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Saturday’s Race Recap from Gulfstream:
(All odds US)
Gulfstream Park:
Race 3: 6th@ 11.60/1
Race 8: 1st@ 1.20/1 - 2 pt WIN 🔥🔥🔥
Race 14: 1st@ 0.30/1 - 2 pt WIN 🔥🔥🔥
In Race 3, we were looking to pop some corks with Drinking Problem who was stepping up in class to stakes company for the first time. Jockey Miguel Vasquez got us a nice slow opening quarter in 25 seconds but they picked up the pace from there getting the half mile in 48 seconds. He led til the top of the stretch when the British-bred invader from Ireland, Behind Enemy Lines, swooped up to take the lead and score. Drinking Problem faded to be a hungover sixth. In Race 8, Amazing Grace had a rough trip throughout in the Grade 3 Orchid but split horses late giving our members a 2 point win. Hoping our overseas members were able to lock in those 5/2 morning line odds with their bookmakers as she went off at 1/1 here in the U.S. In the Grade 1 Florida Derby, Forte went off heavily favored today and looked like he might be beaten as Mage got the jump on him on the far turn but class prevailed as Irad Ortiz and our 2 point selection Forte would not be denied - grinding out a win over a game Mage and isolating himself as the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby favorite. I hope at least a few overseas members locked in even money or the 4/5 morning line because we only got 1/5 odds here in the U.S.
Saturday’s Race Recap from Oaklawn Park:
(All odds US)
Oaklawn Park:
Race 5: 3rd@ 1.20/1
Race 7: 4th@ 2.10/1
Race 9: 6th@ 12.20/1
Race 10: 8th@ 40.10/1
Race 11: 1st@ 2.50/1 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Race 12: 10th@ 8.70/1
In Race 5 - the Oaklawn Mile - Smile Happy was pinned on the rail for most of the running and had to shift between horses ultimately finishing third while moving best late. Francisco Arrieta made a mess out of that ride for us. Had he not had so much traffic I think he would’ve won. In Race 7, Gar Hole had perfect aim on the far turn but couldn’t get to the winner and faded in the stretch. In Race 9, Tahoe Run stalked the pace and like Gar Hole, looked to have dead aim turning for home before getting bounced between horses and tiring to sixth in the stretch. In Race 10, Take Charge Briana raced near the back early and late and never really contended. In Race 11, Go Now was deftly navigated outside the 12 horse who was on the lead and gradually wore that one down in the stretch for a 5/2 win. In the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby Bourbon Bash checked off heels twice down the backstretch before fading to last.
Three wins on the day including our two “2 point bets”. An exciting day the races as we look ahead to more on the road to the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby next week with the Grade 1 Toyota Bluegrass, the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and the Grade 2 Wood Memorial
In the meantime, let’s move our tack back to Aqueduct to close out the week. We had some rain on Saturday but are expecting a fast track by Sunday. Let’s close out the week with a BANG!
Aqueduct:
Race 8: Mostly Harmless - 1 pt win (US Morning Line Odds: 10/1)
Claimers close out our week in this six furlong sprint. Once again we’ve got a pretty evenly matched field. Mostly Harmless spent much of last year mostly sprinting on turf where he recorded his top speed figure but his maiden win came last time out back in late January right here at Aqueduct sprinting on a muddy dirt track. Trainer Carlos Martin gave him some time off and he now enters this with a pair of works under his belt. Martin has a 20% win percentage with runners who won last time out returning from similar layoffs. He reunites with jockey Dylan Davis who has a good record with this barn (23%) and has enough speed from the inside to make his presence felt in here at more than fair odds.
As always best of luck to all our members playing Sunday’s races from Aqueduct!