Matt Shifman

1 week 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.

1 week ago | horseracingnation.com | Matt Shifman

Saturday’s Grade 3, $275,000 Blame drew 10 horses from the older male handicap division who will run the 1 1/8-mile distance at Churchill Downs. The 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan leads the field in this race , which serves as the local prep for the Stephen Foster (G1) on June 28. The Blame field also includes a pair of Grade 2 winners and seven others who have a Grade 3 victory. Three of the horses have exceeded the $1 million milestone in career earnings.

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

This week on HorseCenter, Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman look ahead to the 2025 edition of the $2 million Belmont Stakes slated for June 7. The final leg of the Triple Crown once again will be contested at Saratoga going 1 1/4 miles because of the rebuilding of Belmont Park. This year’s running looks to have an intriguing field featuring Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and possibly Preakness hero Journalism.

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

This week on HorseCenter, Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman tackle the $2 million Preakness Stakes with analysis, top picks and suggested wagers. The second leg of the Triple Crown drew a field of nine sophomore colts to Pimlico. In the absence of the Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty, the 1 3/16-mile classic is headlined by Journalism, who was favored in the run for the roses and ran a solid second.

3 weeks ago | horseracingnation.com | Matt Shifman

The Grade 1, $2 million Preakness Stakes drew a field of nine 3-year-olds. There are three horses from the 2025 Kentucky Derby who return in two weeks for the Preakness. The past five winners of the second leg of the Triple Crown did not run in the Kentucky Derby, although in 2020 Swiss Skydiver won the Kentucky Oaks on two weeks rest as did last year’s winner Seize the Grey with the Pat Day Mile (G2). The Preakness winner was close to the early pace 14 times over the past 15 years.