Holy Bull Stakes tops big Gulfstream Saturday

The $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes will top a Gulfstream Saturday card that will feature five stakes events. The undefeated Mohaymen will look to kick off his Kentucky Derby journey and will make his first start at Gulfstream Park. Mohaymen will be shortening up from a mile and one eighth to a mile and a sixteenth and he was very strong in his Remsen win. Mohaymen will have to tangle with Greenpointcrusader who is a Grade 1 winner. He followed up his Grade 1 win in the Champagne Stakes with a seventh place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as the favorite. John Velazquez joins the Greenpointcrusader team as the rider as Greenpointcrusader will look to kick off his sophomore campaign in strong style. Conquest Big E is another horse who looms as he’s posted a couple nice wins in his career. Mike Smith will fly over to Gulfstream for the mount on Conquest Big E for trainer Mark Casse.

The Grade 2 Forward Gal kicks off the stakes action and is for three year old fillies going seven furlongs. The John Servis trained Cathryn Sophia will get the class test in here as she’s absolutely crushed her rivals in her first two starts. This will be her first try against stakes runners and there is other speed to possibly go with her. But if she runs like she did in those races they could all be running for second. Ballet Diva is a multiple stakes winner and also has some early speed and she’s 3 for 6 at Gulfstream Park. The Grade 2 Swale Stakes is for three year olds at 7 furlongs with Awesome Banner a likely favorite. Awesome Banner is undefeated and won the Grade 3 Hutcheson Stakes last time out by almost five lengths. Javier Castellano will ride Richie The Bull in the Swale Stakes and he’s already a stakes winner. Richie The Bull will likely be stalking so he might need some help from someone on the front end to go with Awesome Banner.

The Kitten’s Joy Stakes goes a mile on the grass and while the race isn’t a graded event, it has a number of graded stakes winners. Conquest Daddyo is a Grade 2 winner and was flying home in his last start, a fourth place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Life Imitates Art is coming off a win in the Grade 3 Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park. He’s never been out of the exacta in five career runs but this might be the deepest waters he’s been in. The Grade 3 Sweetest Chant Stakes drew a big field of twelve and Sapphire Kitten could be the one to beat. She’s Grade 3 placed and finished fourth beaten only a length in the Juvenile Fillies Turf at the Breeders’ Cup.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Holy Bull Stakes

1. Conquest Big E
2. Mohaymen
3. Greenpointcrusader

Longshot: Fellowship

BetPTC.com Selections for the Sweetest Chant

1. Pricedtoperfection
2. Ami’s Mesa
3. Sapphire Kitten

Longshot: Module

BetPTC.com Selections for the Kitten’s Joy

1. Life Imitates Art
2. Conquest Daddyo
3. Azar

Longshot: JR’s Holiday

BetPTC.com Selections for the Swale Stakes

1. Awesome Banner
2. Richie The Bull
3. Cardio Cowboy

Longshot: Ready Dancer

BetPTC.com Selections for the Forward Gal

1. Cathryn Sophia
2. Ballet Diva
3. Island Saint

Longshot: Dad’s Kiddo 

Saturday is Cal Cup Day at Santa Anita

The $250,000 Cal Cup Turf Classic tops a big Saturday for Cal-breds at Santa Anita as it’s Cal Cup Day. Alert Bay has done some of his best work at Santa Anita and comes into this race with 4 wins from 6 local starts. He was sixth last out in the Grade 3 Daytona but only was a length behind at the end. The drop back into state-bred competition could be just what the doctor ordered for him as he did win this race last year. Posky won the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap two starts back against a few of these same rivals. He came to Santa Anita last out and finished fourth in the Grade 2 San Gabriel. Flavien Prat will be on board for trainer Peter Miller in the Cal Cup Turf Classic.

The Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint leads the undercard and looks to be a wide open race going down the famed hillside turf course. Singing Kitty won the Unzip Me Stakes down the hill three starts back in her first start down the hill. She ran 9^th last time out down the hill but that was in a Grade 2. San Onofre comes into the Cal Cup Sprint off a win in the Grade 3 Midnight Lute Stakes. When he’s on his game he’s very tough but this race came up salty. Sunday Rules has only lost 1 race in his 8 race career so he’s a total win machine. His one loss was in a Grade 2 and he fits at this level perfectly.

