Brad Free's cross-country plays for Thursday, April 23, 2020

Thursday cards at Gulfstream Park and Oaklawn Park include a handful of middle- to lower-odds selections. Live longshots were tough to find, and the daily “cross-country cinch” will take the day off. Tip-toeing in:

Gulfstream Park, Race 2 (1:34 p.m. ET) – Sheknowsthedrill (7) is lone speed in this $16K maiden-claiming sprint. She exits a productive race – two next-out winners, two next-out runners-up. In that race, Sheknowsthedrill set a fast pace to deep stretch. She shortens from seven furlongs to 6 1/2, and can be long gone. She is listed in the program at 4-1.

Gulfsream Park, Race 4 (2:39 p.m. ET) – No bet, illustration only. Normally a favorite like Paynter Fest (6) is a bet-against. Claimed two months ago for $12.5K, she entered back for only $6,250. Dubious pattern. However, according to DRF Formulator, trainer Victor Barboza Jr. is 47 for 106 first start off the claim the past five years. The 44 percent rate includes several claim-and-drop winners. Would love to bet against Paynter Fest, but Barboza wins too often with this type to go against. No bet, not a selection, merely an example.

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Oaklawn Park, Race 3 (3:05 p.m. ET) – Thornish (10), overmatched and compromised by gate antics and an inside trip last out, returns to the class at which he is proven and moves from the rail to an outside post in this Arkansas-bred maiden-25. Third twice already at this level, comfortably drawn near the outside, Thornish can turn the tables on so-so favorite Macho Rocco (7). Thornish is listed at 7-2.

Oaklawn Park, Race 6 (4:36 p.m. ET) – Botero (4) is rock solid in this $20K claiming sprint, nonwinners of two lifetime. Runner-up by a neck last out versus similar, more than four lengths clear of third, and with tactical speed and some versatility, Botero, listed at 9-2, will have catch the front-running program-favorite Bump Bailey (9).

Gulfstream Park, Race 8 (4:46 p.m. ET) – Bird Map (5) won a fast $50K maiden-claiming sprint 13 days ago and was claimed by Saffie Joseph. The past five years, Joseph is 8 or 15 first start off the claim back in two weeks or less. Class-drop program-favorite Money Never Sleeps (2) is legit, but sharp Bird Map is fast enough to win right back. She is listed at 7-2.

Gulfstream Park, Race 9 (5:17 p.m. ET) – No bet, just pontificating on recent runner-up Temple (1), favored in this second-level turf allowance. The one concern probably is minor. This is 1 1/8 miles; Temple has been racing mostly shorter. Perhaps distance is not a concern. DRF Formulator fact – the past year, trainer Mike Maker and jockey Luis Saez are 8 for 13 with turf-route favorites. No wager for this bettor, price likely lower than 3-1 early line.