My Miss Aurelia: A 2013 Forecast

The older female division for 2012 was certainly not lacking in talent, excitement and glamour. As exciting as 2012 was in the distaff division, 2013 is setting up to be an even more spectacular display of the nation’s best fillies and mares. Royal Delta added a second stellar year to her record and became the first back-to-back winner of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (Gr.1) since superstar Baykoa won back-to-back runnings in 1989 and 1990 in early November of this year. A failed attempt to win the Dubai World Cup did little to diminish her status as an elite runner and she finished up the year with two consecutive Grade 1’s and will enter 2013 once again as the title holder for divisional honors. It doesn’t appear she has reached the limit of her potential and in fact, she looked better than ever winning the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic, so it wouldn’t be considered absurd to predict another championship season from such a talented, capable filly. But many challenges lie in her path in the coming year if she is once again to conquer the championship. The talent pool she faces in 2013 may be the toughest she has faced yet and the biggest threat could come from a champion who was handed her first ever career defeat by Royal Delta...Read the complete post on Horse Racing Nation Here

Closing in on the Kentucky Oaks

What’s not to like about the Kentucky Oaks? In 137 runnings, the Kentucky Oaks has produced some of the sports brightest stars and most thrilling memories and yet it still plays second fiddle to its world-famous counterpart, the Kentucky Derby. There are several upsides to rooting for the Kentucky Oaks and two especially big reasons to like it just as much as the Derby. First, the Kentucky Oaks is run at the same thrilling venue as the Derby but is restricted to a reasonable 14 horse field. This means it can be run as an actual race, with strategy and some amount of uniformity and not as mad-house 20 horse dash like the Derby. Ok, the Derby might not be that hectic, but there’s a whole lot more disarray once the field breaks from the gate than there is in the Oaks. Second, winners of the Kentucky Oaks, and participants in general, tend to have much longer careers on the track than winners and participants of the Kentucky Derby. Recent powerhouse fillies such as Rachel Alexandra and Blind Luck have provided some of the most exciting post-Oaks winning careers this decade. So I ask again; what’s not to like about the Kentucky Oaks? Absolutely nothing I say.

Read the complete story here on Horse Racing Nation: http://bit.ly/IOj35I

Pricness Arabella takes on the Sunland Park Oaks

Undefeated in two impressive starts, Princess Arabella faces a field of 6 other fillies for trainer Bob Baffert on Saturday in the Sunland Park Oaks. Check out the story here on Horse Racing Nation and sound off on who you think has the best winning shot: http://bit.ly/GKNRZt

The Novel Nine: Kentucky Oaks Hopefuls

I have finally constructed my first top nine selections of Kentucky Oaks contenders for the year so far. Check it out on Horse Racing Nation, I think the #1 slot will surprise you! http://bit.ly/AAFUbY

To 'Zip" or Not in the Las Virgenes

It's been a long time since I was able to write something but I have finally posted a new article on HRN breaking down the field for the Las Virgenes Stakes. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/yhnhls