Horse Racing Betting News Saturday 5/16/20

Horse Races Today: Saturday's Churchill Downs and Santa Anita Park Analysis & Odds
May 15, 2020
By Mike Dempsey

You know things are starting to get to normal in horse racing when you are watching television and you see two races going off at the exact same time.

Not only that, the two tracks are owned by the same company. Golden Gate Fields and Gulfstream Park managed to run at the same exact time yesterday, both racetracks owned by the Stronach Group.

You just can’t fix stupid.

We also found out yesterday that Churchill Downs and the TVG Network did not come to an agreement, and the races will not be televised on their main channel, relegated to TVG2.

Let’s put it this way—If racetrack executives were put in charge of this pandemic we find ourselves in, we would all be dead already.

The good news in if you plan on wagering on Churchill Downs as I am, FS1 and FS2 will have the action. FS2 starts off the fun from 1:00 to 2:30 ET. Then FS1 will take over from 2:30 to 6:00 ET, and then it is back to FS2 from 6:00 to 6:30 ET.

In addition, the NBC Sports Network will simulcast the TVG Network from 4:00 to 8:00 ET. 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 $300 for new players.

My Best Plays Report for Saturday includes my 10 strongest plays from Churchill Downs and Santa Anita.

Both tracks have excellent cards today with plenty of large fields. We have a pair of stakes at Santa Anita, while the stakes action at Churchill Downs starts next weekend.

I will be providing my full card reports daily from Churchill Downs, which will run from Thursday through Sunday each week until June 27.

Here is the opening race from Churchill Downs to get the day off to a good start:
Churchill Downs Race 1 Analysis - 5/16
CD Race 1 Md $30,000 (1:00 ET)
#10 Arch Ability 3-1
#6 Skyburst 6-1
#12 Baudette Blizzard 2-1
#7 Sailor Again 12-1

Analysis: Arch Ability returns to the main track and drops into an easier spot for his local debut Last out on turf at Santa Anita for a $50,000 tag the colt was off a beat slow, raced near the back of the pack and finished evenly in a fifth place finish. His best effort came in his second career start, a game runner up finish on the main track at Santa Anita for a $50,000 tag. He made his debut here last June where he was sent off at 22-1 for a $75,000 tag and was not a threat in a sixth-place finish. He is out of a Lion Hearted mare that has dropped two other foals to race, both winners. The barn is 21% winners (with a +ROI) moving runners from turf to dirt. He catches a softer spot and has a decent off track pedigree if the track is wet.

Skyburst debuts for the Moquett barn that is 12% winners with first timers. The gelding is by Sky Kingdom out of a Stormy Atlantic mare, her first foal to race. This guy has been working quickly and steadily at Oaklawn Park for his debut. Rosario takes the call and he looks ready to go at first asking.
Churchill Downs Featured Race 8 Analysis - 5/16
CD Race 8 Alw $81,000N1X (4:40 ET)
#7 Linnery 4-1
#9 Motagally 6-1
#1 Bama Breeze 10-1
#6 Labeq 6-1

Analysis: Linnery ships in from Fair Grounds for the Cox barn that won here last spring at a 29% clip. The colt tracked the early pace and was no match for a 4 1/2 length winner last out at this level. Only one runner has come out of that race to run back, the fifth-place finisher Times Square who came back to beat $20,000 claimers and then run sixth against Alw-1 foes in his most recent start. Two back our top pick was beaten just a couple of noses in a third-place finish, the top pair next out winners and the race produced four next out winners in total. The winner Sharp Prospect beat Alw-2 optional claimers on March 15 at Fair Grounds. This guy looks like a good fit in this spot and picks up Geroux.

Motagally came off a 13-month layoff last out, stalking the early pace and weakening to finish fourth in what was his first start against winners. He caught a racing strip that was playing to inside speed that day. He graduated in February of '19 at the Big A going nine furlongs in his fourth career start. The Chad Brown trainee figures to be tighter in his second start off the bench here. He was a $650,000 Keeneland purchase, out of a J Be K mare that has dropped one other winner. He should be fit and ready to go off woks at Palm Meadows and Castellano rides him back.
Santa Anita Featured Race 8 Analysis - 5/16
SA Race 8 The Evening Jewel (4:08 PT)
#3 Been Studying Her 7-2
#2 Bella Vita 6-1
#9 Warren's Showtime 3-1
#5 Bulletproof One 5-2

Analysis: Been Studying Her was outrun last out on turf going a mile in the Cal Cup Oaks. She won three of her first four career starts, all in sprints on the main track including a win in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies here at seven furlongs. She makes her first start here for Sherman after being with Hollendorfer and his assistant Dan Ward. He should be fit off the break off works at Los Al. The Sherman barn is 14% winners (with a +ROI) with runners coming back off a 61-180-day layoff dating back five years.

Bella Vita makes his first start on dirt after three starts on turf to start his career. he graduated at 5 1/2 furlongs here on turf in his second career start by 5 1/4 lengths. She stretched out to a mile in the China Doll last out where he prompted the early pace and got clear but could not hold off the top pair late in a third-place finish, beaten a length. He is by Bayern out of a Storm Cat mare and should be able to handle the switch to the main track. He has worked well over the surface here. Callaghan is 3 for his last 10 moving runners from turf to dirt.
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: #7 Sailor Again 12-1
R4: #3 Fashion Faux Pas 10-1
R5: #7 Oxide 8-1
R5: #8 Handy 8-1
R7: #9 Rocks That I Got 15-1
R7: #1 Golden Star Lady 8-1
R8: #1 Bama Breeze 10-1
R9: #10 Saratogian 12-1
R9: #6 Sacred Oath 12-1
R10: #4 Joysome 8-1