Call Pat battles a field of seven in Friday's ninth race at Oaklawn Park, the 1 1/16-mile Grade 1 Apple Blossom. Trainer Brad Cox is winning 31 percent of his starts in route races, for a return on investment of $2.65.
Sky Preacher (ML 8-1) returns Friday in race 7, a first-level allowance at Santa Anita. It will be his first start since finishing eighth by 18 1/4 lengths in the Grade 1 FrontRunner at Santa Anita on Sept. 27. The top four finishers -- American Pharoah, Calculator, Texas Red, and Lord Nelson -- from that race came back to win their next starts.
A veteran wheeling back in eight days and a second-start maiden longshot are the keys to this handicapper’s Saturday at Santa Anita.
BreezeFigs Quick-Pix for Saturday, April 11th by Bob Fierro and Jay Kilgore.
Download DRF Plus handicapping reports for Friday's races, including DRF Daily GamePlan, the Positive ROI Report, and Key Race Report.
The abundance of speed, as well as the Kentucky Derby’s history of typically unfolding with a fast pace, therefore begs the question, which horses might capitalize from all this speed? My short list of horses not overly keen early and capable of successfully winning from the second tier of runners, came down to three contenders.
Now is the time to take Tapiture in Saturday’s Oaklawn Handicap. He is second start off the layoff, which historically was always a big move for his trainer, Steve Asmussen.
After all the preps, we are down to one race and one horse. After the Arkansas Derby, even if American Pharoah wins by daylight, we are still going to have to ask ourselves if this brilliant colt can really win the Derby despite missing two months of critical training time. Perhaps, he will be the exception to most of the rules.
Download positive ROI trainer statistics for Thursday's cards at Aqueduct, Charles Town, Evangeline Downs, Golden Gate, Gulfstream Park, Keeneland, Lone Star Park, Oaklawn Park, Penn National, Pimlico, and Santa Anita. The report features top trainer angles, top trainer/jockey combinations, and profitable betting angles based on a trainer's record in similar situations.
Mary Rampellini's horses to watch at Oaklawn Park for the week of April 9.
