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Mike Brunker

Mike Brunker is an assistant city editor at the Review-Journal and he writes a weekly horse racing column. The column is posted on Thursday's and appears in Friday's print edition. He previously covered horse racing for the San Francisco Examiner, the Thoroughbred Times and NBCSports.com. Follow @mike_brunker on Twitter

Favored Gun Runner can restore order in the Whitney Stakes

After Arrogate’s stumble, 4-5 favorite can cement his status as a leader in the older horse division by taking down the $1.2 million race on Saturday at Saratoga. But it doesn’t look like a walkover.

Arrogate tunes up with Grade 2 race Saturday at Del Mar

Arrogate will launch the second half of his season Saturday in the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. The 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds and older will launch what is expected to be a three-race campaign for him.

Del Mar, Saratoga a remedy for short-field blues

Del Mar and Saratoga racetracks offer a welcome respite to horseplayers tired of trying to wring a profit out of too many five- and six-horse races, but even they aren’t immune to the worsening horse shortage problem.

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Young jockeys Evin Roman, Tyler Gaffalione ride into spotlight

Many of the top jockeys in the U.S. are getting a bit long in the stirrups, but phenomenal riding feats by two youngsters this past weekend suggested that the next generation is ready to step to the fore.

Horseplayers wary of Beach Patrol in Grade 1 race at Monmouth Park

Sometimes handicapping a horse race is like sitting on a jury and trying to decide if the star witness is telling the truth. A case in point is Saturday’s United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park, a 1 3/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up.

Smoke should begin to clear in wide-open race for top 3-year-old

Saturday’s Ohio Derby (G3) could vault a horse into the top ranks of the sophomore set. Join the R-J’s interactive handicapping forum and post your picks on Twitter, using the hashtag #RJhorseracing.

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