Ellis Starr’s Blog
Key Races & Bets for Saturday February 3rd, 2024
Withers Stakes – Race 8 at Aqueduct -Post Time 3:55 PM Eastern Win Contenders: Speed Runner, Uncle Heavy, Lightline Speed Runner is the ONLY horse in the field to have won at this mile and one-eighth distance, having done so on December 8 in only the second start of his career, and off a two month layoff. After stalking the leader in second for the first three-quarters of a mile, Speed Runner engaged that horse
Key Races & Bets for Saturday January 27th, 2024
Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational – Race 10 at Gulfstream – Post Time 3:45 PM Eastern Win Contenders: Star Fortress, Ruby Nell Exacta & Trifecta Contenders: (2nd and 3rd) Fluffy Socks, Queen Goddess, Didia, Mission of Joy Star Fortress brought a one for seven record into her U.S. debut two months ago (on 11/23/23) in the Grade 3 Cardinal Stakes at Churchill Downs, at this distance, and emerged with her second career
Key Races & Bets for Saturday January 20th, 2024
Interborough Stakes – Race 8 at Aqueduct – Post Time 3:47 PM Eastern Contenders: Rosebug, Self Isolation, Dr B, Hot Fudge Rosebug is the one we must look at first as she opens at 8 to 1. In the hands of Bill Mott, she shipped from Aqueduct to Ohio last November and was beaten a length and one-half in the Mahoning Distaff Stakes. She’s been off since then and ran her best race of 2023
Key Races & Bets for Saturday January 13th, 2024
California Cup Oaks – Race 5 at Santa Anita – Post Time 5:30 PM Eastern Top win contender: Grand Slam SmileOther contenders: Asada Fries, Sushi Sticks Grand Slam Smile stretches out to two-turns on turf off a solid foundation of two sprints following a layoff. She won her comeback on 11/3 here at Santa Anita, at seven furlongs and easily by seven lengths. That was a stakes for California breds like this one. She then
Key Races & Bets for Saturday January 6th, 2024
Race 7 at Gulfstream Park – Post Time 3:08 PM Eastern Win contenders: Jamestown, American Diamond, Quality G Jamestown ran poorly in the first five starts of his career, through May, and we can draw a line through ALL of those races. He changed trainers in the late spring and after three and one-half months off returned, without blinkers worn for all his previous starts. He was entered in a mile and three-sixteenths race first