In addition to the Grade I, $750,000 Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park is hosting nine lucrative stakes races this Saturday. Here are our previews of a pair of those undercard events. Gulfstream Race 9 (Post time: 3:34 p.m. Eastern) The $100,000 Sand Springs Stakes One mile on turf #5 NEWSPAPEROFRECORD (9-5, morning-line favorite) figures to attract…
Author: Robert M. Criscola
Tiz the Law should prove too tough for Florida Derby field
The centerpiece race of Gulfstream Park’s championship meet, the Grade I, $750,000 Florida Derby, is set for Saturday. A field of 12 (plus one also-eligible) will contest this 1 1/8-mile heat worth 170 total Kentucky Derby points (paid 100-40-20-10). The Florida Derby, which goes as the 14th and final race on a card loaded with…
Super Patriot can spring upset in Santa Ana
The Grade III, $100,000 Santa Ana Stakes is the feature at Santa Anita Park this Saturday. The 1 1/4-mile turf event drew what looks to be an evenly-matched field of nine fillies and mares. Post time for the Santa Ana, Race 7 of nine on the day, is estimated for 6:31 p.m. ET. #1 SUPER…
Royal Act seeks crowning achievement in Louisiana Derby
Fair Grounds’ centerpiece race, the Grade II, $1 million Louisiana Derby, will be run this Saturday at the historic New Orleans oval (5 p.m., NBCSN). Fourteen colts and geldings (plus two also-eligibles) will be tasked with a 1 3/16th-mile journey on the main track. Post time for the Louisiana Derby, which brings down the curtain…
Louisiana Derby undercard analysis, 3/21/20
The Fair Grounds will run seven stakes races worth nearly $2.5 million this Saturday, including the Grade II, $1 million Louisiana Derby. Here are our previews of a pair of undercard races that precede the day’s main event. Fair Grounds Race 9 (Post time: 4:10 p.m. ET) The Grade II, $400,000 New Orleans Classic Stakes…
Bound for Nowhere kicks off season in San Simeon
The Grade III, $100,000 San Simeon Stakes will be renewed this Saturday at Santa Anita. The 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint attracted seven runners, including the well-traveled BOUND FOR NOWHERE and the talented mare SURRENDER NOW. Post time for the San Simeon, the fifth of nine races on the day, is estimated for 5:30 p.m. ET….
Nadal should ace Rebel Stakes
The Grade II, $1 million Rebel Stakes puts three-year-olds in the spotlight this Saturday at Oaklawn Park. A field of eight will vie for a total of 85 Kentucky Derby points (paid out 50-20-10-5) in this 1 1/16th-mile affair. Post time for the Rebel, the 10th of 11 races on Saturday, is 6:23 p.m. ET….
Hard Not to Love has hurdles to overcome in Beholder
The Grade I, $400,000 Beholder Mile is the Saturday feature at Santa Anita. The prestigious heat formerly known as the Vanity attracted seven fillies and mares. Post time for the Beholder, the seventh of eight races on an all-dirt program necessitated by expected rainfall, is approximately 7:07 p.m. ET. #2 DER LU (5-1) is the…
Gift Box attempts title defense in Santa Anita Handicap
The historic Grade I, $600,000 Santa Anita Handicap is set for Saturday. The traditional centerpiece race of the Santa Anita winter meet, the “Big ‘Cap” drew a field of eight. Post time for the 1 1/4-mile heat, Race 10 of 11 on the day, is 7:03 p.m. ET. #4 GIFT BOX (6-5, morning-line favorite) was…
Derby points up for grabs in Gotham Stakes
Aqueduct hosts their penultimate Kentucky Derby prep, the Grade III, $300,000 Gotham Stakes, this Saturday. A field of 11 has assembled for this one-turn mile on the main course that carries 85 Derby points. Post time for the Gotham, the finale on a 10-race program, is 5:42 p.m. ET. #10 UNTITLED (4-1) was fourth in…