At the Gate - Friday
By Mike Dempsey
The Road to the Kentucky Derby takes a stop in the Bayou on Saturday with a full field lined up to go one mile and 70 yards in the $200,000 Lecomte (G3).
The race offers up 10-4-2-1 Derby points toward entry into the Run for the Roses, now just 113 days away.
The Lecomte is the first of three Derby points races at Fair Grounds. Coming up on Feb. 20 is the $400,000 Risen Star (G2) and then the marquee event of the meeting is the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 26.
Trainer Tom Amoss will saddle the morning line favorite Mo Tom (7-2), who ran third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in his last outing. The runner up Mor Spirit came out of that race to win the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) in his next outing and is currently the second choice at 8-1 in Kentucky Derby future wagering at Sportsbook.ag.
It is anyone’s guess who else in the 14-horse field will take betting action. Fish Trappe Road (6-1) is coming off a runner up finish in the Sleepy Hollow at Belmont Park and steps out of the comfy confines of state bred company.
Mike Maker sends out Uncle Walter (6-1) who was beaten a head last out against first level optional claimers at Churchill Downs earning a solid speed figure.
Todd Pletcher sends out Destin (6-1) who was second against first level optional claimers in his last outing, and Tom’s Ready (5-1) fits if he gets in off the also-eligible list. His best effort was a second in the Street Sense Stakes back in November.
Here is today’s opener from Gulfstream Park to get the day off to a good start:
GP Race 1 Md $50,000 (12:35 ET)
#1 Casting Couch 6-1
#2 Lucent Lady 5-2
#4 Sweetwater 3-1
#6 Charming Fantasy 4-1
Analysis: Casting Couch tracked the early pace and finished up well for the runner up spot on turf, unable to catch a winner who got the jump on her heading for home. She was fifth in her debut and note she took on the boys in that outing. She now goes on the main track and it would be a plus if the track comes up wet as she is bred top and bottom to handle the off going. She is out of the stakes winner Citi Charisse ($89,930), her first foal to race.
Lucent Lady dueled for the early lead and finished gamely in a runner up finish, beaten 3/4 of a length for the top spot for this tag over a wet track in a race washed off the turf. She earned the top last out speed fig for the Nicks barn that is having a good meeting. She is out of the stakes winner Elusive Lady ($358,162).
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 4-1 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,4,6
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,4,6 / 1,2,4,5,6
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:
GP Race 8 Alw $44,000N1X (4:05 ET)
#5 Flatlined 10-1
#8 Morning Dancer 4-1
#1 Securtitiz 7-2
#3 Thundergram 3-1
Analysis: Flatlined was a game maiden winner last out on grass here in his fifth career start. He makes his third start off the bench here and returns to the main track. He ran pretty well in the mud last April in his second career start, a third place finish at Prairie Meadows. By Flatter out of an Unbridled's Song mare, he should like the off going. Not a real imposing spot for his first go against winners and we should catch a fair price.
Morning Dancer weakened to finish fourth in his U.S. debut which came off a 14 month layoff. He ran second in a Group 2 in Chile in his second career start. Tough how good this guy might be, but it's Pletcher and Johnny V so we will figure this guy should improve off his last outing.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 9-2 or better.
EX: 5,8 / 1,3,5,8
TRI: 5,8 / 1,3,5,8 / 1,2,3,5,8
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
R2: #7 Reckless Move 8-1
R3: #9 Starship Menace 8-1
R4: #1 Aoleon 12-1
R5: #7 February Rose 10-1
R6: #7 Prime Time Tommy 12-1
R8: #5 Flatlined 10-1
R9: #2 Prove 15-1
R11: #12 Calm 20-1
R11: #10 Marriage Material 12-1
Good luck today!
By Mike Dempsey
The Road to the Kentucky Derby takes a stop in the Bayou on Saturday with a full field lined up to go one mile and 70 yards in the $200,000 Lecomte (G3).
The race offers up 10-4-2-1 Derby points toward entry into the Run for the Roses, now just 113 days away.
The Lecomte is the first of three Derby points races at Fair Grounds. Coming up on Feb. 20 is the $400,000 Risen Star (G2) and then the marquee event of the meeting is the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 26.
Trainer Tom Amoss will saddle the morning line favorite Mo Tom (7-2), who ran third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in his last outing. The runner up Mor Spirit came out of that race to win the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) in his next outing and is currently the second choice at 8-1 in Kentucky Derby future wagering at Sportsbook.ag.
It is anyone’s guess who else in the 14-horse field will take betting action. Fish Trappe Road (6-1) is coming off a runner up finish in the Sleepy Hollow at Belmont Park and steps out of the comfy confines of state bred company.
Mike Maker sends out Uncle Walter (6-1) who was beaten a head last out against first level optional claimers at Churchill Downs earning a solid speed figure.
Todd Pletcher sends out Destin (6-1) who was second against first level optional claimers in his last outing, and Tom’s Ready (5-1) fits if he gets in off the also-eligible list. His best effort was a second in the Street Sense Stakes back in November.
Here is today’s opener from Gulfstream Park to get the day off to a good start:
GP Race 1 Md $50,000 (12:35 ET)
#1 Casting Couch 6-1
#2 Lucent Lady 5-2
#4 Sweetwater 3-1
#6 Charming Fantasy 4-1
Analysis: Casting Couch tracked the early pace and finished up well for the runner up spot on turf, unable to catch a winner who got the jump on her heading for home. She was fifth in her debut and note she took on the boys in that outing. She now goes on the main track and it would be a plus if the track comes up wet as she is bred top and bottom to handle the off going. She is out of the stakes winner Citi Charisse ($89,930), her first foal to race.
Lucent Lady dueled for the early lead and finished gamely in a runner up finish, beaten 3/4 of a length for the top spot for this tag over a wet track in a race washed off the turf. She earned the top last out speed fig for the Nicks barn that is having a good meeting. She is out of the stakes winner Elusive Lady ($358,162).
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 4-1 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,4,6
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,4,6 / 1,2,4,5,6
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:
GP Race 8 Alw $44,000N1X (4:05 ET)
#5 Flatlined 10-1
#8 Morning Dancer 4-1
#1 Securtitiz 7-2
#3 Thundergram 3-1
Analysis: Flatlined was a game maiden winner last out on grass here in his fifth career start. He makes his third start off the bench here and returns to the main track. He ran pretty well in the mud last April in his second career start, a third place finish at Prairie Meadows. By Flatter out of an Unbridled's Song mare, he should like the off going. Not a real imposing spot for his first go against winners and we should catch a fair price.
Morning Dancer weakened to finish fourth in his U.S. debut which came off a 14 month layoff. He ran second in a Group 2 in Chile in his second career start. Tough how good this guy might be, but it's Pletcher and Johnny V so we will figure this guy should improve off his last outing.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 9-2 or better.
EX: 5,8 / 1,3,5,8
TRI: 5,8 / 1,3,5,8 / 1,2,3,5,8
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
R2: #7 Reckless Move 8-1
R3: #9 Starship Menace 8-1
R4: #1 Aoleon 12-1
R5: #7 February Rose 10-1
R6: #7 Prime Time Tommy 12-1
R8: #5 Flatlined 10-1
R9: #2 Prove 15-1
R11: #12 Calm 20-1
R11: #10 Marriage Material 12-1
Good luck today!
Comment