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Horse Racing

Horse Races Today: Saturday’s Gulfstream and Oaklawn Odds

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
7 minute read
Horse Racing Action at TVG!
While we are mostly stuck in our homes, we have plenty of horse racing action on Saturday including a 13-race marathon card at Gulfstream Park and a 12-race card at Oaklawn Park.
 
It was supposed to be Arkansas Derby Day, but the marquee race of the Oaklawn Park meet was rescheduled for May 2. That was supposed to be Kentucky Derby Day, which has been shifted to September 5.
 
Today’s $200,000 Oaklawn Stakes drew a field of 13 three-year-olds and is a prep for the Arkansas Derby. The top three finishers earn automatic berths into the race while the winner stamps a ticket to the Preakness Stakes (G1). Don’t ask me when the second jewel of the Triple Crown is. Your guess is as good as mine.
 
The co-feature at Oaklawn Park today is the $150,000 Oaklawn Mile which drew a wide open field of 14. Tom’s d’Etat is the 3-1 morning line favorite. The seven-year-old makes his first start since winning the Clark (G1) at Churchill Downs last November.
 
There are no stakes at Gulfstream Park today, but we have big field and competitive races throughout the card.
 
My Best Plays Report for Saturday includes my nine strongest plays from Oaklawn Park and Gulfstream Park.
 
There is no shortage of horse racing on national television this afternoon. Fox Sports 1 will be televising the action on Saturday from 1:30 to 7:00 ET and 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. 
 
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:

Gulfstream Park Odds and Picks: Opening Race of Today, April 11

GP Race 1 Clm $12,500N2L (12:30 ET)
#6 Put It On Detti   9-2
#7 Primo Posto   4-1
#11 Venerate   10-1
#1 Bolt   12-1
 
Analysis: Put It On Detti gets the slight nod in the opener. The gelding makes his third career start and appears to have more upside than most of this group. He broke his maiden last out in his second career start and first on turf beating $25,000 foes. He now being reported as a gelding here for the Collazo and gets a jock upgrade to Paco.
 
Primo Posto trialed throughout last out in a sixth place finish on the main track against $35,000 non-winners of two. He as a decent third behind a repeat winner two back against $25,000 non-winners of two. He broke his maiden on turf going 5 1/2 at Colonial Downs last September. He drops into an easier spot while adding blinkers and will appreciate the switch back to turf.

Oaklawn Park Odds and Picks: Featured Race of Today, April 11

OP Race 9 The Oaklawn Mile (4:43 CT)
#2 Mr. Money   4-1
#3 Tom's d'Etat   3-1
#4 Pioneer Spirit   6-1
#14 Improbable   7-2
 
Analysis: Mr. Money won four of his eight starts last year including three straight Grade 3 wins coming in the Matt Winn at Churchill Downs, the Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand and the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park. He tossed in a dud in his last start of the year in a seventh-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Four runners have come out of that race to run back, two winners and one runner up finish in stakes company. The barn is 23% winners (with a +ROI) with runners coming back off a 61-180-day layoff. His win at a mile came at one turn in the Pat Day Mile (G3) at Churchill Downs last May. He owns a solid pace profile throughout and should be able to work out a trip sitting not far off the pace.
 
Tom’s d’Etat is making his first start since winning the Clark (G1) at Churchill Downs last November. He won three of his last four starts last year and has earned triple digit Beyers in his last six starts. Stall was pointing this guy toward the Ben Ali at Keeneland which would have been run today but the pandemic wiped out the spring meeting at the Lexington track. His win at a mile came going one turn and he is best at nine furlongs. He looks as if he is tactical enough that Rosario should be able to have him in a good tracking spot, but his price may end up lighter than his 3-1 morning line.
 
Pioneer Spirit is sent out by the Diodoro barn that has been sending out live runners at the meeting here and this guy is coming off a third in the slop in the Essex Handicap. The barn claimed him for $150,000 last fall at Churchill Downs and he won his first two starts for the barn including the Fifth Season here three back at a mile. The seven-year-old rarely runs a bad one, landing in the money in 24 of his 31 career starts and five of seven over the main track here. He has some early zip and should be forwardly placed which is where you want to be at a mile here with the short stretch.

Gulfstream Park Odds and Picks: Featured Race of Today, April 11

GP Race 10 OClm $75,000N1X (4:54 ET)
#6 Chart   4-1
#7 Lastchanceforlove   3-1
#1 Boerne   7-2
#8 Bachelor's Bait   15-1
 
Analysis: Chart cuts back to a sprint here after pressing the early pace and fading to finish eighth last out in the Davona Dale (G2) at a mile. This gal broke her maiden in her debut at 5-2 for Contessa who rarely wins with firsters. She drops in class as she makes her first start for the Casse barn that is 14% winners with newcomers to the barn. She showed some promise in her debut and was just in too tough last out, she fits well in this spot.
 
Lastchanceforlove took the field gate to wire to break her maiden in her debut at Fair Grounds going six furlongs. She only had to beat four foes, two of which came back to run well in their next starts in runner up finishes. The $190,000 Keeneland purchase was sent off at 3-1 in her unveiling. She earned solid early and mid pace numbers but does have a couple of foes in here that can stick with her early. She picks up Saez and is good hands with the Walsh barn.
 
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: #11 Venerate   10-1
R2: #1 Nenita   8-1
R2: #8 Bev’s Strength   8-1
R4: #6 Starship Taxi   15-1
R6: #5 Baker’s Bay   8-1
R7: #2 Robintakincharge   10-1
R8: #9 Mr Jaggers   12-1
R8: #2 Cornbread Kingdom   8-1
R10: #8 Bachelor’s Bait   15-1
R11: #3 Go Away   12-1
R13: #2 Farley   10-1
 
Good luck today!


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