Horse Racing Betting News For Friday 4/3/20

April 3, 2020
By Mike Dempsey

We are back in action at Gulfstream Park on Friday and I have my full card report for an outstanding nine race card. In addition, for my Best Plays I also included some action from Oaklawn Park.

We lost another racetrack on Thursday as Golden Gate Fields announced that they will temporarily close for live racing effective immediately in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

That leaves quarterhorse racing at Los Alamitos as the only horse racing action left in California.

We still have three major tracks going—Gulfstream Park, Oaklawn Park and Tampa Bay Downs and two minor tracks in Fonner Park and Will Rogers Downs.

All of the tracks are racing without spectators and with strict protocols in place to keep the grooms, jockeys and trainers safe. Horses of course cannot contract the virus.

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With nearly the entire nation under “stay at home” orders and all major sports shut down, as I have said before having some tracks still in action has been a great diversion.

Let’s hope the tracks stay safe and in action throughout this crisis. If I can get through the next month without having to binge watch “Tiger King” I will be a very happy man.

My Best Plays Report for Friday includes my eight strongest plays from Oaklawn Park and Gulfstream Park.

Horseplayers can 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.

Here is the opening race from Gulfstream Park to get the day off to a good start:

GP Race 1 Md $16,000 (1:00 ET)
#2 Capeline 8-1
#3 Princesa Crystal 2-1
#6 Bulldat 7-2
#1 Missandei 9-2

Analysis: Capeline was not a threat after a wide trip in her debut, checking in ninth while beaten 4 3/4 lengths going five furlongs on turf, sent off at 13-1 in a field of 10. She stretches out to a mile here and figures to move forward with the added ground. She is out of a Smart Strike mare that has dropped four winners and three have won on turf. The low profile barn assure we should catch a decent price on this filly and this is not a real tough looking group of bottom level maidens.

Princesa Crystal is coming off a fourth-place finish last out over good ground and is now 0 for 11 in her career. Her best effort came two back on firm ground here she was next to last early, came with a good run and took over the lead heading for home but was run down, beaten a neck. She is out of the turf stakes winner Crystal House ($163,625) who has dropped three turf winners. She has had a few too many chances and her price may be short but she fits against this weak looking group.

Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 5-1 or better.
EX: 2,3 / 1,2,3,6
TRI: 2,3 / 1,2,3,6 / 1,2,3,6,11

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Oaklawn Park:

OP Race 5 Md Sp Wt (3:06 CT)
#2 Tempt Fate 3-1
#1 Thornish 6-1
#9 Rockthepulpit 5-1
#11 Pay Dirt 8-1

Analysis: Tempt Fate took the field gate to wire in her debut last December at Fair Grounds but was DQ'd for interference coming out of the gate. He returned here last out where he was sent off at 6-5 against state bred $40,000 maiden claimers but has to settle for third. Three have come out of that race to win next out including the winner Heritage Park, who beat state bred Alw-1 foes on March 28. Blinkers are added as he steps up to the maiden special weight level for his first go off the claim by the Deville barn that is showing a 0 for 3 mark first off the claim. The colt is the first foal to race out of an Archarcharch mare.

Thornish pressed the early pace and battled on gamely in between foes to come up just 3/4 of a length short over a muddy surface in his second career start against state bred $25,000 foes. He caught a wet track in his debut two back where hew dueled for the early lead and weakened to finish third. The winner of that race was Call Me Derby, who beat $16,000 non-winners of tow in his next outing here on March 8. He has four sibs that are winners including minor stakes winner Najran Breeze ($102,733). He steps up in class but fits here and has experience over wet tracks which he might see again today.

Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,9,11
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,9,11 / 1,2,6,9,11

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

GP Race 7 Clm $12,500 (4:10 ET)
#2 Interest 3-1
#1 Magicgirl 12-1
#9 Lemon Scat 9-2
#7 Silly Notion 6-1

Analysis: Interest drops into an easier spot after getting off poorly when stumbling coming out of the gate and was never a threat in an eighth-place finish against $25,000 starter optional claimers in her first start for the barn. She graduated three back for a $25,000 tag on the turf here. The blinkers come off and she catches a much easier group here. Saez picks up the call and with a better start she looks like the one to beat here for her high % barn.

Magicgirl takes the hood off as she makes her first start on turf. She graduated on the main track at GP West in her debut and was a good second against $16,000 foes in her first start against winners. She was claimed out of that race by the Downing barn and she has not run back to her first two efforts. She is out of a Full Mandate mare that has dropped three other winners and two have won on turf. She draws the rail and she has some early zip which should be enough to put her o or close to the lead. Wort tossing in the mix if she goes off near her 12-1 morning line.

Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,7,9
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,7,9 / 1,2,7,9,10

Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Gulfstream Park
R1: #2 Capeline 8-1
R2: 31 Ain’t Wasting Time 10-1
R4: #8 Abdaa 8-1
R4: #6 Starship Bubba 8-1
R7: #1 Magicgirl 12-1
R8: #3 So Cunning 10-1
R9: #7 Cherokee Sound 15-1
R9: #2 Veer 12-1
R9: #1 Truly 12-1

Friday's Best Bet: Kurilov gets pace to chase at Oaklawn Park
by Jarrod Horak
April 3, 2020

Friday's 8th race from Oaklawn Park is an optional claiming event for 4-year-olds and up traveling a mile and a sixteenth on the main track (Post Time 5:38 p.m. EDT).

Click here for Oaklawn Park Entries, Results

#8 KURILOV (4-1) has found consistency in his last four starts for Brad Cox. He exits back-to-back local wins at this distance as the chalk, and his finishing kick should play well in a race with plenty of pace.

#5 Pirate’s Punch (3-1) turned everything around last summer and has now fired trifecta shots in six straight (3 wins). He is probably the one to catch under Tyler Baze.

#4 Gato Guapo (9-2) fired trifecta shots in nine of his last ten starts and should make his presence felt throughout for the productive Mojica-Diodoro team.

#6 Laughing Fox (10-1) adds blinkers and gets pace to chase. All three of his wins were at Oaklawn Park including a pair at this distance.

#3 C Z Rocket (6-1) is a first time gelding for Al Stall Jr. and he is entered for the $100k tag. He is 4-for-13 overall but 0-for-2 at Oaklawn and 0-for-3 at this distance.

#9 Rated R Superstar (6-1) faced stakes foes in eight of his last ten starts. He will probably lag early and make a late bid, and a minor award might be the best he can hope for.

Wagers:

#8 to win

Exacta 8/4-5-6

Exacta 4-5-6/8

Trifecta 5-8/4-5-6-8/3-4-5-6-8-9

Recent Best Bet Winners

March 21 - WARD 'N JERRY ($5.60), Trifecta ($14.85)

March 26 - SEVEN NATION ARMY ($5.60)

March 29 - DAPHNE MOON ($5.40), Exacta ($13.80)

March 30 - Okie Queen/Bright Bling/Keena Trifecta ($35.90)

F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Gulfstream Park
PURCHASE
Gulfstream Park - Race 2

$1 Daily Double / $2 Quinella /$1 Exacta / $.50 Trifecta / $.10 Superfecta $1 Super Hi 5 / $.50 Bet 3 (Races 2-3-4) / $.50 Pick 4 (Races 2-3-4-5)

Claiming $30,000 • 6 Furlongs • Dirt • Age 3 • CR: 82 • Purse: $28,000 • Post: 1:34P
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS. WEIGHT, 122 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE MARCH 3 ALLOWED 2 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $30,000, IF FOR $25,000, ALLOWED 2 LBS. (RACES WHERE ENTERED FOR $20,000 OR LESS NOT CONSIDERED).
Contenders

