year-old ULTIMATE EAGLE is the starting top weight under 120 pounds in the$750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday. This instead of defending ‘Big Cap’ winner GAME ON DUDE, who is passing the historically important 1-1/4 mile race to run instead for $10 million in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse on March 25. Get a weekly bonus on all

The scratching of undefeated ALGORITHMS from Sunday’s $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park probably made things easier for once beaten UNION RAGS. But he sure performed as if Algortithms would have needed his career best to threaten. The Triple Crown Chase is on. Get all your Kentucky Derby odds at Bovada. The Michael Matz-trained Union Rags was making his 2012 debut in the traditional

By Steve Davidowitz | On Saturday and Sunday at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans and Gulfstream Park in Florida, we’re going to learn a lot about some of the highest rated 3-year-olds in this year’s Triple Crown chase. We’re also going to be treated to a terrific sprint race at Santa Anita Park, involving the fastest horse in training, THE FACTOR, and last year’s Sprint Champion AMAZOMBIE.

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