Another Aqueduct and Gulfstream Thursday

Another weekend starts with a sunny Thursday.  Today we look at races at Aqueduct and Gulfstream.

Aqueduct Race 3 {Lottsa Talc Stakes~6 furlongs~3 year old~fillies~NY}
An interesting races shapes up here with two top choices and the rest fighting for purse.  Cuff Me (Dominguez / A. Dutrow) has the edge with the highest last out speed number and two strong, peaking workouts.  So N So (Cohen / T. Bush) has put in a beautiful workout tab, is two wins for two races at the distance, and has a decent last out speed number.  Myrtle's Gray (J. Velazquez / Ward) has the second highest last out speed number and three robust workouts.  Let's play this intriguing race at Aqueduct.

$2 SHOW:  #6 Cuff Me
$2 SHOW:  #3 Myrtle's Gray
NO 10 CENT Superfecta offered.

Gulfstream Race 8 {1 1/8 mile~Turf~4 year old Up~Allowance}
No matter how you handicap this one, there are a number in here who could pull off a victory.  Armstrong Mill (Maragh / Clement) has the edge with the second highest last out speed number, a two race progression, and two sturdy workouts.  Shopenhauer (Bravo / Manning) has the third highest last out speed number and two limber workouts.  Blazen (Rose / Pecoraro) has the highest last out speed number and one solid workout.  He is 81% in the money over his eleven race career.  Grey Boundary (Saez / Attard) could be the surprise here with a decent last out speed number and one vigorous workout.  Should be hitting the top of his form cycle.  Let's play Gulfstream.

$2 WIN / SHOW:  #5 Armstrong Mill
10 CENT Superfecta:  #5 Armstrong Mill / #1 Shopenhauer / #4 Blazen, #7 Grey Boundary / #4, #7.
















Last Sunday's (3/28) Results
Gulfstream R10.  Our first pick, Nehantic Kat, finished 3rd for show money of $4.40.  Our second pick, Changing Skies (IRE), was scratched.  Superfecta went 5-3-8-1.
Sunland Park R12.  Our pick, Conveyance, finished 2nd for show money of $2.10.  Superfecta went 5-3-9-7.
Bankroll gently rises to $27.20.

From Gulfstream to Sunland Park

A Sensational Sunday to look at a couple of significant stakes races.

Gulfstream Race 10 {Orchid~G3~1 1/2 mile~Turf~4 year old Up~fillies/mares~Stakes}
This is a very tough race to handicap with a large number of talented horses.  Nehantic Kat (Castellano / Tagg) has a very slight edge with a decent last out speed number and three strong workouts.  Changing Skies(IRE) (Chavez / Mott) has the highest last out speed number and two limber workouts.  She will be the chief challenger.  Celtic Princess(BRZ) (Da Silva / Garamori) may be the surprise.  She has already gone this distance in her native Brazil taking third.  She has a decent last out speed number and has two sturdy, peaking workouts to her credit.  Cable (A. Garcia / Clement) will also be tough.  She has posted the second highest last out speed number and a vigorous workout.  Speak Easy Gal (Trujillo / Wolfson) has improved speed numbers in all eight of her starts.  She has the fourth highest last out speed number and three robust workouts.  Let's give Gulfstream an excellent try.

$2 SHOW:  #8 Nehantic Kat
$2 SHOW:  #11 Changing Skies (IRE)
10 CENT Superfecta:  #8 Nehantic Kat / #11 Changing Skies / #10 Celtic Princess / #6 Cable, #5 Speak Easy Gal.

Sunland Park {Sunland Derby~G3~1 1/8 mile~3 year old~Stakes}
Which ever horse comes out of this race with the win can be considered a Kentucky Derby contender.  He will have proved himself to have the stamina and endurance to go the Derby distance.  Conveyance (M. Garcia / Baffert) looks to be the very best of this group.  He will be the speed in this race and if jockey, Martin Garcia can keep him to nicely paced fractions he will have enough in his tank to fight off any challenges in the straight away.  Conveyance has posted the highest last out speed number and trainer, Bob Baffert has worked him perfectly for this race with four muscular workouts.  Storming Saint (Contreras / Dominguez) will be ready for this race under the tutelage of trainer, Henry Dominguez.  He loves this track and has posted two virile workouts.  Expect him to improve in this event.  Endorsement (Albarado / Ritter) will be place forwardly in this race and ready to change gears in the straight away. He comes into this one with a good last out speed number and three fierce workouts.  Trainer, Shannon Ritter will have Endorsement ready to run a great race.  Classical Slew (T. Baze / O'Neill) is moving up from a sprint, last out to this stakes route.  He has posted an impressive three digit speed number overall and has three healthy workouts in preparation for this race.  He  will factor into this one.  Tempted to Tapit (Cohen / Klesaris) will also show speed in this event.  He has a great last out speed number and three powerful workouts.  He will threaten.  It is important to note that only one horse, Fog Alert (Juarez / Taylor), in this field of nine has gone this distance.  Conditioning will be of significant importance to get in the winners circle.  Let's play another Derby Prep at Sunland Park.