Carla Gaines will send out the undefeated Smokey Image in the Cal Cup Derby. He has been able to win on the lead or from off the pace and will be making his first start for Carla Gaines barn. Glory Bound might be the logical choice to upset Smokey Image. Glory Bound was just second in the King Glorious last time and while he never seems to get respect at the windows, he could be a player in here. Pacific Heat figures to be a big player in the Cal Cup Oaks as her lone defeat was as the favorite in the Grade 1 Starlet.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Cal Cup Turf Classic

1. Alert Bay
2. Poshky
3. GG Ryder

Longshot: Boozer

BetPTC.com Selections for the Sunshine Millions F&M Turf

1. Qiaoana
2. Singing Kitty
3. Heavens Stairway

Longshot: Light One

BetPTC.com Selections for the Cal Cup Sprint

1. Sunday Rules
2. San Onofre
3. Richard’s Boy

Longshot: Pay The Fine

BetPTC.com Selections for the Cal Cup Derby

1. Smoky Image
2. Glory Bound
3. Tough it Out

Longshot: Record Highs

BetPTC.com Selections for the Cal Cup Oaks

1. Pacific Heat
2. Hurricane Callie
3. Just Google Me

Longshot: Roo’s Valentine

Houston Ladies Classic leads Sam Houston’s biggest night

Sam Houston Race Park will showcase the biggest night of the meet on Saturday as the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes tops a big card. Cassatt is back to defend her title in this race and has been made the 4/1 second choice in the wagering. Cassatt had a big year last year and after a break came back to win a $100,000 stake at Remington Park in her last start. She returns to Sam Houston where she barely held on to win this race last year. Her main competition could come from down on the rail as recent Comely Stakes winner Forever Unbridled has drawn the inside post. While she only has two career wins, Forever Unbridled has been keeping very strong company and figures a major player in here. Cali Star comes into the Houston Ladies Classic off a couple of very strong wins since going to the barn of Marty Wolfson. Last time out she crushed her foes in the Grade 3 Rampart Stakes at Gulfstream Park. She’s going better than she ever has in her career and is a huge threat.

The Grade 3 Connelly Turf is the other big race on the card and drew a field of twelve runners to go on the grass. Big John B is a multiple graded stakes winner and will make his Sam Houston debut as he ships in from Santa Anita for trainer Phillip D’Amato. Kaigun is the morning line favorite and while he hasn’t won in over a year he’s very consistent and is getting some class relief from his normal races.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Houston Ladies Classic

1. Cali Star
2. Cassatt
3. Theogony

Longshot: Diva’s Diamond

BetPTC.com Selections for the Connolly Turf Cup

1. Big John B.
2. Mobile Bay
3. Kaigun

Longshot: Pumpkin Rumble

Grade 2 Santa Monica is Santa Anita feature

Filly and Mare sprinters will be featured in Saturday’s $200,000 Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita. Nine runners will go the seven furlongs and the big question in the race could be who gets the early lead as there isn’t much early speed signed on. Grade 3 winner Ben’s Duchess drew the number two post and usually sits second or third in most of her sprint events, so she could end up being on the lead here. Finest City is the other in the race who usually shows some early speed but has still never been first at the first point of call in any of her races. So if either of them can be on their lonesome early on they could be dangerous.

Gary Mandella will sound out multiple Grade 2 winner Living the Life in the Santa Monica. She’s won the Presque Isle Masters two years in a row however she’s finished off the board in her two starts locally at Santa Anita. Eight of her nine wins have come on synthetic tracks and the other a turf victory, so the footing is the big question with her. Room For Me has been a win machine for trainer David Jacobson, winning 9 of 22 career starts including a number of smaller stakes. She was most recently third behind the very talented La Verdad over at Aqueduct and comes back to Santa Anita where she’s 3 for 4 in her career.

Prize Exhibit will make her dirt debut in the Santa Monica. She’s a multiple graded stakes winner and last time out took home the top honor in the Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes down the hill at Santa Anita. She does have a win in her lone start on the all-weather surface so it’s possible she could switch over the dirt in good shape.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Santa Monica

1. Ben’s Duchess
2. Living The Life
3. Room For Me

Longshot: Finest City

The two mile H. Allen Jerkens Stakes tops Gulfstream Saturday program

Older horses will do some marathon running on Saturday at Gulfstream Park as the two mile H. Allen Jerkens Stakes is the feature event. Charming Kitten is coming off a big win in the Grade 3 McKnight Handicap at Gulfstream Park West in his last start and has competed very well in marathon events before at this class level. The combination of Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez adds to the appeal on Charming Kitten who very well could be a short price. He’s also the only horse proven at two miles by virtue of his win in the Belmont Gold Cup in 2014. Right to his outside is Rocco d’Oro who was fifth in the McKnight last time out behind Charming Kitten. He’s only been in the States for a few months and has been focusing on longer races. Perhaps the stretchout to two miles could shorten the distance between Charming Kitten and himself.

