Matt Shifman

New Jersey

Senior Writer at Horse Racing Nation

Senior Writer, Horse Racing Nation, https://t.co/S8JoQPQxfi• Partner, New York Hot List @NYHotList • https://t.co/CVm4RXG7Or•

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Articles

HorseCenter: Preakness contenders & Peter Pan picks

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

This week on HorseCenter, Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman set their sights on Pimlico and the second leg of the Triple Crown. Sovereignty reigned supreme on a sloppy track at Churchill Downs, but the 1 3/16-miles of the Preakness Stakes is likely to be a very different race than we saw last Saturday in the Kentucky Derby. Who is most likely to win in Baltimore?
Peter Pan 2025: Odds, analysis for Saturday’s N.Y. feature

1 week ago | horseracingnation.com | Matt Shifman

The Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan will be run on Saturday as part of the Belmont at the Big A spring meet at the distance of 1 1/8 miles on the main track. For 3-year-olds only, the Peter Pan drew a field of 10. The Peter Pan serves as the local prep race for the Belmont Stakes, four weeks before the final leg of the Triple Crown series. Arcangelo completed the Peter Pan-Belmont double in 2023, joining Tonalist who did it in 2014.
HorseCenter: Ky. Derby, Oaks top picks, suggested wagers

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

Just days away from the most exciting two minutes in sports, Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman continue their coverage of Kentucky Derby 2025 in this new HorseCenter. The $5 million run for the roses is the singular race that everybody wants to win, and this year’s field features a deep and talented group of 19 colts and one gelding racing for immortality at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Oaks 2025: Odds and analysis for all 14 fillies

2 weeks ago | horseracingnation.com | Matt Shifman

The Grade 1, $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks will be run on the first Friday in May at Churchill Downs. The run for the lilies drew a field of 14 3-year-old fillies with the undefeated Good Cheer listed as the 6-5 morning line favorite. The Oaks field has 11 fillies that won a qualifying points race and nine of those victories were in their most recent start. Six of the wins were in graded stakes that include a Grade 1, four in Grade 2 stakes and one Grade 3.
Kentucky Derby 2025: Odds & pace analysis for all 20 + 1

2 weeks ago | horseracingnation.com | Matt Shifman

The field for Kentucky Derby 2025 was drawn between races on Saturday night at Churchill Downs, where Journalism was named the 3-1 morning line favorite and drew post position 8. A fast and contentious pace is expected in this year’s run for the roses with seven horses who ran their best Derby trail races on the front end. Trainer Bob Baffert is back for the first time since Medina Spirit was disqualified from his pace-setting victory in 2021.
HorseCenter: Top Ky. Derby long shots + Ky. Oaks contenders

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

With just over a week to go until the 151st edition of the Kentucky Derby, Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman continue their coverage of America’s most prestigious race on HorseCenter. Before discussing their favorite live long shots in the run for the roses, the veteran turf writers take a look at the top contenders for the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks.
HorseCenter: Ky. Derby contenders, pretenders + odds

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

This week on HorseCenter, Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman dive into their 2025 Kentucky Derby analysis by discussing the probable field and early odds and deciding which runners are contenders and which are pretenders. The list is in order of their qualifying points, with Built, Neoequos, Render Judgment and Baeza currently on the outside looking in at the 20-horse field. 1. Burnham Square (Liam’s Map) 12-1. Brian: Contender.
Kentucky Derby 2025: Early full-field odds and analysis

4 weeks ago | horseracingnation.com | Matt Shifman

The road to Kentucky Derby 2025 began Sept. 14 at Churchill Downs, ended April 12 at Keeneland and included 36 points prep races, with 107 different horses winning qualifying points. With 17 days until the run for the roses, 45 is the number of points required to get in the starting gate. At this time last year, the number was 40. During the points era, which began in 2013, there were some clear trends from the 12 horses who crossed the finish line in front.
HorseCenter: Lexington Stakes and Apple Blossom top picks

1 month 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.
Kentucky Derby trail 2025: Blue Grass odds and analysis

1 month ago | horseracingnation.com | Matt Shifman

The Grade 1, $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes drew a field of seven 3-year-olds that will run the 1 1/8-mile distance. The race will be run on Tuesday after a severe weather forecast prompted Keeneland to postpone the Saturday card. The Blue Grass is the second stop at Keeneland Race Course on the road to the Kentucky Derby 2025 and qualifying points of 100-50-25-15-10 are available to the top five finishers. All seven of the 3-year-olds have already run on the Kentucky Derby trail.