Monday’s Horse Racing Picks and Odds from Will Rogers Downs and Fonner Park on Monday March 23

I usually take Monday off, but I have a feeling I am going to be have a few too many days off in the not too distant future, so let’s play the ponies today.

In this now topsy turvy world we live in I never thought I would spend my day handicapping Fonner Park and Will Rogers Downs, but that is exactly what I did last night.

I have spent hundreds of days hanging out at smaller tracks like Charles Town and Timonium, so I feel more than comfortable heading out to Claremore, Oklahoma and Grand Island, Nebraska on a Monday afternoon.

We got more bad news yesterday as the Dubai World Cup card which was scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled. Among the races wiped out by the Coronavirus crisis is the $12 million Dubai World Cup. The seven race card was worth $35 million.

The U.S based runners set to compete were already in Dubai. Among them was Mucho Gusto, Tacitus, Sir Winston and War Story.

Now we have to keep our fingers crossed that Gulfstream Park stays in action. Saturday is Florida Derby Day which features eight stakes races. The $1 million Florida Derby (G1) is a Road to the Kentucky Derby points race.

Among the tracks still running as start this week off are Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita, Tampa Bay Downs, Fonner Park, Will Rogers Downs, Los Alamitos, Charles Town, Turfway Park, Remington Park and Oaklawn Park.

My Best Plays Report for Monday includes my eight strongest plays from Will Rogers Downs and Fonner 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.

Monday’s Featured Race of the Day from Will Rogers Downs:

WRD Race 3 Alw $20,900N1X (2:15 CT)
#6 Dance Doctor 4-1
#7 Strong Side 5-2
#3 Call Me 5-1
#1 Man U 3-1

Analysis: Dance Doctor
makes his second start off a for month layoff here for the Compton barn. Last out at Fonner Park against non-conditioned allowance foes he stalked the early pace and made a mild late run to finish third. His two previous starts came on turf against Alw-1 foes and he was over matched. He ran well here last year including a tough head loss against $10,000 claimers. He fits in this spot and figures to move forward second off the bench.

Strong Side tracked the early pace and finished strongly to beat $10,000 non-winners of four last out at Delta Downs. He ships in her for his third start of his current form cycle. Broberg has started off the meet going 0 for 6 and five of those were 2-1 or lower. He was good enough to be restricted $10,000 foes at Churchill Downs last year while in the Contreras barn. He fits well here but his price may drift south from his 5-2 morning line.

Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 6,7 / 1,3,6,7
TRI: 6,7 / 1,3,6,7 / 1,3,4,6,7

Monday’s Featured Race of the Day from Fonner Park:

FON Race 2 Md Sp Wt (3:57 CT)
#7 Kittens Embrace 10-1
#5 Pretty Rich 9-2
#2 Scotia Queen 7-2
#3 Moro Love 12-1

Analysis: Kitten's Embrace
was outrun in her debut here going four furlongs, racing next to last early and checking in a well beaten fifth at 5-1. She stretches out to six furlongs here for a more than capable barn that is having a good meeting and the meet's second leading jock sticks. She has a nice pedigree, by Kitten's Joy out of the stakes winner Sir Borealis ($189,223), her first foal to race. She had put in a good gate drill before her debut and looking for her to show more speed on the stretch out and we should catch a decent price.

Pretty Rich pressed the early pace and weakened in the stretch to finish third last out against $10,000 maiden claimers at four furlongs. It was a career tops peed fig for the filly who is sent out by a barn that is 0 for 15 at the meeting. She owns solid early and mid pace numbers and she looks headed in the right direction. She should get a good tracking trip and does not need to move forward all that much to be in the hunt in this spot.

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

Good luck today!