Horse Racing Blog Posts by Big Daddy No Bucks

If you're looking to find a Derby winner in the Spiral Stakes, you're time would probably be better spent napping or watching preseason baseball or damn near doing anything other than watching the 2013 Turfway Spiral Stakes. However, if you're looking to make a little money, there's potentially a few good bets in this race.

How do you spell Belmont Stakes? Grueling. The Belmont Stakes is a colossal test of an American bred's metal if for no other reason than most American thoroughbreds really aren't bred to go a mile and a half. For those horses who ran in the Derby and Preakness, the Belmont should be an especially trying challenge. For most of the 2012 Belmont Stakes field the race is likely to be less of a race and more of an ordeal.

Oh, I'd be so rich if only "almost wins" counted for something. In the Kentucky Derby I "almost" won every bet I made. Sadly, no one offered me anything but an army of sly smiles and "better luck next times." But that was two weeks ago and today is Preakness day, which brings new opportunities to win, while watching some the world's best three year olds race for glory.

The 2012 Peter Pan Stakes takes place at Belmont Park today in Elmont, New York. There may be some opportunity in this race so here is the way it breaks down for me.

The over-the-top pageantry and thrill the rumbling hooves of 20 of the world's greatest 3 year olds creates as they race towards the first turn is guaranteed to take the breath away of even the most stoic of us. And then there is the stretch run: there are no other races in the world where the words, "and down the stretch they come"" are nearly as rousing as they are at the Kentucky Derby. The Derby is truly the most exciting 2 minutes in American sports.

Fifteen of this year's prettiest and most talented fillies will be running in the 2012 Kentucky Oaks today. This year's Oaks looks like it is overloaded with opportunities to enjoy a little excitement, as well as make a little money. Here's my breakdown of the 2012 Kentucky Oaks Field.

While in recent years, the Lexington Stakes has become more of a race to prep late bloomers for the Preakness than a Derby Trial, this year Bob Baffert's Castaway could earn a Kentucky Derby spot. Here is a breakdown of the field and how I'll be betting.

One thing this year's Blue Grass has is an abundance of talented horses. This mob of equine athletes is lead by the great Tapit colt, Hansen. Here is a breakdown of the field and how I'll be betting.

The early line for the Arkansas Derby is out and my opinion about who the main players are in this race remain Optimizer and Secret Circle. Here is a breakdown of the field and how I'll be betting.

Unfortunately, without seeing a line for either race, all I have is a foggy idea of what horses I will be using. Check back Friday afternoon for a final update on these two races.