$2 WIN / SHOW:  #3 Conveyance
10 CENT Superfecta: #3 Conveyance / #1 Storming Saint / #5 Endorsement / #6 Classical Slew, #9 Tempted To Tapit.

                             















Saturday's Results
Turfway R9.  Our first pick, Connemara, finished 3rd for show money of $2.10.  Our second pick, Dean's Kitten, won (1st) for show money of $3.40.  Superfecta went 9-7-1-3.
Fairgrounds R10.  Our first pick, Discreetly Mine, finished 4th.  Our second pick, Fly Down, finished 9th.  Superfecta went 2-5-13-7.
Bankroll dips to $26.90.

A Derby Prep Saturday

We are getting closer to the Kentucky Derby.  Today we look at two top notch Derby prep races.

Fairgrounds Race 10 {Louisianna Derby~G2~1 1/8 mile~3 year old~Stakes}
This will be a highly competitive race with all horses seeking sufficient graded earnings to make it to the gate on the first Saturday in May.  Discreetly Mine (Castellano / Pletcher) looks the best if he can control the pace that will leave him with plenty of gas in the tank for the stretch run.  He has the second highest speed number last out, a two race progression and three efficient workouts.  Will be the one to beat.  Fly Down (Lezcano / Zito) is one of four horses that have already raced at this distance.  He is 100% in the money for his three career starts, has a two race progression, and three hardy workouts.  A Little Warm (Cohen / A. Dutrow) will moving from a sprint to this route.  He has posted the highest last out speed number and two aggressive workouts in preparation for this race.  Drosselmeyer (Desormeaux / Mott) has the top speed at this distance and is also 100% in the money.  With three sturdy workouts he will be closing strongly for the victory.  Stay Put (Theriot / Margolis) will battle with the other closers in this race for a piece of the purse.  He has the best workout tab with three muscular workouts added to a five race progression.  Let's play Fairgrounds.

$2 SHOW:  #7 Discreetly Mine
$2 SHOW:  #3 Fly Down
10 CENT Superfecta:  #7 Discreetly Mine / #3 Fly Down / #5 A Little Warm / #13 Drosselmeyer, #9 Stay Put.

Turfway Race 9 {Lane's End~G2~1 1/8 mile~3 year old~Stakes}
What a fabulous race over the all weather track!  Connemara (R. Baze / Pletcher) should be able to pull off the victory.  He sports a four for four record and has trained well for this race.  He is the only horse in the field that has already notched a victory at this distance.  Dean's Kitten (C. Velasquez / Maker) looks terrific with the highest speed number last out, a four race progression, and two fine workouts.  Outlaw Man (Solis / McPeek) will surprise in this race with the second highest speed number at the distance and two sinewy workouts.  With jockey, Alex Solis in the irons he will close well.  Northern Giant (Borel / Lukas) shares the highest last out speed number with Dean's Kitten.  Northern Giant has also posted the absolute best workout tab.  He will be ready.  Letsgetitonmon (McKee / Asmussen) may also surprise here with a splendid three peaking workouts and a decent last out speed number.  This is a great group of possible Derby contenders which will make for a very heart pounding race.  Let's play Turfway.

$2 WIN / SHOW:  #1 Connemara
$2 SHOW:  #9 Dean's Kitten
10 CENT Superfecta:  #1 Connemara / #9 Dean's Kitten / #6 Outlaw Man / #7 Northern Giant, #8 Letsgetitonmon.
















Friday's Results
Fairgrounds R9.  Our first pick, Jody Slew, finished 6th.  Our second pick, Champagn d'Oro, finished 2nd for $10.60 in show money.  Superfecta went 1-10-2-3.
Bankroll rises to $31.80.

Fairgrounds Fillies are Mighty Fine

Today we look at the fabulous Fairgrounds Oaks.

