Horse Racing Betting News For Thursday 3/19/20

By Mike Dempsey

The horse racing industry continues to give us a distraction from the Coronavirus crisis with many tracks in the U.S. still running without spectators.

While racing in the UK was halted, those in Ireland got good news yesterday as racing will continue with no fans.

I did not think we would have racing at Aqueduct in New York on Friday, but as of now racing is on, and we have a big weekend coming up including the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds on Saturday.

The NBC Sports Network announced yesterday that they will simulcast the horse racing action from the TVG Network on Saturday and Sunday from 4:00 to 8:00 ET.

If you plan on wagering while you are stuck at home the program will feature the action from Aqueduct, Fair Grounds, Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita over the weekend.

Horseplayers can also stream all the horse racing action using the Watch TVG App. The horse betting company based in the U.S. is offering a risk free bet up to $200 for new players.

In addition, Fair Grounds (look under their parent company Churchill Downs) and the New York Racing Association have apps to stream the action on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Firestick.

The Louisiana Derby is one of eight stakes races on an outstanding card on Saturday at Fair Grounds, which is in New Orleans.

The race is a Road to the Kentucky Derby points race. The Derby has been moved from the first Saturday of May until the first Saturday of September. Yes, these are indeed crazy times.

Enforceable is the 7-2 morning line favorite for the Louisiana Derby. The colt was our top pick in the Lecomte back in January and we got paid $15.60. He came up short in a runner up finish in the faster division of the Risen Star (G2) in his last outing.

Trainer Brad Cox has a duo of runners that are both going to be generous prices that may be worth a look. Wells Bayou is 8-1 on the morning line and is coming off a runner up finish in the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park.

The colt set the early fractions in that outing before being unable to hold off Silver Prospector late. He has a shot of wiring the field at a decent price.

The other Cox runner is Shake Some Action, who is listed at 15-1 on the morning line. The colt was a game winner against first level optional claimers and will be making his stakes debut. The colt is bred to get the added ground and is going to be a big price.

I will have selections and analysis for the race in Saturday’s column.

My Best Plays Report for Thursday includes my eight strongest plays from Fair Grounds and Gulfstream Park.

Thursday’s Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:

GP Race 5 Md $25,000 (3:03 ET)
#5 Nextstop Pokipc 4-1
#7 Wordman 8-5
#4 Palace Kid 3-1
#3 Chanelin 15-1

Analysis: Nextstop Pokipc was squeezed back with no running room early and away last and came with a mild late run while five wide to finish fifth, beaten two lengths for the top spot. He was cutting back from a mile to five furlongs. He picks up Gaffalione and willing to give this guy another look here. He has worked sharply since his last outing. He is out of a Not for Love mare, her first foal to race.

Wordman stalked the early pace and made a mild late run to finish third in his debut, sent off at 7-2 in a field of eight in his debut for the Pletcher barn. He drops a notch in class here. The $200,000 purchase is out of a Bertrando mare that has dropped six winners including one turf winner. The barn is 24% winners with second out maidens. The local one to beat here but our top pick is going to end up offering a bit more value for the top spot.

Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 5,7 / 3,4,5,7
TRI: 5,7 / 3,4,5,7 / 2,3,4,5,7

Thursday’s Featured Race of the Day from Fair Grounds:

FG Race 6 Clm $30,000B (2:55 CT)
#3 Evil Lyn 7-2
#4 Darling Vera 3-1
#6 Princeless Nellie 9-2
#2 Cirrusly 9-2

Analysis: Evil Lyn faces older for the first time here after taking the field gate to wire to beat straight three-year-old fillies last out for a $30,000 tag by 6 3/4 lengths. The Cox trainee was making her first career start on turf. She won with a little something left in the tank and owns solid early and mid pace numbers. She looks capable of winning right back.

Darling Vera drops in for a tag for the first time her for the Stall barn. Last out this gal was outrun early and was not a threat at 15-1 against Alw-1 company. The third-place finisher French Empire came back to beat Alw-1 foes in her next outing on March 14. She catches an easier spot here and her last two speed figs fit well in this spot. She broke her maiden here last February in her second career start.

Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 3,4 / 2,3,4,6
TRI: 3,4 / 2,3,4,6 / 2,3,4,5,6