Thu, 04/03/2025 - 15:34

Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Omey Island's speed makes him dangerous stretching out

Aqueduct | Race 4 | Post Time 2:48 p.m. (ET)

There are several short prices that I'm not keen to endorse in this starter allowance. Timaeus (#3) might attract support off his career-best 104 TimeformUS Speed Figure last time. Yet he's now been claimed away from Linda Rice by a barn who hasn't had much success off the claim during the last year. He is also being asked to stretch all the way out to 1 1/8 miles off a 6-furlong sprint victory when he's struggled to finish off his prior races at a one-turn mile, let alone this far.

Thu, 04/03/2025 - 14:39

Weekend GamePlan: Picks for Santa Anita Derby, Distaff

Benoit Photo
Journalism may be a short price Saturday - he is 6-5 on the Santa Anita Derby morning line - but he still might be a good play.

The prospect of sustained heavy rain over several days caused Keeneland to move the first two cards of its spring meet, Friday and Saturday, to Monday and Tuesday. That blows a hole in the Saturday stakes schedule, which is littered with short fields, several difficult to play.

Santa Anita Derby

Yes, this one has the shortest stakes field of them all, with just five entered. Worse, I’m siding with the favorite. But even a short favorite in a short field can pay more to win than he should, which could happen with Journalism.

Thu, 04/03/2025 - 13:37

Saturday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Grande ready for class test in Wood Memorial

Aqueduct | Race 12 | Post Time 6:10 p.m. (ET)

Wed, 04/02/2025 - 14:03

Thursday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Rungius stretches back out to preferred distance

Aqueduct | Race 7 | Post Time 4:16 p.m. (ET)

Tue, 04/01/2025 - 09:05

Brad Free's Santa Anita Horses to Watch for week of March 28-30, 2025

Benoit Photo
Kings River Knight can improve on his first race in 10 months when he runs next, possibly in the Crystal Water on May 24.

LADY MENDELSSOHN
Trainer
: Carla Gaines
Last race: March 28, 1st
Finish: 3rd by 7 1/2
Beyer: 46
Disappointing turf allowance by Cal-bred maiden winner, but she should improve on dirt. Her main-track works are very good. Worth following when she changes surface.

Sat, 03/29/2025 - 18:50

Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Jerry's Out stretches back out in improved form

Aqueduct | Race 7 | Post Time 4:30 p.m. (ET)
 

Fri, 03/28/2025 - 17:08

Saturday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Fedupwiththefed ready to progress in second start

Aqueduct | Race 11 | Post Time 6:25 p.m. (ET)

Forever to Go (#14) may go favored in this full field maiden event that closes out the Saturday card. She's run the fastest races of anyone in this field, having surpassed the 90 TimeformUS Speed Figure threshold in each of her three dirt starts. However, she's settled for second each time, most recently as the odds-on favorite when run down after taking a clear lead into the stretch. She now has to overcome the far outside post position in a race that does feature some speed to her inside. 

Thu, 03/27/2025 - 16:41

Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Mia Nipotina deserves another chance going longer

Aqueduct | Race 6 | Post Time 3:52 p.m. (ET)
 

Thu, 03/27/2025 - 14:42

Weekend GamePlan: Picks for Arkansas Derby, American Pharoah, Pan American

Publisher trains at OP March 27 2025
Coady Media
Although still a maiden, the Arkansas Derby will be Publisher's third start in a Kentucky Derby prep at the Oaklawn Park meet.

Who will be the shorter Derby prep price? Sovereignty, the two-time graded route stakes winner who is set to improve in his second start after a layoff, or Cornucopian, a second-time starter trying a route? I’ll say Cornucopian, and that Sovereignty is the more likely Saturday winner.

Arkansas Derby

Tue, 03/25/2025 - 08:46

Brad Free's Santa Anita Horses to Watch for week of March 20-22, 2025

Benoit Photo
Gold Phoenix was bottled up before making a late run to finish third in the San Luis Rey.

MY BUCKET LIST
Trainer
: Manuel Badilla
Last race: March 21, 7th
Finish: 1st by 1/2
Beyer: 66
Broke horribly in $5,000 claiming sprint, last early, extended rally on turn and into lane, won going away. Late-running sprinter in top form can handle a class hike.