Fairgrounds Race 9 {Fairgrounds Oaks~G2~1 1/16 mile~3 year old~Fillies~Stakes}
An awesome group of fillies line up for this race.  Jody Slew (Mena / Calhoun) has a very slight edge, sharing the third highest last out speed number and two strong workouts.  She loves the Fairgrounds track as she is 100% in the money and has won at this distance.  Champagne d'Oro (Jacinto / Guillot) looks great with the highest last out speed number and three well-built, peaking workouts.  She will be the speed in this race and could conceivably wire the field.  Mambo Fever (Cohen / A. Dutrow) looks good with a 100% in the money record over her five race career.  She has the second highest speed number at the distance and two hardy, peaking workouts.  Visavis (Hernandez / Margolis) may be the surprise as she shares the third highest last out speed number and has posted the best workout tab with three high energy workouts.  Hopefully she will do well going two turns.  Quiet Temper (Albarado / Romans) looks ready to fire with three robust workouts and the experience of going this distance.  This will be a fabulous race filled with excitement.  Let's play Fairgrounds.

$2 SHOW:  #8 Jody Slew
$2 SHOW:  #10 Champagn d'Oro
10 CENT Superfecta:  #8 Jody Slew / #10 Champagn d'Oro / #4 Mambo Fever / #6 Visavis, #1 Quiet Temper.















Thursday's Results
Aqueduct R7.  Our first pick, Simmy, finished 8th (last).  Our second pick, Beboblues Art, won (1st) for show money of $2.90.  Superfecta went 2-6-7-1.
Oaklawn R7.  Our first pick, Jilly From Philly, was disqualified from 1st to 3rd for impeding another horse. It provided us show money of $2.40.  Our second pick, Quiet Thanks, finished 8th (last).
Bankroll dips to $25.40.
   

An Aqueduct and Oaklawn Thursday

The horse racing weekend begins with a contest at Aqueduct and one at Oaklawn.

Aqueduct Race 7 {1 mile~3 year old Up~fillies/mares~NY~Allowance}
This will be a closely contested race.  Simmy (A. Garcia / Violette) looks to be the best prepared.  She has the highest last out speed number and three tough workouts.  Beboblues Art (Napravnik / Schosberg) shows a decent last out speed number and two solid, peaking workouts.  Queenamenia (Chavez / Contessa) is 100% in the money at the distance, has a decent last out speed number, a five race progression, and a robust workout.  She will try to make it four wins in a row.  Starjetta (Espinoza / Grusmark) is showing strength with three stellar workouts and a two race progression.  She also shows the same last out speed number that Queenameina and Beboblues Art have posted.  Any one of these four could pull off the victory.  Let's play Aqueduct.

$2 SHOW:  #8 Simmy
$2 SHOW:  #2 Beboblues Art
10 CENT Superfecta:  #8 Simmy / #2 Beboblues Art / #3 Queenameina / #6 Starjetta.

Oaklawn Race 7 {1 mile~3 year old Up~Allowance}
A nice little route mile race to enjoy on a Thursday afternoon.  Jilly From Philly (Berry / Robertson) looks the very best in this race.  She is a superb 100% in the money at the distance, sports a solid last out speed number, and has a burly workout.  Quiet Thanks (Nakatani / Forster) looks to take another positive step forward with a decent last out speed number at a longer distance and two brawny workouts.  Gather All (Sterling / Holthus) will show speed and should hold on to take a minor award in here.  He has the highest last out speed number, a three race progression, and three hardy workouts.  There is no ten cent superfecta offered on this race.  Let's play Oaklawn.

$2 WIN / SHOW:  #7 Jilly From Philly
$2 SHOW:  #3 Quiet Thanks
NO 10 CENT Superfecta.

















Last Sunday's (3/21)
Santa Anita R8.  Our first pick, Tuscan Evening (IRE), won (1st) for $4.00 in win money and $2.20 in show money.  Our second pick, General Consensus, finished 3rd for show money of $3.20.  Superfecta went 3-8-2-1.
Bankroll rises to $30.20.
  

Spring Sunday at Santa Anita

To end our weekend of racing we look at a tremendous Turf race at beautiful Santa Anita.

Santa Anita Race 8 {Santa Ana~G2~1 1/8 mile~Turf~4 year old Up~fillies/mares~Stakes}
A very nice Turf contest unfolds with eight going to the gate.  Tuscan Evening (Bejarano / Hollendorfer) looks very good with four well-developed workouts.  She has the highest speed number over the surface and is 100% in the money on the Santa Anita Turf.  She will be the one to beat as she controls the front end pace.  General Consensus (Solis / P. Gallagher) has the second best last out speed number and three fierce workouts.  She also has a nice four race progression and appears to be strong at this distance.  Cat by the Tale (Rosario / Drysdale) has the highest speed number at the distance, a relatively decent last out speed number and four superb, peaking workouts.  She will challenge.  April Pride(GB) (Flores / Cassidy) is more a mile specialist and a tough one at that.  She has a strong last out speed number, a three race progression, and three determined, peaking workouts.  She has the potential to surprise.  Let's play Santa Anita.

