SATURDAY
Gulfstream Race No. 5 (2:23 p.m. ET/11:23 a.m. PT)Ed Sehon likes #6 Lashara (8/1 morning line). “Top-tier trainer Mark Casse sends out Lashara in this Maiden Special Weight event for 3-year-old fillies on the turf. I’m looking for a much-improved effort from sophomore offspring of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah as she stretches out to a mile after a dull debut effort in a dirt sprint four weeks ago. Recent bullet workout (best of 40 on the day) over the grass indicates she’s ready to rock and roll as top-jock Luis Saez retains ride. Wager: Win & Place.”
Oaklawn Race No. 4 (3:10 p.m. ET/12:10 p.m. PT)Duane Colucci likes #2 Shooters Shoot (7/2 morning line). “Peter Eurton trainee crushed maidens last time out, ships here in shape from Santa Anita and is ready. Check out his race on Feb. 16 when he ran a good second to the monster Charlatan.”
Oaklawn Race No. 9 (5:43 p.m. ET/2:43 p.m. PT)Dave Tuley likes #2 Mr. Money (4/1 morning line). Mr. Money won four graded stakes last year, but in addition to the two at Churchill Downs, the others were in the Indiana Derby and West Virginia and I’m not sure the betting public will respect those performance as much as the resumes of #3 Tom’s d’Etat (3/1) and #14 Improbable. Tom’s d’Etat won his last two stakes at Keeneland and Churchill while Improbable is from the always-popular (and usually successful) Bob Baffert barn, so I’m hoping Mr. Money’s odds drift a little higher. My VSiN colleague Ron Flatter asked me on his podcast if I’m going to change my handicapping is we get an off-track, and I said “no” (besides, a lot of these runners have performed well on sloppy and muddy tracks). I’m also planning to use #4 Pioneer Spirit (6/1) and #7 Snapper Sinclair (10/1) in exotics.Duane Colucci also likes #2 Mr. Money (4/1 morning line). “Tough spot for his 4-year-old debut, but this colt reeled off four graded victories in a row last year and the work on March 28 in 1:11.2 tells us the horse is ready to rumble. Using him with #3 Tom’s d’Etat, #7 Snapper Sinclair and #8 Bankit in exotics.”
Oaklawn Race No. 11 (6:48 p.m. ET/3:48 p.m. PT)Dave Tuley likes #7 Flap Jack (20/1) and #6 Shoplifted (10/1) as closers in the $200,000 Oaklawn Stakes, which is now a prep race for the Arkansas Derby, which was moved to May 2 to replace the Kentucky Derby on the calendar as that has been moved from the First Saturday in May to the First Saturday in September. #4 Thousand Words is the 5/2 favorite, but I actually like #1 Basin (7/2) as he should be right near the lead and I consider him the race’s most likely winner. But I’m hoping the speed horses set it up for the closers, and I expect my Win money will be on #7 Flap Jack, who stalked the leaders in the Arlington Washington Futurity two starts back to win that race as a maiden. He was put in the Grade 3 Gotham, but I think he fits well with these if we throw out that race. I’ll be using him with #6 Shoplifted, who is 2-for-3 with jockey Ricardo Santana as they’re reunited, and I expect both colts to be passing others in the stretch. I’ll also use them both with Basin and Thousand Words.”Duane Colucci also likes #1 Basin (7/2 morning line). “The Todd Pletcher-trained 3-year-old was a respectable 4th in the Risen Star at Fairgrounds and made up ground on a speed-favoring track that day. Oaklawn route races were favoring his late running style on Friday. Using #1 Basin with #8 Taishan in exotics.”