St. Albans Boy was fourth in the McKnight and won the Laurel Turf Cup at a mile and a half three starts back. He’s kind of an even paced type runner but with the added distance if he can keep that pace he could have something to say about things at the end.

BetPTC.com Selections for the H. Allen Jerkens

1. Charming Kitten
2. Albans Boy
3. Rocco d’Oro

Longshot: Xaverian

Stakes Trifecta at Tampa Bay Downs this weekend

Preps for the Tampa Bay Derby card are beginning down at Tampa Bay Downs this weekend as there are three stakes on the card. The Pasco Stakes starts the road for three year olds to the Tampa Bay Derby and drew a field of ten runners. Morning Fire drew the inside and is multiple stakes placed although he hasn’t broken through and won at that level yet. He was second in the PA Nursery Stakes last time out behind the talented Bird of Trey and with the inside post should be sending towards the lead early on in here. Right to his outside is another speedy type in the form of Awesome Slate. Kathleen O’Connell will send out Formal Summation who was second in the Inaugural Stake just before Christmas. He had a rough start that day and with a better beginning could have a big say in this race.

The three year old fillies will go in the $100,000 Gasparilla Stakes including the big Gulfstream maiden winner R Girls a Charmer. She blitzed a good group of maiden special weight runners and got a big speed figure for that effort and figures to get a lot of support in the wagering for trainer Mark Casse. She’ll have to take down Cosmic Girl who was a huge winner in her local debut at Tampa. She crushed $75,000 optional claiming runners last time out and it was a stand out performance for her. Hidden Treat won the Sandpiper Stakes last time out at Tampa and is undefeated in her young career so far. She’s drawn the ten hole but she should be able to get over to a good spot with the long run to the turn.

The $50,000 Wayward Lass Stakes completes the stakes action and drew ten older fillies and mares going a route of ground. The race is mostly loaded with high level allowance horses looking to make the jump up to stakes events. Tiger Moth is one of those and has never been off the board in seven starts. She’s coming off an allowance win at Gulfstream Park and will be ridden by Edgard Zayas for trainer Todd Pletcher. Savings Account is actually Grade 1 placed this year and comes to Tampa for the first time in her career for trainer Tom Proctor.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Pasco

1. Formal Summation
2. Epic Journey
3. Morning Fire

Longshot: Jay’s Way

BetPTC.com Selections for the Gasparilla

1. R Girls a Charmer
2. Cosmic Girl
3. Hidden Treat

Longshot: Valuable Charmer

BetPTC.com Selections for the Wayward Lass

1. Tiger Moth
2. Innovative Idea
3. Joint Return

Longshot: White Clover

Fillies tangle in the Busanda at Aqueduct

Three year old fillies will contest a mile and 70 yards on Saturday in the $100,000 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct. None of the horses in the race have more than a maiden win so the race is ripe for an improving horse to jump up and get the win. Flora Dora drew the rail and is stakes placed having just missed in the Grade 3 Tempted Stakes two starts back. She finished fourth in the Grade 2 Demoiselle last time out and clearly has an experience and class edge over her rivals. Scatoosh seemed to relish the inner track dirt last time out in breaking her maiden. She did it at a route distance and if anything should have a fitness edge over her rivals. The Todd Pletcher trained Alto Belle will certainly get some attention because of her connections, but also because of her 18 length maiden win last time out. She went wire to wire on a muddy track and if the track comes up wet Saturday she could very well be the one to beat.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Busanda

1. Alto Belle
2. Flora Dora
3. Kentucky Road

Longshot: Scatoosh

Saturday Stakes Action at BetPTC.com

Aqueduct

Race 3                  Busanda Stakes                        1:20pm EST

Gulfstream Park

Race 9                  H. Allen Jerkens Stakes             4:35pm EST

Oaklawn Park

Race 8                  American Beauty Stakes            5:38pm EST

Sam Houston

Race 6                  Spirit of Texas Stakes                9:35pm EST

Race 7                  Star of Texas Stakes                 10:04pm EST

Race 8                  Groovy Stakes                          10:31pm EST

Race 9                  Richard King Stakes                   10:58pm EST

Santa Anita

Race 8                  Santa Monica Stakes                 7:00pm EST

Sunland Park

Race 9                  Winsham Lad Stakes                 6:10pm EST

Tampa Bay Downs

Race 6                  Gasparilla Stakes                       2:50pm EST

Race 7                  Pasco Stakes                                3:20pm EST

Race 9                  Wayward Lass Stakes                4:20pm EST

Turf Paradise

Race 7                  Hank Mills Sr. Stakes                  5:27pm EST

Oaklawn Park opens up on Friday

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas will kick off the winter/spring meet on Friday January 15^th. Bettors will find great quality races as well as huge, competitive fields all opening weekend long. The three year olds will be on display all meet long as the trail to the Arkansas Derby on closing day April 16^th. That three year old series will kick off this coming Monday on Martin Luther King Day with the Smarty Jones Stakes. The Southwest Stakes, then the Rebel Stakes and finally the Arkansas Derby will complete the three year old series at Oaklawn.

