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.