PRAIRIE STONE
Trainer: Steve Klesaris
Last race: Feb. 18, 6th
Finish: 4th by neck
Beyer: 79
New York-bred mare returned from a 53-day layoff, switched from turf to dirt the second time for her current trainer, and recorded a lifetime-top Beyer Speed Figure despite breaking in the air and encountering some traffic in the stretch against second-level optional-claiming types.

Saturday's late pick four at Gulfstream Park is a challenging, all-turf sequence with a combined 44 entrants, not counting also-eligibles.  

Saturday’s card at Santa Anita is an intriguing one, and I’ll focus my attention on a pick three consisting of races 6 through 8. The final race of the sequence will be Saturday’s featured event, the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes.

RACE 6

Midwinter doldrums have crept up, including radical changes in the weather which wiped out cards including the one for our Pick last week.  Still, there were six BreezeFigs maidens who came through with winning performances, at Gulfstream (two), Laurel, Oaklawn, and Santa Anita (two), and three others won stakes at Golden Gate, Tampa Bay and Santa Anita.  Things look a bit more stable in the weather department this weekend, and despite the paucity of first-time starters on today’s card, we got lucky in finding one we like, weather permitting, see below.

Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest Stakes; 1 1/16 miles; Oaklawn Park; Feb. 15, 2016
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Suddenbreakingnews, by Mineshaft

Trainer: Donnie Von Hemel

Jockey: Luis Quinonez

Owner: Samuel F. Henderson

Beyer Speed Figure: 93

MY ITALIAN BABBO, by Papa Clem
Trainer: Ricky Agarie
Last race: Feb. 11, 3rd
Finish: Second by nose
Beyer: 69
A 4-year-old first-time starter, he was best in this Cal-bred maiden route. Off slowly, trailed by many, finished fast. With a clean start next time, he should be tough vs. similar maidens.

ENCHANTING LADY, by Tale of the Cat
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Feb. 11, 6th

WEMBLEY
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Last race: Feb. 11, 6th
Finish: 2nd by 2 1/2
Beyer: 65
This filly by Bernardini returned from a two-month layoff with an improved effort second time going long on the inner dirt against maiden special weight rivals.

Saturday, February 13
Gulfstream - Royal Delta (race 4)
 

Keying around one single, Stonetastic in the featured Miami Shores Stakes, here is my strategy for Sunday’s late pick four at Gulfstream Park. Horses listed below are ranked either as ‘A’ or ‘B’ runners, based on their chances of winning, and then played in DRF’s Ticketmaker program.

Race 9

ARCADIA, Calif. – Wagering strategy Sunday at Santa Anita is simple and stubborn.

It is simple because the only plays are inexpensive doubles that cost $8 and $2. The strategy is stubborn because the first double will not include the best horse on the entire program – race-3 favorite Prospect Park.