Kentucky Derby Prep Saturday

 Three great Kentucky Derby preps are on the docket for today. We will look at the one down in Kentucky.

Turfway Park Race 12 {Jeff Ruby Steaks Stakes~G3~1 1/8 mile~3 year-old~Graded Stakes}

A field of twelve will go to the gate in search of Kentucky Derby points.

Past Performances used:  Equibase.

There is enough speed and forwardly placed types to maintain a strong pace. All but three will stretch out to this distance. Seven will race over the Tapeta surface for the first time. Speed numbers are fairly close making it a competitive event. With derby points on the line, the top two finishers should get a spot in gate on the first Saturday in May. It should be an excellent race.

#7 Tiz the Bomb (B. Hernandez / McPeek) will stretch out with the second highest (tie) last out speed number and two sensational works. This guy should track and close swiftly coming into the stretch. He holds the highest number of wins among this field, with four. A son of Hit It a Bomb, he is 72% in the money from seven career starts.

$2 WIN  /  $3 PLACE  /  $5 SHOW.

#2 Stolen Base (Corrales / Maker) is another that will stretch out sharing the second highest last out speed number and three hearty workouts. This lad will also track and close coming into the stretch. A son of Bodemeister, he is 72% in the money from seven career starts.

$2 PLACE  /  $3 SHOW.

#11 Constitution Lawyer (Samuel / Handal) will race over the Tapeta for the first time with the highest speed number at the distance and three rugged workouts. He should be part of the pace scenario. A son of Constitution, he is 50% in the money from four career starts.

$2 SHOW.

Other Wagering Interests

#8 Red Run (Talamo / Asmussen) is another that will try the Tapeta for the first time. He comes in from a Houston Race Park turf race where he earned the highest last out speed number. Four strong peaking workouts adds some luster. Look for him to take up a tracking position ready to strike. A son of famed Gun Runner, he is 50% in the money from six career starts.

#5 Tawny Port (M. Franco / B. Cox) has already competed at this distance. He comes into this race with three last out good speed figs and four powerful workouts. Yet another tracker/closer in this field. A son of Pioneer of the Nile, he holds a 66% win record from three career starts.

#9 Dowagiac Chief (Graham / Amoss) comes up from the Fair Grounds with the third highest last out speed number and two sound workouts. This guy will also be part of the pace scenario. A son of Cairo Prince, he is 37% in the money from eight career starts.

$1 Saturday Exacta Wheel ($5.00)

#7 Tiz the Bomb  //  #2 Stolen Base,  #11 Constitutional Lawyer,  #8 Red Run,  #5 Tawny Port,  #9 Dowagiac Chief.

10 CENT Superfecta Box ($2.40)

#7 Tiz the Bomb  +  #2 Stolen Base  +  #11 Constitutional Lawyer  +  #8 Red Run.

10 CENT Superfecta Straight ($3.60)

#7 Tiz the Bomb  /  #2 Stolen Base  /  #11 Constitutional Lawyer,  #8 Red Run,  #5 Tawny Port,  #9 Dowagiac Chief  /  ALL.

Best of luck with all your Turfway Park wagers and any other track wagers you make on this fantastic Stakes Saturday!!!

Stakes Saturday at Magnificent Keeneland

 With the Kentucky Derby only twenty-eight days away we take in one of the influential preps on the road to KD 147.

Keeneland Race 11 {Toyota Bluegrass~G2~1 1/8 mile~3 year-old~Graded Stakes}

A fantastic field of nine will enter the gate in search of Derby points.

Past Performances used:  DRF Classic.

Of this field, seven have accumulated some derby points, but only one, Essential Quality, may already have enough to get himself into the gate on the first Saturday in May. He will be the odds on favorite. Only two in this field have gone this distance. The aforementioned favorite is the only millionaire of the group. This race lacks speed as most take up a tracking position hoping to close gallantly. Speed numbers are very close for the top tier of runners. It should be a great race with a number in here ready to prove their mettle.

#4 Essential Quality (L. Saez / B. Cox) is the deserved favorite as he puts his undefeated record from four career starts on the line. He won last out in the Southwest at Oaklawn Park earning him the highest last out speed number of this crew. He has since put in three dynamite workouts in preparation for this race. A millionaire son of Tapit, could be the pace leader by default.

$1 WIN  /  $2 PLACE  /  $3 SHOW.