$2 WIN / SHOW:  #3 Tuscan Evening
$2 SHOW:  #2 General Consensus
10 CENT Superfecta:  #3 Tuscan Evening / #2 General Consensus / #8 Cat by the Tale / #7 April Pride (GB).

                              















Saturday Results
Gulfstream R11.  Our first pick, Lentenor, finished 4th.  Our second pick, First Dude, finished 5th.  Superfecta went 8-4-7-2.
Santa Anita R6.  Our first pick, Warren's R Ready, won (1st) for show money of $5.80.  Our second pick, A Clever Ten, finished 5th.  Superfecta went 3-2-7-8.
Bankroll dips to $26.90.

Florida Derby Day

It's Florida Derby Day on this first day of Spring. The weather should be pleasant in the 70's at Gulfstream. Nice!  Meanwhile, back here in Chicago we have a light blanket of snow on the ground and the snow is still coming down lightly.  Welcome to Spring, Chicago style.

Gulfstream Race 11 {Florida Derby~G1~1 1/8 mile~3 year old~Stakes}
This race features a great crop of Kentucky Derby aspirants.  It promises to be an exciting race.  Rule (J. Velazquez / Pletcher) should show the way on the front end.  It is his race to win if he paces himself well.  Rule has the highest speed number overall and has worked fiercly for this one, posting three solid workouts.  He will not offer much value, so we will look at the rest of the group for our show bets.  The battle will be over the balance of the purse and there are a number in here that could come away with additional stakes winnings to get them to the gate on the first day of May.  Best Actor (Castellano / Catalano) is the one horse that could pull an upset.  He has posted the highest speed number at the distance and has two powerful, peaking workouts leading into this event.  We will use him in our complex Florida Derby ten cent superfecta.  Lentenor (A. Garcia / Matz) seems to be progressing nicely with a four race progression and three well-built workouts.  Lentenor (Barbaro's little brother) will be going from turf to dirt today.  He should be sitting on a big race.  First Dude (Dominguez / Romans) is another sitting on a breakout race.  He has the second highest speed number at the distance, has a three race progression, and two fabulous workouts.  He will be gunning for a piece of this purse.  Radiohead(GB) (Prado / R. Dutrow) will be moving up in distance with a couple of good workouts and a triple digit speed number over the Gulfstream track.  Miner's Reserve (Desormeaux / Zito) looks like he will compete well with these in his third race of his career.  He has posted the second highest speed number over the surface and has one decent workout.  Let's play sunny Gulfstream.

$2 SHOW:  #2 Letenor
$2 SHOW:  #6 First Dude
10 CENT Superfecta:  #7 Rule, #10 Best Actor / #2 Lentenor, #7, #10 / #6 First Dude, #7, #10, #2 / #11 Radiohead(GB), #9 Miner's Reserve, #7, #10, #2, #6.  outlay: $2.40.

Santa Anita Race 6 {6 1/2 furlong~downhill Turf~4 year old Up~fillies/mares~CA~Allowance Optional Claiming}
These downhill Turf races are always exciting to watch.  This one promises to be the same.  Warren's R. Ready (Valdez / Guiterrez) looks the best.  She has the speed to get out in front and finish strongly.  She shows the highest speed number at the distance, a four race progression, and two hardy workouts.  A Clever Ten (Bejarano / Hollendorfer) will challenge with the third highest speed number at the distance and two robust workouts.  Ms. G.I. Jane (M. Garcia / Mathis) sports the second highest last out speed number at a longer distance and two quality works.  Pursuing a small piece of the purse pie will be Quid Non (Talamo / Rosales) with the second highest speed number at the distance and Bran Jammas (Blanc / Eurton) who shows the best workout tab with two stout workouts.  Let's play Santa Anita.

$2 SHOW:  #3 Warren's R. Ready
$2 SHOW:  #4 A Clever Ten
10 CENT Superfecta:  #3 Warren's R. Ready / #4 A Clever Ten / #7 Ms. G.I. Jane / #1 Quid Non, #9 Bran Jammas.

  















Friday's Results
Aqueduct R8.  Our first pick, Mor Chances, finished 3rd for $3.10 in show money.  Our second pick, Mt. Glittermore, won (1st) for $3.30 in show money.  No Superfecta for this race.
Fairgrounds R5.  Our first pick, Say the Word, finished 3rd for $4.80 in show money.  Our second pick, Yogi And Boo Boo, won (1st) for $2.80 in show money.  Superfecta went 8-7-5-2.
Bankroll rises to $31.70.