A couple of horses who could have been Derby protagonists and the return of a champion mare are some of the intriguing pieces in this middle-of-the-card pick four puzzle.
Race 5
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DRF Past Performances
Can’t argue with success—our Pick last week, Aurora’s Kid, got bet down to 5-to-2 and came home on top, kicking off a trifecta worth $206 if you included the other BreezeFigs horse, True Diplomacy, whom we didn’t quite like. Overall, Aurora’s Kid was one of 10 BreezeFigs maidens to get their picture taken, along with another at Tampa Bay, two each at Gulfstream and Pimlico, and solos at Churchill Downs, Golden Gate, Indiana and Santa Anita. And, hooray and hallelujah, first BreezeFig
For horseplayers who crave large fields, they don’t get much bigger than those offered in the Kentucky Oaks-Woodford Reserve-Kentucky Derby pick three that straddles the Friday and Saturday cards at Churchill Downs. The races could average 15 starters each, with the Oaks capped at 14, the Woodford drawing 12, and the Derby cutoff 20.
FRIDAY
Handicappers Matt Bernier and Kenny Peck are going head to head with $500 to wager on the Kentucky Oaks Day card at Churchill Downs.
The early portion of Friday’s Oaks card left something to be desired, but what the first half lacked in interesting wagering opportunities the second half more than made up for.
RACE 8: The Alysheba does absolutely nothing for me from an individual race stand point, but it is the opening leg of the late pick four. Accordingly, I’ll play a 50-cent pick four:
Handicappers Matt Bernier and Kenny Peck are going head to head with $500 to wager on the Kentucky Oaks Day card at Churchill Downs.
I like the back end of the card much more than the early races Friday at Churchill Downs.
RACE 2: I thought SEOUL GOLD (#3) ran a decent race in defeat despite trouble in her bow, a sprint, and now she stretches out and makes her second start for Mike Stidham, both strong angles for the barn.
$20 WIN AND PLACE #3 Seoul Gold ($40 total)
Download DRF Plus handicapping reports for Friday's races, including DRF Bets GamePlan, the Positive ROI Report, and Key Race Report.
DRF Bets GamePlan
Closer looks for Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Golden Gate, Gulfstream Park, Lone Star Park, Santa Anita, and Woodbine, and spot plays and live longshots for Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Golden Gate, Gulfstream Park, Lone Star Park, Louisiana Downs, and Santa Anita. Picks are chronologically listed, so you can build and plan your wagering day.
How do you find a Kentucky Derby longshot worth tossing onto tickets?
The simple answer would be to sidle on over to the Dallas Stewart barn.
Stewart, defying astronomical odds, has two years in a row sent out a bomber who finished second and lit up the Derby tote board. Commanding Curve hit at 37-1 last year, paying $31.80 to place and partnering with race favorite California Chrome for a $340 exacta. And in 2013, it was Golden Soul chugging home second to the favored Orb at 34-1, paying $38.60 to place and keying an exacta that paid $981.60.
Summon the Spirit (#6, ML 6-1) takes on four in Thursday’s sixth race at Belmont, a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race. Since Jan. 1, 2014, trainer Jimmy Jerkens is winning at a 28 percent clip in route races, for a return on investment of $3.20.
Check out the Positive ROI report as part of DRF Plus.
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Not the easiest of sequences but the general lack of standout favorites should mean a solid payoff:
RACE 4: Going to ultimately use them all in this maiden special weight turf race, which, almost by definition, is fairly difficult to assess. My "A" plays are HEART OF MIDWAY, TAYLOR LANE, COUNTERFACTUAL, MIGHTY SOUPER and CASH IN MY POCKET, as I would like to spread as much as possible in this leg and zero in more on later races.