Racing will be run on a Thursday through Sunday schedule with first post at 2:30pm EST on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Saturday cards and holiday programs will kick off at 2:00pm EST and Friday’s opening day card will kick off at a special 1:30pm EST start time. The opening day feature is the $100,000 Dixie Belle Stakes for 3 year old fillies and sees Durango named the 2/1 morning line favorite. Durango has won two straight races for trainer Randy Morse up at Churchill Downs. The six furlong distance is one she’s proven at and she’ll add blinkers for this effort. Above Fashion ships up to Oaklawn off a win in the Letellier Memorial Stakes down at the Fair Grounds. Her best race puts her in the mix but like all these runners she’ll be making her Oaklawn debut so the surface is a question mark.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Dixie Belle

1. Durango
2. Alien Giant
3. Above Fashion

Longshot: Don’t Boss Me

Saturday is Sunshine Millions Day at Gulfstream Park

Florida-bred runners will be center stage on Saturday as Sunshine Millions Day is upon us. Saraguaro comes into the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Classic in top form with two straight stakes wins. He took home the Sunshine Millions Classic Preview last time out and did it very stylishly under jockey Eddie Castro. Runs With Bulls is another who comes into this race on a streak having won three races in a row, including most recently a Claiming Crown Stakes event. Trainer Peter Walder has Runs With Bulls in career form and jockey Javier Castellano will once again have the mount. Mr. Jordan will wheel back in just seven days after finishing a well beaten fifth in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope Stakes. He was beaten by horses like Mshawish and Valid that day who would be huge favorites in this spot, so he’s definitely getting some class relief.

Reporting Star will be one of the key players in the Sunshine Millions Turf. He won the $100,000 El Prado Stakes last time out but prior to that finished fourth beaten just a neck in the Sunshine Millions Turf Preview. He was beaten that day by Old Time Hockey who is entered here in the Turf. Old Time Hockey is a tough seven year old who should be rallying late once again in the Turf. Legal Laura won the Sunshine Millions Distaff Preview and figures to be a contender on Saturday in the Sunshine Millions Distaff. She won convincingly that day at 7/1 and came back in her next start to place sixth in the Grade 3 Rampart. Although she beat Flutterby in the Distaff Preview Flutterby might well be the favorite on Saturday. She’s speedy and has done some of her best work at Gulfstream Park and her best effort makes her a huge chance in here.

The Sunshine Millions Turf Sprint drew a full field including Pure Sensation who comes into the race off an 8^th place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Pure Sensation is a Grade 3 winner and has a distinct class edge over most of her rivals. Katie’s Kiss is 10/1 on the morning line but has top connections and a solid record at the distance and at Gulfstream Park. Could be a very live longshot play. XY Jet might be the biggest favorite on the day and comes into the Sunshine Millions Sprint on a terror. He absolutely crushed his rivals in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector and anything close to that effort will result in another win. Wildcat Red and C Zee might be his two biggest competitors but they’ll have to make up some ground to catch XY Jet. The Filly and Mare Turf will kick off the Sunshine Millions action in race 5 and features stakes winner Lori’s Store. She’s generally a deep closer so she’ll need a setup but there is some good speed in the race including Daddy’s Boo.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Sunshine Millions Classic

1. Mexikoma
2. Saraguaro
3. Runs With Bulls

Longshot: Sr. Quisqueyano

BetPTC.com Selections for the Sunshine Millions Turf

1. Old Time Hockey
2. Cement Clement
3. Reporting Star

Longshot: My Point Exactly

BetPTC.com Selections for the Sunshine Millions Distaff

1. Dogwood Trail
2. Flutterby
3. Legal Laura

Longshot: Moment of Delight

BetPTC.com Selections for the Sunshine Millions Turf Sprint

1. Katie’s Kiss
2. Pure Sensation
3. Summation Time

Longshot: Jewel of a Cat

BetPTC.com Selections for the Sunshine Millions Sprint

1. XY Jet
2. C Zee
3. El Botas

Longshot: Alfredo Romana

BetPTC.com Selections for the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf

