Free: Cross-country plays for Friday, May 1, 2020
A pair of middle-odds contenders offer value on Friday in Florida, followed by Oaklawn Park action that includes including a tempting pick three and a live 12-1 shot. Diving in:
GP, race 1 (1:00 ET) – It is tough to wager with confidence on maiden-claiming turf races at Gulfstream Park, but an occasional exception appears. Punchline (5) is a hard-pulling colt who ran the best race of his career finishing third last out. If he runs two alike, he can easily win this maiden-25. Punchline is listed at 6-1. Either surface.
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TAM, race 8 (4:00 ET) – An abundance of pace in this Tampa Bay Downs turf mile sets it up for Stormy D (4). Her closing third last out was better than it looks; the race was dominated by speed. She can sit, wait and blast home. Program favorite Connectivity (8) has the same style, but Stormy D offers a better price at 6-1.
OP pick 3, races 6-8 (3:36 CT) – This pick three could easily chalk out, in which case it might be difficult to recoup the $12 cost of the ticket. But each leg of the 50-cent wager includes price possibilities, therefore the sequence is worth a swing.
Race 6 – Onaway (10) will be tough in this maiden sprint based on his fourth-place debut behind three next-out winners. Trainer Brad Cox is 6 for 7 with second-start maiden favorites in dirt sprints the past year. Super Constitution (9) appears to have trained well; Constitution progeny have won 24 percent first time out. Two-deep: 9, 10.
Race 7 – K J’s Nobility (3) could start shorter than 5-2 program odds in this statebred stakes route, but at least three contenders have upset chances. Souixper Charger (2) is lightly raced and improving; Hamazing Destiny (4) has won four of his last five; Man in the Can (11) is the field’s only 3-year-old and has room to improve off his recent win. The favorite will be tough, but this ticket is four deep: 2, 3, 4, 11.
Race 8 – Gingham (3) is favored with no obvious advantage. She is okay. Her California-based trainer is better than okay – Bob Baffert is 6 for 11 this spring at Oaklawn. Quick Decision (6) is 2 for 2 in sprints and should stay a route. Antoinette (10) is likely to improve off her creditable third-place comeback. Three-deep: 3, 6, 10.
It's a $12 ticket (50-cent minimum): 9, 10 with 2, 3, 4, 11 with 3, 6, 10
Race 9 – Harvey’s Lil Goil (5) is listed at 12-1 in the Grade 3 Fantasy, but her odds could be shorter based on her blowout stakes win in February. The race was legitimate: The filly she crushed returned to win. Even if Harvey’s Lil Goil gets bet in half, she is worth backing over champion British Idiom (10) and California speedster Venetian Harbor (2).

