Dan Illman

It's an exciting weekend of racing! Let's take a look at today's three Grade 1 races at Santa Anita. LAS VIRGENES STAKES - SANTA ANITA - RACE 9:

Thursday's HandiGambling 272 exercise is the seventh race at Gulfstream Park, a $40,000 claimer for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf. REMEMBER, IF YOU ARE DECLARED THE WINNER OF THE HANDIGAMBLING EXERCISE, PLEASE CONTACT CSERVICE2@DRF.COM WITH YOUR DRF LOGIN AND PASSWORD IN ORDER TO ACCESS YOUR PRIZE PACKAGE AND THEN POST THE NEXT WEEK'S RACE SELECTION DIRECTLY TO THE BLOG.

EL PADRINO got into a dogfight with MARK VALESKI in the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds and showed his moxie by getting his nose down on the line.  It was nice to see the odds-on favorite tested.  We already knew he was talented and now we have an idea that he really "wants" it badly.  I'm not sure he's a push-button type of performer and that grinding style may put him behind the eight ball if he gets stopped in traffic, but it sure looks like he wants to run all day. 

There's plenty of star power on display this weekend.  Kentucky Derby aspirants strut their stuff in Louisiana and Florida while three Breeders' Cup winners (AMAZOMBIE, PERFECT SHIRL, ROYAL DELTA) kick off their 2012 campaigns in some salty spots. Let's take a look at some runners with price potential: FAIR GROUNDS HANDICAP - RACE 6 - FAIR GROUNDS:

Bob Baffert can do no wrong. The white-haired Hall of Famer has won with 8 of his last 10 starters.  Since February 5, Baffert's record stands at 19-12-0-3.  That's good enough for 63% winners and $878,550 in earnings.  Bettors playing blindly on Baffert-trained runners during that stretch were rewarded with a $4.16 ROI.