James Scully
James Scully is a passionate sports analyst who grew up traveling to various sporting events around the country. James follows the NFL and NCAA, but also plays golf and other sports as time allows. Whether it be pro or college football, basketball, baseball…James can share solid insight with actionable information. When James isn’t watching sports, he can be found handicapping horse racing and playing golf. Twitter: @James_Scully111
Scully: Pick 3 play at Churchill Downs on Arlington Million Day
A pair of Grade 1 turf events, the $1 million Arlington Million (G1) and $500,000 Beverly D. (G1) for distaffers, highlight a special one-day August program at Churchill Downs Saturday. I'll take a swing at the Late Pick 3.
Wagering
Epicenter steps up, top challengers wait in Travers
Epicenter will take some beating as the favorite in the $1.25 Travers (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 27, and the 1 1/4-mile race promises to feature his top divisional challengers.
Analysis
Scully: Opening-day Pick 4 play at Saratoga
D. Wayne Lukas has won a record-tying six editions of the Schuylerville S. (G3) for two-year-old fillies, but none since Classic Elegance in 2004. The Hall of Fame trainer will be represented by stylish debut maiden winner Summer Promise in Thursday’s opening-day feature at Saratoga.
Racing
Scully: Late Pick 4 play at Prairie Meadows on July 8
Friday’s Late Pick 4 at Prairie Meadows includes three stakes, and I’ll take a swing at the sequence on a reasonable budget.
Racing
Scully: Ohio Derby Day Late Pick 3 plays
James Scully suggests a pair of Late Pick 3 tickets for Saturday's Ohio Derby (G3) program.
Racing
Mo Donegal rebounds in Belmont
Mo Donegal couldn’t overcome a less-than-favorable trip in the Kentucky Derby, breaking slowly and traveling extremely wide to finish fifth, but he bounced back with a convincing win in the final leg of the Triple Crown, rallying to win going away by three lengths in the $1.5 Belmont S. (G1).
Belmont Stakes
2022 Belmont Stakes: Brisnet Speed Rating Report
Eight horses, including Kentucky Derby upsetter Rich Strike, are set for Saturday’s 154th running of the $1.5 million Belmont S. (G1). Known as “The Test of the Champion,” the 1 1/2-mile Belmont is the longest Grade 1 dirt race in North America.
Belmont Stakes
Creative Minister: Preakness contender profile
Creative Minister will jump straight from back-to-back wins over maiden special weight and entry-level allowance rivals to the Preakness, and connections forked over a $150,000 supplemental fee to run since he wasn’t Triple Crown-nominated.
Racing
Fenwick: Preakness contender profile
Listed at 50-1 on the morning line, Fenwick promises to be the longest shot in the Preakness, but the 80-1 longest shot (Rich Strike) just won the 20-horse Kentucky Derby.
Racing
Armagnac: Preakness contender profile
Unplaced in his first two stakes attempts, Armagnac will join the Triple Crown scene following an encouraging 4 1/4-length allowance triumph at Santa Anita on May 8.
Racing
2022 Preakness: Brisnet Speed Rating Report
How does the Preakness field stack up from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective? Let’s examine the contenders, ranked by highest last-out number.
Racing
Secret Oath: Preakness contender profile
Secret Oath will make her second attempt against males following a convincing win in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) 15 days earlier.
Racing
Skippylongstocking: Preakness contender profile
Skippylongstocking started to make headway when recording a sharp Gulfstream allowance win at 1 1/8 miles in early March.
Racing
Early Voting: Preakness contender profile
Early Voting easily won his first two starts on the front end at Aqueduct, including the Withers (G3) in early February, but the competition was suspect. He received a litmus test in the April 9 Wood Memorial (G2), performing admirably
Racing
Epicenter: Preakness contender profile
Listed as the 6-5 morning line favorite, Epicenter exits a bitter second in the Kentucky Derby, and he has a big chance to make amends in the Preakness.
Racing
Simplification: Preakness contender profile
Rating in 18th after the opening three-quarters of a mile, Simplification uncorked a rally from far back to finish fourth, beaten 3 1/2 lengths at 35-1 odds, in the Kentucky Derby.
Racing
Happy Jack: Preakness contender profile
Happy Jack was slow into stride and failed to make any impact in the Kentucky Derby, checking in 14th at 23-1 odds, and connections are drawing a line through the Kentucky Derby effort.
Racing
Tiz the Bomb: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Tiz the Bomb secured his Kentucky Derby berth by recording a convincing win in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park, registering top-notch 101 Brisnet Speed and 105 Late Pace ratings for the 2 1/4-length decision.
Racing
Simplification: Kentucky Derby contender profile
The bay Florida-bred colt settled nicely from off the pace before charging to a convincing win in the Fountain of Youth (G2).
Racing
Tawny Port: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Tawny Port confirmed himself as a Kentucky Derby participant when capturing the April 16 Lexington S. (G3), his first win on a dirt track.
Racing
Pioneer of Medina: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Pioneer of Medina barely made the 20-horse cut for the Kentucky Derby, qualifying by virtue of a fourth in the Risen Star (G2) and a third in the Louisiana Derby (G2) in his first two stakes outings.
Racing
Barber Road: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Barber Road will bring a late kick to the Kentucky Derby, rallying to finish second in the Arkansas Derby (G1), Southwest (G3), and Smarty Jones, and third in the Rebel (G2), all at Oaklawn Park.
Racing
Cyberknife: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Cyberknife has always been well-regarded by his connections, but he didn’t meet expectations early in his career.
Racing
Zozos: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Zozos punched his Kentucky Derby ticket in the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby (G2), finishing second to Epicenter by 2 1/2 lengths in his lone qualifying race.
Racing
White Abarrio: Kentucky Derby contender profile
White Abarrio will be the most accomplished Kentucky Derby (G1) runner from Florida, having recorded wins in the Florida Derby (G1) and Holy Bull (G3), and the gray Kentucky-bred colt ran well when making his two-turn debut in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs last fall.
Racing
Zandon: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Zandon exits an impressive win in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland, closing last-to-first in the final three furlongs to score going away by 2 1/2 lengths.
Racing
Summer Is Tomorrow: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Summer Is Tomorrow carried his speed to a runner-up finish in the UAE Derby (G2), earning a Kentucky Derby (G1) berth in his first two-turn start.
Racing
Taiba: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Following a smashing win in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Taiba will try to become the first three-year-old to win the Kentucky Derby in his third start since Leonatus in 1883.
Racing
Messier: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Messier will bring excellent form to the Kentucky Derby, after recording a 15-length win in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) and a runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby (G1).
Racing
Happy Jack: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Happy Jack exits a pair of fast races, the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and San Felipe (G2), and he earned enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby by finishing a non-threatening third in both.
Racing