Jon Stettin’s Blog

The 2020 Hollywood Derby The Kentucky Derby was run in September so why not have the Hollywood Derby at Del Mar? We surely couldn’t run it at Hollywood Park unless we wanted it run on a football stadium. The race...

Can we get this right? Timing is everything is something I often say. The Breeders’ Cup Classic is obviously a major event in the Sport of Kings. I’d say it is second in stature to only the Kentucky Derby but...

When is Too Slow Not Too Slow? There has been a lot of talk about the morning line, undefeated favorite, Princess Noor, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Much of it is that she appears to be “too slow” on...

Breeders’ Cup Draw Luck & Disasters One of the reasons I wait to finalize my handicapping is the draw. Draws affect trips, and trips make races. The draw can impact how the race is run, and that often determines the...

Homework Time Tricks and tips of the trade from a pro…. If you plan to attack the Breeders’ Cup, I think now is a good time to start doing your homework. We have just over a week to go. We...

The Lexus Raven Run It is uncanny how horses can humble us all. If you could have bet the Haygard Fayette Stakes at Keeneland last weekend when they were turning for home most would have joined me on board with...

The 2020 Grade 2 Haygard Fayette In perusing the past performances for the weekend, I saw some small fields, some tough chalk, and some unattractive multi-race sequences. This was truer at Belmont and Santa Anita than Keeneland, where it just...

Preakness 145 – Breaking Your Own Rules If you read Past the Wire, my column here on AmWager, or follow me on social media, then there is a good chance you know I like improving horses I think will move...

The G1 American Pharoah There are a few reasons to take a look at the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. First, the race is part of the late pick 4 and 5 sequence. Second, the...