1. Lori’s Store
2. Daddy’s Boo
3. EB Ryder

Longshot: Comet Sixty Two

Lecomte Stakes starts the road to the Louisiana Derby

The Louisiana Derby trail gets underway on Saturday as the Grade 3 Lecomte for three year olds tops a stakes filled card at Fair Grounds. A full field of fourteen is entered for the mile and 70 yard event with Mo Tom the 7/2 morning line favorite. Mo Tom has a stakes win to his name and last time out finished a credible third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs, a Grade 2 event. He’s run well both times at two turns which gives him a bit of a fitness edge on many of his rivals. Bret Calhoun will send out Fish Trappe Road who is coming out of a second place run in a state-bred stake at Aqueduct. Uncle Walter is a lightly raced runner for the Mike Maker barn that has tremendous upside. He’s a son of Uncle Mo who has been throwing talented runners left and right and he just missed last time out in his first try against winners.

The undercard is topped by the Colonel ER Bradley Handicap, a Grade 3 event for turf runners. String King is back to defend his title in this race and has kept himself in top form for years now. He took a short break after his win in the Unbridled Stakes at Louisiana Downs and came back with a second place finish last out in a state-bred turf event at Fair Grounds, missing by a nose. He’ll have to deal with Fair Grounds specialist Chocolate Ride who won the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz here last year. He’s 4 for 5 at the Fair Grounds and crushed his rivals in his seasonal debut last time out, winning an allowance optional claiming event. Stageplay looks the logical horse in the Silverbulletday Stakes which came up with a field of eight. She’s a stakes winner already and was last seen finishing second in the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs. If you’re looking for someone to beat her Midnight on Oconee or Lovable Lyss might be good options.

The Marie Krantz Stakes for older filly turf runners and the Louisiana Stakes for older runners complete the stakes action for a Saturday card at Fair Grounds that gets underway at 1:30pm EST.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Lecomte

1. Fish Trappe Road
2. Mo Tom
3. Battle Tap

Longshot: Destin

BetPTC.com Selections for the Col. ER Bradley

1. Chocolate Ride
2. Majestic Harbor
3. String King

Longshot: Pumpkin Rumble

BetPTC.com Selections for the Silverbulletday

1. Stageplay
2. Lovable Lyss
3. Midnight on Oconee

Longshot: Jet Black Magic

BetPTC.com Selections for the Marie Krantz Memorial

1. Masquerade
2. Street of Gold
3. Cash Control

Longshot: Discreetely Grand

BetPTC.com Selections for the Louisiana Stakes

1. Eagle
2. Majestic Harbor
3. International Star

Longshot: Coup De Grace

Saturday Stakes Action at BetPTC.com

Aqueduct

Race 3                  Jazil Stakes                              1:20pm EST

Delta Downs

Race 8                  Fremont Stakes                        9:56pm EST

Fair Grounds

Race 7                  Louisiana Stakes                       4:25pm EST

Race 8                  Marie Krantz Memorial                4:54pm EST

Race 9                  Silverbulletday Stakes                5:23pm EST

Race 10               Colonel ER Bradley H.               5:52pm EST

Race 11                Lecomte Stakes                       6:21pm EST

Golden Gate

Race 7                  California Derby                        6:45pm EST

Gulfstream Park

Race 5                  Sunshine Millions F&M Turf          2:05pm EST

Race 6                  Sunshine Millions Sprint              2:35pm EST

Race 7                  Sunshine Millions Turf Sprint       3:05pm EST

Race 9                  Sunshine Millions Distaff             4:05pm EST

Race 10                Sunshine Millions Turf                4:34pm EST

Race 11                Sunshine Millions Classic              5:05pm EST

Laurel Park

Race 4                  Marshua Stakes                        1:55pm EST

Race 6                  Frank Whiteley Jr. Stakes           2:55pm EST

Race 8                  Fire Plug Stakes                        3:55pm EST

Oaklawn Park

Race 8                  Fifth Season Stakes                    5:38pm EST

Santa Anita

Race 7                  La Canada Stakes                     6:30pm EST

Sunland Park

Race 9                  Albert Dominguez Memorial        6:10pm EST

Turf Paradise

Race 5                  Glendale Handicap                    4:27pm EST

Race 7                  Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile             5:29pm EST

Turfway Park

Race 4                  Forego Stakes                          7:42pm EST

California Chrome returns in the San Pasqual

California Chrome will make his return to the races on Saturday at Santa Anita in the Grade 2 $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes. With expected rain in the area California Chrome could make his comeback on a sloppy surface and all races on the card will be on the main track. California Chrome hasn’t been seen at the races since finishing a good second in the Dubai World Cup last March. He got back on the worktab in November and turned in a very impressive drill last Saturday at Santa Anita. Trainer Art Sherman hits at a 9% clip coming off extended layoffs and California Chrome will likely take a lot of money at the windows, so looking for alternatives might be the play.

