Brian Zipse

1 week ago | horseracingnation.com | Brian Zipse

Hot Springs, Ark. A horse for the people, Thorpedo Anna gave a large and appreciative audience at Oaklawn exactly what they came to see by trouncing five overmatched rivals in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap. It’s not that Free Like a Girl and Where’s My Ring aren’t nice horses. One is a winner of 21 races and well over $2 million. The other is a graded-stakes winner coming in off a romping win over the track. But there’s nice, and then there’s Thorpedo Anna.

2 weeks ago | horseracingnation.com | Brian Zipse |Matt Shifman

This week on HorseCenter, Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman offer analysis and top picks for a pair of important races from Oaklawn and Keeneland. The 2024 horse of the year Thorpedo Anna will be making her second start of the year in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn, where she will spot six rivals four to 12 pounds. In search of her sixth Grade 1 score, the Kenny McPeek-trained filly will be an overwhelming favorite.

2 weeks ago | horseracingnation.com | Brian Zipse

Puca is one special broodmare. Journalism deserves all the accolades as the winner Sunday of the Santa Anita Derby. He overcame a tough trip to fly down the stretch on his way to Churchill Downs as a deserving favorite for this year’s Kentucky Derby, but I want to talk about the runner-up. Baeza ran huge in defeat in his stakes debut on Saturday to be way ahead of the rest in the Grade 1 race. As a son of Puca, I guess it should be no surprise that Baeza is a serious racehorse.

2 weeks ago | wsn.com | Brian Zipse

Published: Apr. 4, 2025, 09:00 AM ET 7 min read Big prep races from around the country on Saturday will bring us less than a month from the 2025 Kentucky Derby. This week, I will turn my attention to New York, where the historic Wood Memorial will be run at Aqueduct. Won by some of the greats of the sport, it’s also the race where Secretariat was beaten before his sensational Triple Crown run. This year’s $750,000 edition is the 100th running and a wide-open affair.

3 weeks ago | horseracingnation.com | Brian Zipse |Matt Shifman

This week on HorseCenter, Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman tackle the final 100-point Kentucky Derby 2025 preps of the season. In California, the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby features the first meeting between the champion Citizen Bull and the streaking Journalism. If either colt wins, he would likely wind up the favorite on the first Saturday in May. With severe weather expected in Kentucky, Saturday’s card at picturesque Keeneland was postponed until Tuesday, when the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) will be run.