Friday’s Horse Racing Picks for US based tracks

Horse Racing Action at TVG!
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.
 
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. 
 
To purchase my Gulfstream Park and Best Plays Reports for Friday click here.
 
Now is the perfect time to purchase my Monthly Package. It gives you a month of Gulfstream Park Reports daily and my Best Plays Report which will include all the major Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races.
 
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
 
Good luck today!