Brian Zipse

Louisville

Writer and Handicapper at WSN

Senior Writer at Horse Racing Nation

Horse Racing + Tennis + Bourbon

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Articles

Zipse: Steady New York-bred Mo Plex trounces Ohio Derby foes

6 days ago | horseracingnation.com | Brian Zipse

I’m not here to tell you that Mo Plex is the next big thing or that he should be going after Sovereignty and Journalism anytime soon. What I will say about the Ohio Derby winner is that he is a horse I would absolutely love to own. After seven consistently good efforts in his home state, the New York-bred son of Complexity took his show on the road Saturday and trounced the competition in the Grade 3, $500,000 signature race of Thistledown.
HorseCenter: Mid-Season awards & Ohio Derby top picks

1 week ago | horseracingnation.com | Brian Zipse |Matt Shifman

With the completion of the Triple Crown signaling the unofficial midpoint of 2025, Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman recap the first half of the racing season by handing out their coveted HorseCenter Mid-Season Awards. Will victories in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes be enough for Sovereignty to reign supreme, or will an older horse sneak into the position as the Mid-Season Horse of the Year on the HorseCenter ballots?
Delaware Derby winner Admiral Dennis sets sail on second half

1 week ago | horseracingnation.com | Brian Zipse

The calendar may not be quite there yet but the unofficial second half of the racing season has begun. After a very good Triple Crown series, it’s time for late bloomers to emerge and demonstrate their talent among a strong crop of 3-year-old males. One such colt may have announced himself just a bit off the beaten path on Saturday.
HorseCenter: Triple Crown 2025 recap, Delaware Oaks top picks

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

This week on HorseCenter, Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman close the door on their 2025 Triple Crown coverage with a look back at a most intriguing series, which was dominated by a pair of impressive young colts in Sovereignty and Journalism. Like the Kentucky Derby, Saturday’s Belmont Stakes at Saratoga came down to the big two, and once again it was Sovereignty who would not be denied with his powerful stretch drive at Saratoga. Baeza completed the trifecta for a repeat top three from the first leg.
Zipse: Sovereignty stands atop a strong crop of 3-year-olds

2 weeks ago | horseracingnation.com | Brian Zipse

Boy, was I wrong. I apologize to faithful followers of this column who suffered through my two serious mistakes in judgment, and I thank Sovereignty for so emphatically pointing out my errors. My first mistake lasted the better part of six months. Journalism is not the best 3-year-old as I’ve believed and written for some time now. In two head-to-head meetings with Sovereignty, he has been proven only second best.
HorseCenter: Belmont Stakes day top picks, suggested wagers

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

This week on HorseCenter, Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman aim to close out their 2025 Triple Crown coverage with a bang as they dive into the $2 million Belmont Stakes. The final leg of the Triple Crown features the rematch of Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Preakness Stakes winner Journalism.
Zipse: Mystik Dan brings back old feelings with his new victory

3 weeks ago | horseracingnation.com | Brian Zipse

“The Derby winner is back!”I imagine that was the exuberant cry made by men, women and children which rang out from all corners of Churchill Downs on Saturday as Mystik Dan skimmed the rail to victory in the Grade 3, $275,000 Blame Stakes. Perhaps I am overestimating the importance of his first victory since winning the 2024 Kentucky Derby. Then again, maybe I am not. Whether or not you happen to be a fan of Mystik Dan, his return to the winner’s circle is a positive for racing.
Best Horse Racing Bets Today | Churchill Downs

4 weeks ago | wsn.com | Brian Zipse

Published: May. 30, 2025, 09:00 AM ET 8 min read Stephen Foster Preview Day proves that there is excellent racing at Churchill Downs after the first Saturday in May. Led by a strong field of older males in the Grade 3 Blame Stakes, the afternoon card on Saturday includes six solid stakes races. In the 9-furlong Blame, you could easily make a case for any one of the top six, including last year’s Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan.
HorseCenter: Stephen Foster preview day top picks

1 month ago | horseracingnation.com | Brian Zipse |Matt Shifman

This week on HorseCenter, Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman take a short break from the Triple Crown action to highlight an excellent Saturday afternoon of racing from Churchill Downs. The iconic Louisville oval will offer six stakes races on Stephen Foster preview day, led by the Grade 3 Blame. The nine-furlong test will mark the first race at Churchill Downs for Mystik Dan since winning a thrilling edition of the Kentucky Derby in 2024.
Zipse: Fierceness returns to his favorite stage in Met Mile

1 month ago | horseracingnation.com | Brian Zipse

From Eclipse Award winners down to $5,000 claimers, there are certain racetracks which hit all the right notes for some horses. As good as Fierceness has been in so many of his other races, there can be no denying the 4-year-old City of Light colt appreciates Saratoga. Be it the surroundings, the surface or both, Fierceness loves the Spa. He’ll put his fondness for his favorite track to a real test June 7 when the champion makes his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Metropolitan Handicap.

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