Hoppertunity hasn’t tasted victory since winning this race last year. While he hasn’t won in a year, he has been running good races as of late including a very good second in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap behind Effinex in his last start. Grade 1 winner Hard Aces also shows up in the San Pasqual and he’s looking to get back to the form that saw him win the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita last June. He’s been beaten double digit lengths in his last three starts including a sixth place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic last time out. Imperative is a horse who can make some noise on his best day but he hasn’t tasted victory in nearly two years.

In the Sham Stakes it will be a field of nine newly turned 3 year olds to go a mile. Dressed in Hermes comes into the Sham Stakes off a win in the Cecil B. Demille Stakes at Del Mar. He rolled from off the pace that day but it was over the grass, which most of his races have been. He did run fourth in his debut over the dirt track at Del Mar behind the very fast Exaggerator. Found Money also comes into the Sham off a stakes win as he took home top honors in the King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos. That was against Cal-breds though and his couple of starts against open stakes company haven’t been his best. Bob Baffert will send out Collected who will be making just his third career start in the Sham Stakes. He won his debut and finished second behind Dressed In Hermes in the Cecil B. Demille Stakes. He led that race in mid-stretch so with that added fitness underneath him he could be a major player.

BetPTC.com Selections for the San Pasqual

1. California Chrome
2. Imperative
3. Hoppertunity

Longshot: Blingo

BetPTC.com Selections for the Sham Stakes

1. Collected
2. Dressed In Hermes
3. Found Money

Longshot: Rare Candy

Stakes Trifecta at Gulfstream on Saturday

Three Stakes events highlight another great betting card at Gulfstream Park on Saturday afternoon. The $200,000 Grade 2 Ft. Lauderdale is the feature with eleven runners going on the grass with the red-hot Lochte drawn down on the rail. Lochte crushed his rivals in the Grade 3 Tropical Turf Handicap last time out at Gulfstream Park West and returns to Gulfstream where he’s 5 for 9 in his career. Lukes Alley hasn’t been out of the exacta in two years and is as consistent as they come in his native Canada. Now he ships to Gulfstream Park for the first time for his trainer Josie Carroll. So for him the question will be how he handles Southern Florida and the ship. Chad Brown will send out Takeover Target comes into this race off a short rest since winning the Grade 3 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park. He’ll be making his first start outside of New York but this horse is a Grade 2 winner and we all know how sharp Chad Brown is on the grass. War Correspondant and Heart To Heart are two more contenders in what should be a fantastic renewal of the Ft. Lauderdale.

The $150,000 Grade 3 Hal’s Hope Stakes at a mile drew a small but talented group of six runners. Mshawish who was fourth in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile last time out will make his first start on the Gulfstream main track. It seemed that try in the Cigar Mile was a test for him on the main track and he only lost by a length and a quarter to the very talented Tonalist. Clearly trainer Todd Pletcher thinks that he’ll improve on the dirt and if he does he’ll be a major player in here. Right to his outside is Valid who comes into the Hal’s Hope off a win in the Harlan’s Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream Park last time out. He’ll cut back a little to a mile, a distance he’s 4 for 11 at. Valid is also 6 for 11 at Gulfstream Park so like many horses, he’s a Gulfstream specialist.

The $150,000 Marshua’s River sees the return of Sandiva to Gulfstream Park. She’s won 2 of 3 there including a Grade 3 score in the Suwannee River Stakes last season. Javier Castellano will once again be on board for trainer Todd Pletcher and Sandiva figures to sit a mid-pack trip. Right to her outside is Partisan Politics who is looking to improve off a dull fifth place finish in the Mrs. Revere Stakes, a race she was bet heavily in. Tuttipaesi has won two straight including a score last time out in the South Beach Stakes. She’s proven to be very versatile and at the age of 6 she’s doing some of her best running.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Ft. Lauderdale

