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

Stephen Foster odds, analysis: Top older horses face off

4 days ago | horseracingnation.com | Matt Shifman

The Grade 1, $1 million Stephen Foster, which will be run on Saturday at 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs, drew a field of seven horses from the older male dirt division. The Foster provides the winner with a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1. The field includes six horses with more than $1 million in career earnings. Together they have 38 victories and a combined total of $25.8 million.
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?
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.
Salvator Mile odds and analysis: 1 runner stands out

2 weeks ago | horseracingnation.com | Matt Shifman

The Grade 3, $150,000 Salvator Mile, which serves as the final local prep race for the Monmouth Cup (G3) on July 19, drew a field of nine horses, 3-year-olds and up, for Saturday at Monmouth Park. The Salvator Mile is one of the four Haskell -review stakes races.
Raging Torrent streaks to 8-1 upset victory in Met Mile

2 weeks ago | horseracingnation.com | Matt Shifman

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.Raging Torrent continued his winning ways on Saturday at Saratoga in the Grade 1, $1 million Metropolitan Handicap when he won a head-to-head stretch battle against the odds-on favorite Fierceness. The Met Mile victory was the third in a row and sixth of the last seven for the son of Maximus Mischief.
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.
Met Mile odds and analysis: Fierceness vs. White Abarrio

3 weeks ago | horseracingnation.com | Matt Shifman

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Metropolitan Handicap drew a field of five older dirt males. Once again in 2025 the Belmont Stakes racing festival will be run at Saratoga as Belmont Park is being renovated. The one-mile handicap will start from the Wilson chute. In addition to purse money, the winner gets an entry in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November at Del Mar. The small field in the Met Mile is led by three Grade 1 winners in Fierceness, White Abarrio and Raging Torrent.
Acorn odds and analysis: Who can challenge Good Cheer?

3 weeks ago | horseracingnation.com | Matt Shifman

The Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn Stakes will be run Friday at Saratoga at 1 1/8 miles. The field of seven 3-year-old fillies will feature the undefeated Good Cheer, who was made the 1-2 morning-line favorite. The Acorn field includes three fillies who are Grade 1 winners, one Grade 2 winner, one with a stakes victory, an allowance winner and one filly with only a maiden score. Four of the horses last ran in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and finished first, third, seventh and ninth.
Belmont Stakes 2025: Odds and analysis for Saratoga

3 weeks ago | horseracingnation.com | Matt Shifman

The $2 million, Belmont Stakes will be held at Saratoga at the distance of 1 1/4 miles because of the ongoing construction of a new version of Belmont Park. Eight 3-year-olds were drawn Monday evening with Preakness winner Journalism identified as the 8-5 morning-line favorite and Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty at 2-1. The Belmont field includes the top three finishers from the Kentucky Derby. Journalism will be the only one to run in all three legs of the 2025 Triple Crown.
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.