Jon Stettin’s Blog

Big Scores

Last week we saw two pretty good reasons to keep playing this game. I’ll be the first to say the sport has changed, beating it is tougher than ever, and we all know we have many issues to fix, but...

A Common Mistake to Avoid

One of the most common mistakes I see handicappers make is assuming a horse will run similar or even exactly how they ran in their last start. Horses are not machines, and they don’t run the same every time they...

When to Take a Stab

A stab to me is not a shot in the dark or a play without some logic and reasoning behind it. It is when I go for one horse over some others I like because of a feeling, or something...

Where Is the Kentucky Derby Winner?

With the Derby preps in full swing, many of us are asking where is this year’s winner? The obvious answer is probably somewhere in Bob Baffert’s barn at Santa Anita. This is horse racing however and things are never that...

What To Do Now

With the rather late scratches of the first two choices in the Pegasus, Omaha Beach and Spun to Run, we are left with somewhat of a handicapping puzzle. This is further complicated by the horses running without medications they are...

The Time of Year

It is the time of year for fans of the Sport of Kings to turn their attention to the Kentucky Derby, and the top three-year-old horses. Generally, I like to start fresh, and I overlook or take with a grain...

The Right Single

For me, a lot goes into choosing the right single in any multi-race bet. With the exception of a 20-cent jackpot bet, I always like to have at least one single. Obviously, the most important thing about a single is...

Look Out For Number One

As a horseplayer you have to look out for number 1. That’s you. Believe me nobody else is going to do it. Amidst all the reform we hear about today, granted all of it needed and long overdue, you don’t...

A Look at the Remsen

The Remsen has not exactly been a Kentucky Derby winner factory lately. Nonetheless, whoever emerges victorious on Saturday will be cast into the early Run for the Roses conversation. Given that and all the excitement generated by the top tier...