#3 Highly Motivated (Castellano / C. Brown) should be the chief challenger with the second highest last out speed number and two sound workouts. He has already posted a victory at Keeneland. Currently he is in 33rd position on the KD 147 points leaderboard and will need to win or place second to get himself in the gate. This lad is one of many trackers in this field. A son of Into Mischief, whose progeny relish the Keeneland surface, is 100% in the money from four career starts.

$1 PLACE  /  $2 SHOW.

#5 Rombauer (Geroux / M. McCarthy) will surely challenge coming off a victory at this distance in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields. His last three races have produced consistently good speed figs and he has put in four powerful workouts in preparation for the race. He sits in 24th position on the KD 147 points leaderboard. Look for him to be battling among the closers to hit the board. A son of surface versatile, Twirling Candy, he is 60% in the money from five career starts.

$2 SHOW.

#1 Hidden Stash (Bejarano / Oliver) is sitting on an explosive effort with a couple of good last out speed numbers and three superb peaking workouts. This guy ranks 18th on the KD 147 points leaderboard. He should take up a tracking position ready to strike. Another in this field with a win over the Keenland track. A son of Constitution, he is 83% in the money from six career starts.

$1 SHOW.

$1 Saturday Exacta Wheel ($3.00)

#4 Essential Quality  //  #3 Highly Motivated,  #5 Rombauer,  #1 Hidden Stash.

10 CENT Superfecta Box ($2.40)

#4 Essential Quality  +  #3 Highly Motivated  +  #5 Rombauer  +  #1 Hidden Stash.

Last Stakes Saturday (3/27) Results

Turfway Park R11.  Jeff Ruby Steaks--G3.  Our first pick, Gretsky the Great, finished a disappointing 5th.  Our second pick, Sainthood, finished 2nd for place money of $9.40 and show money of $9.90.  Our third pick, Like the King, won (1st) for show money of $5.60.

We flubbed our Exacta Wheel play. Superfecta went 1-5-12-9.

Bankroll moves up a notch to settle at $54.13.

Stakes Saturday at Turfway Park

 Derby points are on the line again as we turn attention to the Tapeta at Turfway Park. The 2021 Kentucky Derby is only 35 days away.

Turfway Park Race 11 {Jeff Ruby Steaks~G3~1 1/8 mile~3 year-old~graded Stakes}

A full and fantastic field of twelve will go to the gate in this annual prep race.

Past Performances used:  Equibase.

All, but three in this field like to be close to the pace as their are speedsters and pressers that will lead the way. The entire field will be stretching out to this distance for the first time. Speed numbers are very close making it quite a competitive event. Interestingly, only half the field have synthetic or turf experience prepping for this one. It should be a high quality race on a day with terrific racing across the country.

#10 Gretzky the Great (C. Landeros / M. Casse) might have the edge with the third highest last out speed number and two superb peaking workouts. He has hit the board in both of his starts over the synthetic surface. Expect this guy to be battling with the forwardly placed herd. A son of Nyquist, he is 83% in the money from six career starts.

$2 WIN  /  $3 PLACE  /  $5 SHOW.

#5 Sainthood (Corrales / Pletcher) should challenge coming off the dirt in his third career start. This lad has hit the board in both of those starts. Pedigree suggests he should get over the synthetic smoothly. His four strong peaking workouts indicate he is ready for a good run. A son of Mshawish, this guy is 100% in the money from two career starts.

$2 PLACE  /  $3 SHOW.

#1 Like the King (Van Dyke / W. Ward) will contend with the second highest last out speed number over this surface and one fierce bullet workout. He is another that should be running with the lead pack. A son of Palace Malice, he is 100% in the money from five career starts.

$2 SHOW.

#12 Hockey Dad (Bejarano / O'Neill) comes in from California where he has stitched three wins in a row and has put in two hearty workouts. Look for him to be guided just off the pace ready to spring into the stretch. Another son of Nyquist, he is 75% in the money from four career starts.

$1 Saturday Exacta Wheel ($3.00)

#10 Gretzky the Great  //  #5 Sainthood,  #1 Like the King,  #12 Hockey Dad.

10 CENT Superfecta Box ($2.40)

#10 Gretzky the Great  +  #5 Sainthood  +  #1 Like the King  +  #12 Hockey Dad.

Our Previous Stakes Saturday Play (3/13/2021)

Oaklawn Park R11.  Rebel Stakes--G2.  Our first pick, Get Her Number, finished 7th.  Our second pick, Keepmeinmind, finished 6th.  Our third pick, Caddo River, finished 5th.

We were complete shut out in our Exacta and Superfecta play.  Superfecta went 7-3-2-8.

Bankroll gets crushed and drops to $51.63.