A nice weekend of racing is lined up ahead. Oaklawn Park opens today with Tyler’s Tribe trying to make it 3-for-3 for his young career in 5.5 furlong sprints. Aqueduct hosts some nice racing. Tomorrow is Louisiana Champions Day at Fair Grounds. I have combed through the cards of North American tracks coast-to-coast to uncover the weekend’s best plays.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9
Aqueduct • Race 4 • 1:46 p.m. ET I am upgrading 2 Super Quality’s chances as a few key metrics line up for me here. In a field full of slower horses, I expect Super Quality to wire the field.
Fair Grounds • Race 1 • 2:15 p.m. ET Trainer James Hodges stretches 4 Hopeitsmyluckyday out another half furlong here today. Another threat to get to the lead and take them all the way around the track. A fair price at even money or better.
Gulfstream Park • Race 8 • 3:35 p.m. ET Trainer Mike Maker puts 2 State Crown back on the grass in this state-bred AOC race. My only concern is the post position, but there is plenty of distance to work out a good trip here and she’s shown late kick on the surface in the past. Jockey Jose Ortiz is up in the irons today.
Fair Grounds • Race 4 • 3:45 p.m. ET A drop in class for 2 Frog Town makes this Brad Cox-trainee the one to beat here. Florent Geroux is in the mount. Fair odds all the way down to even money.
Oaklawn Park • Race 8 • 4:46 p.m. ET As mentioned above, 5 Tyler’s Tribe looks to stay perfect going 5.5 furlongs on dirt after failing on turf on Future Stars Friday at the Breeders’ Cup last month. He is easily the class of this race.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10
Oaklawn Park • Race 5 • 3:22 p.m. ET I’m tossing the rough debut from 1 Chicago’s Gray where he lost his jockey. This gray out of Tapwrit is trained by Steve Asmussen. I trust the Hall-of-Famer has worked out the gate issues and will get a fighter’s chance here.
Aqueduct • Race 8 • 3:40 p.m. ET Interesting non-graded stakes here for fillies and mares 3 and up. I can half the field vying for the early lead, which would play right into 1 Betsy Blue’s strength–closing from off the pace. The price needs to float up from the morning line of 5-2 to make this opinion actionable, though.
Fair Grounds • Race 4 • 3:45 p.m. ET While not a cinch by any means, morning line favorite 4 Free Drop Maddy is deserving and can be bet all the way down to even money. This filly sports a career record of 5-2-1-2, having faced tougher than 2 Norah G, who figures to be the other short price come post time.
Fair Grounds • Race 6 • 4:45 p.m. ET After consulting the pace projection here, I’m convinced that the 4 and 5 horses will send early, setting up a perfect trip for 3 Alterana, the morning line favorite. Of course, I’d rather get a win bet in at 4-1, but will do so as low as 3-1.
Woodbine • Race 10 • 5:40 p.m. ET Out of Stuart Simon’s barn, 9 Lorena has won half of her career races, which includes being 1-for-1 at today’s surface and distance. After being out of the saddle last time out, jockey Gary Boulanger hops back on in this spot.
Golden Gate Fields • Race 10 • 7:20 p.m. ET Multiple early speed types lined up here, much to the benefit of my top pick, 9 Luxury Liner. With the right trip, she should get first run at the leaders and is 1-for-1 at today’s surface and distance. Her lifetime record is 12-5-0-1.
Los Alamitos Race Course • Race 9 • 7:30 p.m. ET The Grade 1 Starlet for 2-year-old fillies closes out my Saturday plays. This is an extremely competitive field of winners. It’s been a while since I’ve put a Bob Baffert horse on top. How about a Baffert exacta or trifecta in this spot? No surprise that I like 3 Faiza, who comes in having won on debut last month at Del Mar. We’ll see if the form translates. Most recent published work was at 7 furlongs handily.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11
Fair Grounds • Race 1 • 2:15 p.m. ET A winner last time out, 4 Total Malice (Palace Malice) retains jockey Jareth Loveberry here and projects to be on an easy lead. I will bet this filly to win at even money or better.
Oaklawn Park • Race 6 • 3:50 p.m. ET I swear there’s a Michael McDonald song that says you must bet on 7 Yacht Rock to win in this spot. Joe Talamo is in the irons for trainer Norm Casse. I do like that this horse is coming out of the Kentucky circuit down to Oaklawn.
Best of luck this weekend!