Limited time today for writeup… Picks for the first seven and then analysis for the late pick 4 are below.
Race 1 $40K Maiden Claiming 3YO+ 1:05 EST
Picks: 7-5-1-2
Race 2 $50K Starter Allowance Fillies & Mares 3YO+ 1:39 EST
Picks: 4-3-2-1
Race 3 MSW Fillies & Mares 3YO+ 2:15 EST
Picks: 4-5-6-1
Race 4 $40K Claiming NW2 3YO+ 2:47 EST
Picks: 6-2-5-8
Race 5 Allowance NY State-Bred 3YO+ 3:21 EST
Picks: 8-7-3-10
Race 6 $25K Claiming 3YO+ 3:55 EST
Picks: 5-2-1-8
Race 7 $62.5K AOC 3YO+ 4:29 EST
Picks: 7-5-3-4
Race 8 Diana Stakes Mares 4YO+ 5:03 EST Small but solid field. The 4 Rougir only underneath after failing last time out as the favorite at Belmont. The 3 Bleecker Street took that race charging from way back at 10 furlongs. I’m going with the 1 Technical Analysis on top. Chad Brown/Jose Ortiz and just crushing since last fall, first or second every time out. As far as the 6 In Italian goes, I think she’ll be an underlay. Has finished second and third facing slightly less company in her last two.
Picks: 1-4-3-6
Race 9 $80K AOC NW1 3YO 5:39 EST Here is where we make our money today. Lots–and I mean LOTS–of options. The morning line favorite 12 Naval Aviator has won his last two ON DIRT. He’s done turf once and finished eleventh in a twelve-horse field. If he takes it, then trainer Joe Sharp just has better Wheaties in his oat bag. I’m going with the 2 Royal Spirit on top Todd Pletcher/Luis Saez. Back on his preferred surface, jockey upgrade, and tossing the last. Sits 6-1 on the morning line and I think we can get all that and more. I also like the 3 Forever Souper out of American Pharoah for Mark Casse (8-1 morning line). If you make me throw in a Chad Brown horse, then give me the 6 Credit Event with Irad in the irons. This is a tough race, but one that looks like it will pay in the exotics.
Picks: 2-6-3-4
Race 10 Sanford Stakes 2YO 6:13 EST The 9 Andiamo a Firenze is 1-for-1 but, curious enough, Irad chooses to ride the 4 Forte–he also rode his maiden win–in this spot. I’m going to trust Irad and put Forte on top. The other two colts that of interest are the 7 Prove Right, winner of his last at Churchill Downs, and the 12 Valenzen Day, who finished a close third against similar last month at Belmont.
Picks: 4-1-12-7
Race 11 $35K Claiming NW2 Fillies & Mares 3YO+ 6:47 EST Even with the big field, this feels like a two-horse race between the 4 Diva Ready and the 9 Princess Blakely. The price horse that interests me is the 3 Noble Enterprise, who gets Luis Saez in the irons today. The 13 Lookin to Fly makes her 2022 debut for trainer Joe Sharp and gets jockey Tyler Gaffalione for the first time.
Picks: 4-9-3-13
Best of luck today!