Getting in the Swing of Things

By Dana Byerly, Hello Race Fans Co-founder

The new year seems to be getting into full swing a little early this year with the reigning Horse of the Year, California Chrome, taking on Shared Belief in the San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita Park this Saturday. What’s more, the Jockey Club and Fox Sports kicks off their broadcast year with the San Antonio and the Donn Handicap! The Donn Handicap is also a marquee race for older horses. The broadcast is from 5:30 – 7:30 pm ET, check your local listings.

Our contributing editor Jessica Chapel has been tracking how returning champions have fared over the years at her site (hint: they’re generally a good bet, go see for yourselves). It’s worth taking a look as you decide how and if you’re going to play the San Antonio. If you do decide that Chrome or Shared Belief are the way to go, we have a post on how to play favorites that you might find helpful. And, there’s always singling and spreading if you’d like to try your hand at the all stakes Gulfstream / Santa Anita pick 4 (if you think that California Chrome or Shared Belief are a single! Maybe not?).

Filed under “this doesn’t happen very often”, the older horses are taking the spotlight this weekend but don’t overlook the two Kentucky Derby points races! The second pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is also this weekend. If you haven’t played the futures, or even if you have, we have some considerations to help you decide whether or not you’d like to stake a claim in the future, so to speak. We also have a listing of the betting interests, morning line odds, the free Brisnet.com past performances and links to pool two analysis and live odds.

And in a few short weeks we’ll indulge of a bit of Derby madness ourselves as we kick off our sixth year of the Derby Prep Alert. Each week we’ll bring you a preview of the week’s Derby and Oaks prep races along with links to news about the contenders and recaps after the races. We’ll also provide free Brisnet.com past performances and charts. We start publishing on Friday February 20 along with the Championship Series of points races. Sign up here for weekly email reminders!

Free Brisnet.com Past Performances
Cross Country Pick 4 (including Donn Handicap)
Robert B. Lewis Stakes
San Antonio Stakes
Withers Stakes