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Horse Racing

Saturday’s Horse Racing Picks for US based tracks

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
7 minute read
Horse Racing Action at TVG!
We will stay busy at Gulfstream Park on Saturday as they offer up a 12-race card that gets underway at 12:45 ET.
 
We also will head out to Oaklawn Park where today’s feature is the only stakes race in the U.S., the $100,000 Purple Martin for three-year-old fillies going six furlongs.  Four of my strongest plays from Oaklawn Park are included in today’s Best Plays Report.
 
It is still hard to believe where we are at. Under normal circumstances we would have had three major Road to the Kentucky Derby points races this afternoon—the Santa Anita Derby, the Blue Grass at Keeneland and the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
 
It does not look as if we will have additional tracks opening in April, and May is even in question. However, between Gulfstream Park, Oaklawn Park and Tampa Bay Downs we still have three major tracks going, as well as minor tracks Fonner Park and Will Rogers Downs.
 
There are quarterhorses going at Remington Park and Los Alamitos and we still have late night action from Australia, Hong Kong and Japan.
 
So I think we are still pretty lucky to have action going pretty much every day and night for now.
 
We have national television coverage today as well. FS1 will broadcast the action from 1:30 to 6:00 ET. The NBC Sports Network will simulcast the TVG Network feed from 4:00 to 7:00 ET.
 
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. 
 
My Best Plays Report for Saturday includes my eight strongest plays from Oaklawn Park and Gulfstream Park.
 
To purchase my Gulfstream Park and Best Plays Reports for Saturday 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 (12:45 ET)
#5 Big Treasure   8-1
#3 Punchline   7-2
#8 Blessed Journey   2-1
#11 Perfect Enough   15-1
 
Analysis: Big Treasure drops out of a $25,000 maiden claimer where the colt raced near the back of the pack while saving ground and finished evenly in a fifth-place finish, beaten 2 3/4 lengths. This guy has been in the mix in each of his last five starts including a nose loss in his second career start at GP West. He drops into an easier spot here and catches a field here he should be able to handle. he has a solid turf pedigree, by Treasure Beach out of a Big Brown mare, this her first foal to race.
 
Punchline chased the early pace and weakened to finish fifth last out over good ground for a $32,000 tag. He showed some signs of live after getting outrun in his two previous starts. His last was his first go on turf and he has a solid turf pedigree, by Into Mischief out of an Unbridled's Song mare that has dropped three other foals to race, no turf winners and just one dirt winner to date. He faces a softer group here for the Jerkens barn.
 
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 9-2 or better.
EX: 3,5 / 3,5,8,11
TRI: 3,5 / 3,5,8,11 / 2,3,5,8,11
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:
 
GP Race 10 OClm $100,000C (5:20 ET)
#2 Kroy   6-1
#11 Halladay   6-1
#3 First Premio   7-2
#4 Dr. Shane   9-2
 
Analysis: Kroy is making his first start since a runner up finish here last June. He lands in the Gargan barn that has won with six of his last dozen runners (with a +ROI) coming back off a +180-day layoff. His last win came on dirt, but this guy has won 4 of 11 over the turf here, his last turf win coming at a mile in Aug. of 18. he made just three starts last year before sitting the sidelines. Decent works on the morning tab and the barn has been on fire this year, hitting at a 39% clip.
 
Halladay tracked the early pace and ducked inward bumping a foe and then did not have enough punch left late in a fourth-place finish in the Tampa Bay (G3). He won the Tropical Park Derby two back here in a sharp outing. He has landed in the money in seven of his eight trips on turf. Saez picks up the call here for Pletcher and this guy has earned figures in three of his last four starts good enough to win in this spot. The 6-1 morning line looks more than fair.
 
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 4-1 or better.
EX: 2,11 / 2,3,4,11
TRI: 2,11 / 2,3,4,11 / 2,3,4,7,11
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Oaklawn Park:
 
OP Race 9 The Purple Martin (5:09 CT)
#8 Frank's Rockette   5-2
#2 Ring Leader   6-1
#1 Kimari   4-1
#4 Edgeway   3-1
 
Analysis: Frank's Rockette is coming off a huge win in the Any Limit last out at Gulfstream Park at six furlongs in her first start off a 4 1/2-month break. The filly set the early fractions and then trounced the field by seven lengths in fast time. She has not missed landing in the exacta in five starts, running second in back to back Grade 1 races in New York last year. She owns a solid pace profile throughout and can win this from up front or more likely to track just off the pace. The Mott barn is 23% winners (with a +ROI) with runners making their second start off a 45-180-day break. She is bred to handle a wet track.
 
Ring Leader may offer some value here with our top pick likely to go off as the short priced favorite. The filly cuts back to a sprint after setting the early fractions and weakened to finish fifth in the Honeybee (G3) here going two turns. She was perfect in three starts sprinting including winning the Dixie Belle here at six furlongs two back. She beat Alw-1 optional claimers in the mud three back. She owns solid early and mid pace numbers and looks as if she is going to be a fair price in this spot.
 
Kimari has not been on the main track since breaking her maiden going 4 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland in her debut by 15 lengths. She missed by just a head in a 25-horse field in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) on turf at Royal Ascot in her next start. She makes her first start since making a mild late rally to finish fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) against the boys at Santa Anita at five furlongs. She has always worked well on dirt and popped a bullet work at Keeneland on March 30. The Ward barn is 22% winners with runners coming back off a 61-180-day layoff.
 
Wagering
WIN: #8 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 2,8 / 1,2,4,8
TRI: 2,8 / 1,2,4,8 / 1,2,4,6,8
 
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: #5 Big Treasure   8-1
R1: #11 Perfect Enough   15-1
R2: #7 Summer Mischief   8-1
R3: #1 Bella Gianna   12-1
R5: #4 Domineer   8-1
R5: #2 Broadway Peggy   12-1
R6: #12 Awesomenewyear   8-1
R7: #1 Dark Ages   8-1
R8: #9 Here Comes Jackie   10-1
R8: #6 Ms Headley   15-1
R9: #8 Maserati Man   8-1
R11: #1 Tomcat Black   8-1
R12: #4 Sweet Story   8-1
R12: #11 Night Watch   8-1
 
Good luck today!

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