With a full field and two trainers giving instructions to five jockeys, you know that this is going to be a fun race to handicap. Let’s try and find some winning bets. Blacketer from Serenity Stables is one of the more interesting runners in here and there are several as you turn the pages on this one. Purchased for the healthy sum of $300.00, the gelding paid instant dividends when hiked up to the Arkansas Derby in his first start for the new connections and finished a solid third. He probably wants the distance here better and is well drawn. If his numbers pattern of increasing with every race continues, there is no telling how good he really is or where he will level off at. He simply must be considered in this spot as his story continues to unfold. Top barn Mb Stables sends out three runners here and maiden Suspended might actually be his best chance in this heat. Suspended looks to want the flat mile and a swift pace in front of him, something almost guaranteed to happen in a field of this size. He also should be a decent price given his form in comparison to his stable mates. Win, lose or draw, he should come running in here. Starbright from TwinTowersRacing is another who should appreciate the flat mile and will come flying in the last quarter mile of this heat. The number earned in his last race, if repeated, charts to put him right on the wire with the best in here. He might only need racing luck to prevail. Resurgent from DJC Racing has improved in the last couple months and is an outside fit on numbers. The main concern here is the trip and racing luck from his post draw. He will need improvement and both to have a shot.

Of The Rest: Control The Center from Mb Stables has numbers that fit, but he appears on paper to want an elongated sprint more than a flat mile, but that is debatable. He will need a repeat of his two-turn run at Santa Anita last October to have a shot here.

Need Cash Now also from Mb Stables is the top money earner in the field but he is also zero for five going two-turns, a fact that is of major concern on this layout and in a full field. It’s also unclear how the public will bet this race, so even if you are in his corner, don’t accept too short of a price.

Ranger Jim from Williams9 is decent size at 16.1 hands and his number earned last time fit much better than most would think. He had a good enough run going two-turns last year to keep hope and he could be a surprise package in this. You should get a juicy price to boot.

The Wrong Guy from Night Rider Stables is the fairytale in here and this barn has made it a habit over the last few seasons of having monster turn arounds. He should be a giant price, and traditional handicappers will put a line threw his name without hesitation, but he has ability shown and his run in January makes him a distinct possibility to add juice to the exotics.

Fandom from Aer Stables looks like an also ran in here unless you hone in on his performance in February at the great race place and consider that he was just gelded. Repeat of career best puts him close.

Justified from Alydar Stables has faced decent company but his best race showing was over a track listed as good. It looks like he will need rain for his best chance.

Record Machine from Acber Farms has a couple runs that are an outside fit here, especially if using him underneath in exotics. The post is not the worst, but it also could cost him in trying to get over and save ground. He probably comes running late here if at all.

Petit A Petit from Jerry Garcia is a nice horse and lightly raced. He does not however appear to want two-turns, based on the limited data. The run last time at seven panels was in a small field, although an impressive number was earned. The rail draw here will dictate tactics and it looks like he will have his hands full late.

Forward Facing from Pan Farms was purchased back in December and the three runs for the barn have had limited results. Numbers say he can’t win this.

Hulk also from DJC Racing Stables does not fit this race class wise and the numbers also don’t fit. Being given the far outside post looks like the death nail to his afternoon.

-Trackman

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES