The one we really liked in our feature Pick last week, Uppercut, showed that she could be something special in her debut, paying an astounding $15, while the 3-to-10 favorite Hotalabamba could not keep but at least finished third to fill in the trifecta. The other Pick was scratched at snowy Laurel.
John Kimmel said he thought Bourbon Currency not only ran well from the difficult one-hole in his last start, but the colt has thrived in the 10 weeks since. Well-drawn in post 7 in a field of 8 in the Texas Glitter on Saturday, Bourbon Currency should have every opportunity to show he’s good enough in a field such as this when getting Irad Ortiz Jr. at a decent price (7-2 morning line) off the brief layoff. I’ll use him as my race-6 single in starting off a middle pick-4 (races 6-9) that unfolds this way:
Race 2:
Summer Reading (#4)
The Pace Projector is predicting a situation that favors horses on or near the lead, and she is quick enough to contest the pace.
Has handled a wet track, and there is rain in the forecast.
Appears to be working strongly for her return to the races.
8-5 on ML
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It’s slim pickings on Saturday’s national stakes schedule, with only two Grade 3 races – the $150,000 Daytona at Santa Anita and the $100,000 Hal’s Hope at Gulfstream. Beyond that, you’ll find a few stakes for statebreds, a few with very short fields, and a few with both.
Hal’s Hope Stakes
Each week, TimeformUS Chief Figure Maker Craig Milkowski takes a look back at the weekend’s graded stakes and releases the TimeformUS Speed Figures for these races.
Fair Grounds
G2 Risen Star Stakes
1/2 109
3/4 106
Fin 118
Top 3: Bravazo 114, Snapper Sinclair 114, Noble Indy 111
Note: Moderate pace helped top two finishers run that way around the track - every horse lost ground to those two in final furlong; first 50-point race on the Kentucky Derby trail.
Letmetakethiscall
Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez
Last race: Feb. 16, 3rd
Finish: 1st by neck
Beyer: 71
Firster debuted over a wet track and took plenty of pressure on the early lead before holding off a heavily favored and experienced rival all through the stretch to prevail.
KONA DREAMS
Trainer: Bill Spawr
Last race: Feb. 15, 4th
Finish: 3rd by neck
Beyer: 80
This older gelding ran super in a $32,000 claiming turf mile, setting a strong pace before getting worn down late by a pair of closers. He is effective on turf or dirt, sprint or route.
Aqueduct | Race 5 | Post Time 2:54 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up