1. War Correspondant
2. Lukes Alley
3. Lochte

Longshot: Sky Flight

BetPTC.com Selections for the Hal’s Hope

1. Mshawish
2. Valid
3. Jordan

Longshot: Midnight Ciello

BetPTC.com Selections for the Marshua’s River

1. Partisan Politics
2. Quiet Kitten
3. Sandiva

Longshot: A Little Bit Sassy 

Interborough Stakes is Aqueduct Saturday feature

La Verdad will make her 2016 debut on Saturday in the $100,000 Interborough Stakes at Aqueduct. A multiple graded stakes winner, La Verdad is coming off a sixth place finish in the Fall Highweight Stakes against the boys. Her last start against fillies and mares was a second place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. She likes to be on the lead and she’ll have to work to get it in here as a number of other runners have good early gas. Room For Me will likely be just off the pace in the Interborough but she’s coming into this race in good form. She won the Garland of Roses Stakes last time out and finished seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, about five lengths behind La Verdad. Princess Violet is a Grade 1 winner but lost to Room For Me last time out in the Garland of Roses. Her best race makes here a big player in here but her last two have been sub-par for her.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Interborough

1. La Verdad
2. Room For Me
3. Dancing House

Longshot: Willet 

Saturday Stakes Action at BetPTC.com

Aqueduct

Race 3                  Interborough Stakes                 1:20pm EST

Delta Downs

Race 8                  Big Drama Stakes                      10:00pm EST

Gulfstream Park

Race 4                  Marshua’s River Stakes               1:35pm EST

Race 7                  Hal’s Hope Stakes                     3:05pm EST

Race 10               Ft. Lauderdale Stakes                4:34pm EST

Santa Anita

Race 6                  Sham Stakes                            6:00pm EST

Race 8                  San Pasqual Stakes                   7:00pm EST

Tampa Bay Downs

Race 3                  Turf Dash Stakes                      1:27pm EST

Big Saturday at Santa Anita topped by the San Gabriel Stakes 

Santa Anita rolls into weekend number two of the winter/spring meet with a trifecta of stakes events, including both the $200,000 San Gabriel and the $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes. The San Gabriel is for older turf runners and drew a full field of twelve to go the mile and one eighth. Grade 1 winner Obviously is back at Santa Anita where he’s done some of his best work. He won the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile here last season and led the Breeders’ Cup Mile to mid-stretch before yielding in that race. The key for him as always will be pace but he should be able to get the lead with only Macro Access on the far outside another pace setting type. Big John B. drew down towards the rail but figures to be a major player in here. He was last seen running a late closing second to Grade 1 winner The Pizza Man in the Hollywood Turf Cup last time out. Rafael Bejarano will climb on board for the very hot Phillip D’Amato barn in the San Gabriel. Poshky could be an interesting price play in the San Gabriel. He’s coming off a win in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate and has run decently at Santa Anita against high level competition such as the runners he’ll face here.

The Santa Ynez Stakes sees a pair of pair of Bob Baffert trainees and an undefeated runner from Golden Gate Fields name Code Warrior. Code Warrior has won two stakes at Golden Gate Fields including one against the boys. This will be her first venture down south but her stalking style and good late kick should prove helpful. She’s surrounded by the Baffert pair which includes multiple Grade 2 winner Pretty N Cool. Pretty N Cool won the Matron and Sorrento Stakes last season as a two year old and will make her first start at Santa Anita in the Santa Ynez. She did try two turns last time out and found it a bit too daunting so the cutback should be to her benefit. Baffert will also send out One Last Shot who should benefit on the return to dirt after her last two turf tries were brutal.

The Grade 3 Midnight Lute Stakes came up very tough and includes the lightly raced but highly lauded Seattle Serenade. Undefeated in two starts for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Seattle Serenade has drawn the rail and will be getting her first stakes test. Salutos Amigos shows up in the Midnight Lute Stakes after running on the east coast for most of the last year and a half. He’s been keeping ultra tough company so he should appreciate the class relief. All Run is a very interesting runner in this spot as he comes in red-hot on three race winning streak since going to the Richard Baltas barn. He wasn’t doing much at Golden Gate on the Tapeta and grass courses, but since coming to Southern California he’s been unbeatable.

BetPTC.com Selections for the San Gabriel

1. Big John B
2. Bal a Bali
3. Poshky

Longshot: Southern Freedom

BetPTC.com Selections for the Santa Ynez

1. Code Warrior
2. Pretty N Cool
3. Treasuring

Longshot: My Dynamo

BetPTC.com Selections for the Midnight Lute

1. All Run
2. Salutos Amigos
3. Seattle Serenade

Longshot: Distinctiv Passion

Big Day at Gulfstream Park on Saturday

Every Saturday at Gulfstream features great racing, but this Saturday is loaded with five stakes events on the card. All five races are for $100,000 with the Mucho Macho Man Stakes in the feature spot as race 10 as it’s for the newly turned 3 year olds at a mile. Awesome Speed comes into the race off a win in the James Lewis Stakes up at Laurel in his last start. With 2 wins from 3 starts he seems to be improving each outing and another move forward would make him very dangerous. Fellowship fared well against state-breds all last summer and last time out tried open stakes company, finishing a good second in the Smooth Air Stakes.

