Free: Cross-country plays for Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Horseplayers looking for longshot value on April Fool’s Day are in luck – 27 races Wednesday at Tampa Bay Downs, Will Rogers Downs and Fonner Park include a handful of contenders at high odds. Such as these:

TAM, race 3 (1:30 ET) – Beyond the Stars (8) has more speed than his rider allowed him to use in his ninth-place debut at a mile on turf. ’Stars was anchored early, and stayed near the back. It was either a schooling run, or his ability is marginal. Beyond the Stars drops from maiden-32 to maiden-16, shortens to a dirt sprint, and adds blinkers for trainer Anthony Granitz, who is 5 for 12 with second-start maidens the past year. Beyond the Stars might be a bust. But it’s a risk worth taking at 8-1 program odds.

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TAM, race 5 (2:30 ET) – The restrictive clause in this $5,000 claiming sprint – “not won since Oct. 1” – suits favorite Never Have I Ever (6) and appealing longshot One Fine Ride (5). Both won races in September, just prior to the Oct. 1 cutoff. One Fine Ride recently earned figures that are fast for this level, and trainer Jose Delgado is 7 for 21 second off the claim the past three years. One Fine Ride, top selection also by Daily Racing Form analyst Kenny Peck, could get bet down from his 8-1 morning line.

WRD, race 5 (3:15 CT) – At tracks everywhere, low-level claiming sprints restricted to “nonwinners of two” often are won by horses racing at the level for the first time. That includes last-out maiden-claiming winners, and this N2L Oklahoma-bred claiming sprint has a pair – Jerry’s Vision (2) and Archer (3). Their 6-1 prices should hold; neither earned a high figure. By the way, it is okay to make win bets on two horses in the same race.

FON, race 2 (4:27 CT) – Dorothe Marie (5) finished next to last as the favorite in her recent comeback, but her effort was better than it looks. She was shuffled back and lost position soon after the break, raced wide both turns, loomed a threat in the stretch, and lost her punch. She drops in class for her second start back and is a generous 10-1 in this six-furlong (two turns) sprint. Expect slightly lower odds.

WRD, race 8 (4:45 CT) – A longshot flyer, My Password (8) finished last in both her starts in fall. She returns from a five-month freshening, drops in class, and shortens to a sprint for the meet’s second-leading trainer-jockey combo (Scott Young-Floyd Wethey). Young also entered interesting first-timer Save the Day (2), but the main gamble is My Password. She is listed at 12-1 and should run her best race first start back.

FON, race 8 (7:09 CT) – Undefeated sprint stakes winner Phlash Drive (2) merits respect setting the pace, but this mile allowance is his first try beyond six furlongs. American League (8) figures for a cozy trip positioned second, and would get first run if Phlash Drive comes up short. American League is listed at a generous 6-1; his odds could drop.