Race Analysis
P#
Horse
Morn
Line

Accept
Odds

Race Type: Dominant Front-runner. AIN'T WASTING TIME is the Dominant Front-runner of the race. * KEY ANGLES * AIN'T WASTING TIME: Horse has a TrackMaster "B" designation. Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. FRONTIER MESA: H orse's win percentage at today's distance(sprint or route)/surface (dirt or turf) is at least 50. Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. FLAMING HOT: Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days. Horse ranks in the top thre e in TrackMaster Power Rating.
1
AIN'T WASTING TIME
10/1

5/2
7
FRONTIER MESA
9/2

7/1
4
FLAMING HOT
3/1

8/1

P#

Horse (In Running Style Order)

Post

Morn
Line

Running Style

Good
Class

Good
Speed

Early Figure

Finish Figure

Platinum
Figure
1
AIN'T WASTING TIME
1

10/1
Front-runner
92

79

86.6

78.2

72.7
8
TRAVELIN GAMBLER
8

6/1
Front-runner
78

76

74.8

57.7

44.2
9
SARASOTA BOY
9

20/1
Front-runner
65

69

58.4

60.4

45.4
7
FRONTIER MESA
7

9/2
Front-runner
78

81

53.3

67.3

61.8
3
CAT GONE QUICK
3

12/1
Front-runner
75

73

53.2

50.6

35.6
4
FLAMING HOT
4

3/1
Stalker
89

81

79.8

77.2

71.7
2
ASSERTIKO
2

12/1
Trailer
79

67

57.2

63.4

54.4
6
UYEDA
6

6/1
Trailer
63

70

24.6

66.4

55.9
5
BEYOND GONE
5

7/2
Alternator/Non-contender
88

69

75.8

68.8

59.3
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F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Los Alamitos (Quarter Horse)
PURCHASE
Los Alamitos (Quarter Horse) - Race 5

$1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta $1 Superfecta(.10cent minimum wager) $1 Pick Three

Claiming $2,500 • 4 1/2 Furlongs • Dirt • Ages 3 and up • CR: 65 • Purse: $7,000 • Post: 7:52P
FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 120 LBS.; OLDER, 123 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE FEBRUARY 3 ALLOWED 3 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $2,500 (MAIDEN RACES AND RACES FOR $2,000 OR LESS NOT CONSIDERED IN ALLOWANCES).
Contenders

Race Analysis
P#
Horse
Morn
Line

Accept
Odds

Race Type: Lone Stalker. REDHOTNREADYTOWED is the Lone Stalker of the race. * KEY ANGLES * I B BUZZIN: Horse has a TrackMaster "+" designation or an "L" designation. Horse has the highest TrackMaster Power Rating. VIRGINIA HALL: Today is a sprin t, horse is a Front-runner with an inside post position. Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days. REDHOTNREADYTOWED: Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days. Jockey win percentage over the last 30 days is at least 18.
4
I B BUZZIN
9/5

3/1
3
VIRGINIA HALL
3/1

7/1
5
REDHOTNREADYTOWED
8/1

8/1

P#

Horse (In Running Style Order)

Post

Morn
Line

Running Style

Good
Class

Good
Speed

Early Figure

Finish Figure

Platinum
Figure
3
VIRGINIA HALL
3

3/1
Alternator/Front-runner
59

46

56.4

54.6

49.6
6
SOPRESCIOUS
6

5/2
Alternator/Front-runner
61

52

51.4

43.4

35.4
5
REDHOTNREADYTOWED
5

8/1
Alternator/Stalker
64

55

42.8

47.4

37.4
4
I B BUZZIN
4

9/5
Trailer
68

64

43.2

64.6

62.6
1
HAPPIER TOGETHER
1

6/1
Alternator/Non-contender
62

56

56.8

44.6

37.1
2
LAST DANCE BELLA
2

10/1
Alternator/Non-contender
59

46

30.2

41.2

32.7
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