GI Santa Anita Derby | Horse Racing Free Tips

1/ST Racing Tour To Expand Its Partnership With NBC

1/ST will expand its partnership with NBC Sports to broadcast the 1/ST Racing Tour on NBC, CNBC and Peacock, they said in a Thursday press release. A series of connected coast-to-coast races that kicked off with the 2023 Pegasus World Cup, the tour will take place on the first Saturday over the next three months, and will also include the GI Preakness Stakes in May.

“While these legendary races are familiar to many, the 1/ST Racing Tour format brings a fresh and innovative approach to bi-coastal racing,” said Gregg Colvin, Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST Content. “The volume of world-class racing content and the sheer number of televised races we are able to offer on premier race days coupled with big jackpots, new types of wagers and unique hospitality experiences is something that only 1/ST can deliver.”

This connected series provides over 11-hours of expanded racing content, including live coverage of six Triple Crown preps. 1/ST Racing Tour days feature full race day cards, 60 stakes races, coast-to-coast Pick 5 wagers and six 1/ST handicapping contests. Coverage of the 1/ST Racing Tour continues Saturday, Feb. 4, with two-hours of live broadcasts from Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. EST. NBC Sports' programming will also include supporting coverage on FanDuelTV.

The post 1/ST Racing Tour To Expand Its Partnership With NBC appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Veteran Trainer Howard Zucker Passes At 74

Veteran trainer Howard Zucker, a well-respected Southern California horseman, passed away Thursday at USC Keck Hospital in Los Angeles at age 74.

Based in New York prior to coming to Southern California in 1980, Zucker trained for a brief time for NBA Lakers owner Jerry Buss. Born May 20, 1948, Zucker saddled his last winner July 24, as his 3-year-old filly Gracelund Gray (Goldencents) won at Del Mar.

Affable and a dedicated Yankees fan, Zucker was also a staunch advocate for the horse, evidenced by his multiple leadership roles with the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA). Zucker joined the board of directors of CARMA in May 2009 and served in many leadership positions including as CARMA President from 2016-2019.

“I am devastated by the news of Howard's passing yesterday,” Lucinda Lovitt, CARMA Executive Director. “He was a tireless champion for the horses and believed so strongly in CARMA's mission, I just can't imagine our board without him. I know I speak for the entire CARMA Board of Directors when I say he will be greatly, greatly missed.”

Zucker's top horse was Crafty C.T. (Crafty Prospector), who won the 2001 GII San Rafael S. with Eddie Delahoussaye aboard and was subsequently second to Point Given in the GI Santa Anita Derby. Zucker had 2,223 career starts as a trainer and 246 wins. He is survived by his wife Lorraine. Memorial services are undetermined at this time.

The post Veteran Trainer Howard Zucker Passes At 74 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

NBC Sports to Present the May 1 Kentucky Derby

With one month to the running of the GI Kentucky Derby, NBC Sports presents live coverage of the GII Wood Memorial, GII Blue Grass S. and GI Santa Anita Derby Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET. This weekend's “triplecast” continues NBC Sports' “Road to the Kentucky Derby” coverage on four consecutive Saturday afternoons, which also includes next weekend's GI Arkansas Derby. NBC Sports will present the 147th Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Saturday's live coverage begins from Aqueduct Racetrack with the Wood Memorial, which has registered 11 Derby winners. The 5-2 morning line favorite is Risk Taking, ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and trained by Chad Brown. Additionally, the Blue Grass S. at Keeneland, is expected to feature undefeated 3-5 morning line favorite Essential Quality, who was named 2020's Champion 2-year-old male. Rounding out Saturday's show is the GI Santa Anita Derby. Headlining the field is Medina Spirit, trained by Hall-of-Famer Bob Baffert, who has won the Santa Anita Derby a record nine times.

Ahmed Fareed hosts Saturday's triplecast coverage, alongside analysts Jerry Bailey, Randy Moss, and insights analyst Steve Kornacki, who will be at his Big Board to analyze the Kentucky Derby points standings as qualifying for the Run for the Roses enters its final weeks. Reporters Laffit Pincay III and Britney Eurton will be on-site in Santa Anita, Matt Bernier will be in New York and Kenny Rice will report from Keeneland. NBCSN will also present highlights of Saturday's “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” races from across the country.

Coverage will be streamed live on www.NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app–NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs.

The post NBC Sports to Present the May 1 Kentucky Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Concert Tour, Caddo River Head 3yo Worktab Saturday

Heading the likely cast of contenders in the Apr. 10 GI Arkansas Derby, undefeated Concert Tour (Street Sense) worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 under Juan Ochoa at Santa Anita Saturday morning.

“He went great; he looked fantastic,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “He couldn't have looked any better. He just cruised around there in a minute and change.”

Taking over as top dog in the Baffert barn following the injury of Life Is Good (Into Mischief), Concert Tour a perfect three-for-three this season, including wins in the GII San Vicente S. and GII Rebel S.

Also working ahead of the Arkansas Derby, Caddo River (Hard Spun) breezed a half-mile in :48 after Oaklawn's first surface renovation break under Fernando De La Cruz. Caddo River, working with stablemate Joe Frazier, who credited with the same time. Clockers had the Brad Cox-trained duo galloping out five panels in 1:00, six furlongs in 1:13 and 7/8ths in 1:27.60.

A homebred for John Ed Anthony, Caddo River was a record-setting 10 1/4-length winner of the Smarty Jones S. Jan. 22 before finishing fifth in the Rebel.

Also at Oaklawn, Rebel sixth Keepmeinmind (Laoban) breezed after the second renovation break under regular rider David Cohen. Keepmeinmind went five furlongs in 1:00 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.60, according to clockers. The colt is expected to make his next start in either the Arkansas Derby and GII Blue Grass Stakes Apr. 3 at Keeneland and a decision on the colt's next start is expected by Monday.

“If it's the Blue Grass, he's going to miss a little bit of serious training, shipping over there and stuff,” trainer Robertino Diodoro said. “I gave him a stiff work today. If we run him next weekend, he's not going to be doing a whole bunch from now until then. We'll jog him, little easy gallop. If he stays here for the Arkansas Derby, then we'll probably come back next weekend with a real easy half.”

Prepping for this season's Classics on the West Coast, a host of sophomore's posted their final major works ahead of next weekend's GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. Saturday's worktab included GII San Felipe S. third Dream Shake (Twirling Candy), who went five furlongs in :59.80 and Roman Centurian (Empire Maker), second in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. and fourth in the San Felipe, who negotiated the same distance in 1:00.40 for Simon Callaghan. San Felipe fifth-place finisher The Great One (Nyquist) worked six furlongs in 1:14.20 for Doug O'Neill. The Louisiana bred finished runner up in last season's GII Los Alamitos Futurity.

The post Concert Tour, Caddo River Head 3yo Worktab Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post