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Horse Racing: Garrity goes to Gulfstream, Tampa, Turf Paradise

Also writes about the suspension of racing at Santa Anita

The big news in the racing world yesterday was Santa Anita's suspension of racing after the 21st equine fatality since the current Santa Anita meeting opened on December 26. This was a tough one, as one of the biggest days of the meet, featuring the Santa Anita Handicap, was scheduled to come up on Saturday. It was surely a difficult decision, but it was the right one: Santa Anita management really had no other choice. The dirt in Arcadia has not been safe, and the well being of the horses must be paramount. Trainer Ron McAnally, whose 4-year-old filly Lets Light the Way was the latest casualty, is, even at 86, one of the unquestioned good guys in racing, and seeing his reaction -- he damn near cried at the news -- was tough. Let's hope Santa Anita can fix the issues, and get back to racing safely.

We've looked at the cards at Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs, and Turf Paradise today, and we've found some goodies. Let's go.

The 7th race at Gulfstream (post time: 3:39 pm Eastern) is a $30,000 claimer, a 5-furlong turf sprint for older males. This is a tough and evenly matched field, but we like the outside horse, 8-Macho Blue: he ran huge breaking his maiden at this distance in December, and we like him to come right back and beat this field. We'll take his 3-1 price on top. The bet: Gulfstream Park, Race 7, $20 to win on 8-Macho Blue.

The 2nd at Tampa Bay (post time: 1:25 pm Eastern) is a 7 furlong allowance/optional claimer on dirt for older females. There's a field of six, and we have doped out one of our pet angles here: it's lone speed. Speed, as the saying, goes, is the universal track bias, and here, 2-J's Indian Charm has it, and the other runners do not. 7 furlongs is probably farther than she wants to go, but she should be able to set comfortable early fractions, and conserve enough energy to carry her speed through the finish. She will be in front at the top of the stretch, and we will be cheering that she stays there: we'll bet $15 on her to win. The bet: Tampa Bay, Race 2, $15 to win on #2, J's Indian Charm.

The 5th at Tampa (post time: 3:00 pm Eastern) is a first-level allowance turf sprint, at 5 furlongs on the sod, for 3-year-olds. There's a good field of nine here. Crack trainer Wesley Ward brings two to Tampa, and they are noteworthy because they are the only two fillies in the field: The other seven runners are colts. We think it's always worth noting when a filly runs against the boys; when Wesley Ward does so, especially with juvenile runners, it almost merits an automatic bet. The guy is unbelievable with young horses.

Ward's two runners are 1-Jo Jo Air (5/2), and 5-Wonder Stone. Of the two, we very much prefer Jo Jo Air: we think she's the class of the race. We'll bet her to win, and we will also box Ward's runners in the exacta. Sometimes it's best to keep the game simple, and we'll be simple here, and pound the trainer angle. The bets: Tampa Bay Downs, Race 5, $20 to win on 1-Jo Jo Air; $10 exacta box, 1 with 5 (Jo Jo Air with Wonder Stone).

Finally, we'll head out West for a nightcap. The 8th at Turf Paradise (post time: 6:25 pm Eastern) is a 6 furlong spring for $30k maiden claimers. We like 6-Licorice Drop Pops. This horse has had six chances to break his maiden, and missed all six times; that would normally be enough for us to toss him. But we think he's been the victim of bad luck, and we also think that today he has caught a field he can handle. We'll bet him to win at 3-1 to end the day on a bright note. The bet: Turf Paradise, Race 8, $20 win on 6-Licorice Drop Pops.

That's all for today. Good luck at the windows.

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