Sport is made for betting

I've tried my best with the 2yo race reviews but I'm afraid...



Just can't keep up!

Will try to preview as many of the 2yo pattern races as I can though.

Normal service with guest-written feature previews and the odd rant (yes, haven't done one in a while) to resume.

Round two of the US Triple Crown tonight, so we'll either have the latest reincarnation of Pegasus if Always Dreaming wins, or a dud crop if his quest for TC glory goes awry. And one thing Pimlico Racecourse is famous for is one almighty party of the infield where the vast majority of them would be blissfully unaware a $1.5m horse race is being run, let alone it's importance.

Anyhow, enough moaning about Trumpland, it's onto the preview, with regular US racing guru Jon da Silva, @creamontop.

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The Preakness Stakes
Grade 1, US$1,500,000, 1m 3/16s (1900m for the sensible)
Pimlico Race 13. 1848 local, 2348 BST

One thing with the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands is that the winner does not stand on his laurels and 2 weeks later gets to go again. Often the horse follows up but they are beaten enough that at Evens or less one feels one can take on this year's winner. Indeed to call the Kentucky Derby a satisfactory race to base such a price o…

Tidying up one that slipped through the net...

Chelmsford 1810 May 2
Filles Novice Auction Stakes
5f, Class 5, 1m1.51s (slow by 3.51s)
Standard

Blessed to Empress. Feb 1, 17k gns. First foal of dam, a sister to Listed winner Bounty Box. Jumped OK, worked to the lead, kept going. Whip not pulled but ridden fairly hard H&H.

Three Little Birds. Mar 22, 11k gns vendor buyback as yearling. Sat midfield, pulled out top of the straight and pushed right to the line to claim second in final stride. (8/1 into 5/1)

Princess Lyla. Apr 10, £3k 2yo sale. Half-sister to two winners but family is pretty limited. Settled directly behind the leader on the rail. Switched off her back at the furlong, never closer and then nabbed on the line, pushed back to third.

Dorcas. Feb 27, £8500 yearling, dam won at two. Sat outside the leader, couldn't match her, then under pressure approaching furlong and soon weakened.

Asheena. Sixth between Bengali Boys on debut Apr 19. Settled near the tail, pulled o…

Doing a review of every 2yo race for the season doesn't have much point unless I start using the information before a race. And it's hard work trying to keep up with them all! So here we go with the opening race at York on Friday, the Listed Marygate Fillies Stakes.

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Marygate Fillies' Stakes
Class 1, Listed, 5f, £50k
York, 1420 local, 2320 AEST

Blessed To Empress. Won on debut at Chelmsford, but it was 4/1 the field in a seven-horse race, and returned the second lowest winning RPR for a 2yo race this season. Unfashionable jockey and trainer, out of depth here.

Che Bella. Went backwards at her second start, and the debut wasn't particularly flash either. Nope.

Daddies Girl. Successful at her third start, each time against decent quality. New jockey again which can't be a positive but counter that with a big improvement from 5lb claimer to Andrea Atzeni. Drawn in the middle, so plenty of options if bias is a concern.

Dolly Dagger. No. 50/1 a…

Newmarket 1610 May 7
Maiden Stakes
5f, Class 4, 1m0.54s (slow by 2.94s)
Good to Firm

Way of Wisdom. Mar 26, bred in house by Godolphin. Dam full sister to star Aussie mare Miss Finland (Golden Slipper and Oaks winner). Parked on the shoulder of the leader, challenged and took control in the last furlong. Margin not big but looked to have gears left. Yet another juvenile winner for Charlie Appleby.

Kit Marlowe. Feb 25, half-brother to at least nine winners. Fractious in the gates. Away well, settled rail-side of the leader and close up. Made move inside 2f, stuck to the task well but not good enough to beat the winner.

Qaaraat. Fourth on debut at Newbury Apr 21, strong race, behind Gold Town. Broke well, straight to the front. Challenged on both sides inside 2f, couldn't match them but not beaten far, nor slaughtered for the result.

Red Roman. Mar 8, 30k gns yearling. Settled behind the leader, poised to strike but couldn't go with them when it mattered. Kept on well, not beate…

Great start to the Damte meeting, despite the persistent rain, with yesterday's preview landing a fantastic double-figure odds winner.

Thursday means a focus on the eponymous race of the week, the highest regarded of the Derby trials, the Dante Stakes. Returning to the blog to weigh in with his assessment is international racing aficionado and racecalling prodigy Luke Humphreys, @WorldRacingLuke.

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Betfred Dante Stakes
Group 2, £185,700, 1m2f56y
York 1530 local, 0030 AEST

ODDS LISTED ARE BEST AVAILABLE AT TIME OF POSTING

1 Benbatl (7/1): Saeed Bin Suroor was quoted saying in the past couple of days this horse will enjoy the rain over the past few days. Easy winner on debut by seven lengths at Doncaster on Good ground over 7f in a maiden and then went up to G3 class for the Craven Stakes over a mile at Newmarket and was 3rd behind Eminent and Rivet, who have since run respectably in both the Newmarket and French Guineas. Expected to enjoy step up in t…

The magnificent heavyweight of northern Flat racing, York, hosts the Dante Meeting this week and one staple of the three-day festival is a wealth of dastardly handicaps.

A regular contributor, the particularly astute @RightJudgeIAm, specialises in handicaps and has recently launched a tipping service, focusing on the races many of us either despise, or simply don't have the time for! For more details, please visit his site, The Handicap Snip.

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Skybet First Race Special Handicap
Class2, £25,000, 1m2f56yds
York 1420 local, 2320 AEST

This 1 mile 2 furlong handicap for four year olds and upwards opens the Dante Meeting on 'The Knavesmire', one of our premier tracks.

Twenty runners are scheduled to line up and the going is given as good to firm as this piece is being written up. However, there is a strong possibility of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday and it's more likely the ground will be on the soft side. Some that entered in expectation …

Doncaster 1750 Sat May 6
Novice Stakes
5f, Class 5, 1m0.39s (slow by 2.49s)
Good to Firm

Mutanaaseq. Won nicely on debut at Bath Apr 21, penalised here. Pinged the lids and went straight to the front alongside Bengali Boys, allowing him a half-length lead near halfway. Went for home at same time as that runner, 2f out, fought on well and just got the bob in on the line. Better jockey aboard probably made the difference. 15/8 into 11/8.

Bengali Boys. Won low rating race at Beverley Apr 19, but well supported from flying 2yo stable. Led, went for home at 2f, stride for stride with Mutanaaseq, 3lb claiming jockey perhaps not strong enough to get him home. Backed 4s into 3s.

Story Minister. Mar 9, £45k yearling. Half-brother to multiple winners, full sister Beldale Memory won first two starts, including Listed race at York. Slow to begin but no ground lost as pace was moderate. Poised nicely at 2f to make his run, kept on well but unable to go with the front two. Nice debut.

Jim Rockford. G…