The Grade 3 Dania Beach will go on the grass and features a very interesting 0 for 4 maiden in the form of Life Imitates Art. Life Imitates Art has finished second in all four starts for trainer Chad Brown and even though he’s winless you can bet he’ll take some action and will be a contender. Isotherm comes into the Dania Beach off a poor showing in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile but now gets back to the grass where he’s a Grade 3 winner. Chad Brown will send out Pricedtoperfection who looks like a big shot in the Ginger Brew Stakes. She was ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf but her previous speed figures and connections make her a big player. Undefeated Lira is another who stands out in the Ginger Brew. She’s 2 for 2 with a stakes win and her connections of Pletcher and Castellano are as solid as it gets in South Florida.

Three year old filly sprinters will go in the Grade 3 Old Hat Stakes which drew a smallish field of six. Ballet Diva has been the princess of Southern Florida this past year with 4 wins, three of them stakes. She’s best right on the lead but the presence of Lucy N Ethel could make things tough on her as that one comes in from Parx with a ton of early gas. Sheikh of Sheikhs tops the list of runners in the Grade 3 Hutcheson Stakes. He won the Juvenile Sprint on Breeders’ Cup weekend and should be prominent throughout the race. While Ye May is an intriguing runner who broke his maiden at Laurel on the grass sprinting and now shows up here. Clearly his connections think highly of him so we’ll find out what he is in the Hutcheson.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Mucho Macho Man

1. Awesome Speed
2. Fellowship
3. El Charo

Longshot: Bullet Gone Astray

BetPTC.com Selections for the Dania Beach

1. Isotherm
2. Raise the Bar
3. Mountain Music Man

Longshot: Urban Bourbon

BetPTC.com Selections for the Ginger Brew

1. Lira
2. Pancake
3. Pricedtoperfection

Longshot: Auntie Joy

BetPTC.com Selections for the Old Hat

1. Ballet Diva
2. Lucy N Ethel
3. Dad’s Kiddo

Longshot: My Dear Venezuela

BetPTC.com Selections for the Hutcheson

1. Sheikh of Sheikhs
2. Awesome Banner
3. Full Salute

Longshot: Danbury

Jerome Stakes starts three year old stakes in New York Saturday

Horses with dreams of the Wood Memorial and maybe even the Kentucky Derby can start the journey on Saturday in the Grade 3 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct. Flexibility is coming off a very strong second in the Remsen Stakes which is always a race that punters key off of going forward because of it’s distance. He lost to a tough horse in Mohaymen that day and is probably happy to not see him again. Bird of Trey ships in to Aqueduct for the Jerome off a huge win in the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes. Trained by Kentucky Derby winning trainer John Servis, Bird of Trey has flashed brilliance in his two wins but and has ran well in defeat. He will be trying Aqueduct for the first time but figures a big player. King Kranz is still a maiden after five starts but is Grade 2 placed and has been very close to winning on a few occasions. Even though winless could have a say in the exotics in the Jerome.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Jerome

1. Bird of Trey
2. Flexibility
3. Donegal Moon

Longshot: Condo King

Saturday Stakes Action at BetPTC.com

Aqueduct

Race 8                  Jerome Stakes                         3:50pm EST

Fair Grounds

Race 6                  Bonapaw Stakes                       4:54pm EST

Gulfstream Park

Race 3                  Hutcheson Stakes                    1:05pm EST

Race 4                  Old Hat Stakes                         1:35pm EST

Race 5                  Ginger Brew Stakes                     2:05pm EST

Race 7                  Dania Beach Stakes                   3:05pm EST

Race 10               Mucho Macho Man Stakes          4:35pm EST

Laurel Park

Race 4                  What A Summer Stakes            1:55pm EST

Race 7                  Native Dancer Stakes                3:25pm EST

Race 8                  Nellie Morse Stakes                   3:55pm EST

Santa Anita

Race 3                  Santa Ynez Stakes                    4:30pm EST

Race 6                  Midnight Lute Stakes                6:00pm EST

Race 8                  San Gabriel Stakes                    7:00pm EST

Sunland Park

Race 9                  Bold Ego Stakes                       6:10mp EST

Turfway Park

Race 4                  Wintergreen Stakes                           7:42pm EST