Fri, 02/23/2018 - 10:41

BreezeFigs Quick-Pix for Saturday, February 24, 2018, by Bob Fierro & Jay Kilgore

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.

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 10:11

McGee: How I'll play Gulfstream for Saturday, Feb. 24

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:

Thu, 02/22/2018 - 13:49

TimeformUS Aqueduct Horses in Focus for Friday, Feb. 23, 2018

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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Thu, 02/22/2018 - 11:10

Weekend Warrior for Saturday, Feb. 24: Picks for Hal's Hope Stakes, Daytona Stakes, Texas Glitter Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Economic Model trains at Belmont with Twisted Tom in June.

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

Thu, 02/22/2018 - 10:33

TimeformUS Speed Figure Report for week ending Feb. 19, 2018

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.

Wed, 02/21/2018 - 16:14

Beer: Aqueduct horses to watch for week of Feb. 21

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.

Wed, 02/21/2018 - 15:44

Rampellini: Oaklawn Park horses to watch for week of Feb. 21

ZULFIKHAR
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Feb. 19, 10th
Finish: 4th by 4 3/4 
Beyer: 76 

Wed, 02/21/2018 - 10:44

Free: Horses to watch for week of Feb. 19, 2018

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.

Mon, 02/19/2018 - 13:18

Fornatale: How I'll play Gulfstream for Monday, Feb. 19

On this holiday Monday card at Gulfstream Park, I’ll take a shot in the late double, starting with the Grade 3 Royal Delta and paying off in the nightcap, a restricted claimer on the grass.