With France now back racing in Britain doesn’t look too far away, but in the absence of York, Chester, Newmarket and Newbury this month we continue to look overseas for opportunities and it’s all about the States on Saturday evening.
After some protests LA County has allowed Santa Anita to reopen and we have two tips from there in their pair of stakes races, while earlier in the day Gulfstream Park in Florida host three good races of their own and we’ve gone for one in each of them albeit with prices as yet a mystery.
20:16 Gulfstream Park (Roar Stakes) – DOUBLE CROWN
This is a $75,000 stakes race for the three-year-olds only over 6½ furlongs, one in which there is a 4lb allowance for two of the horses including ours, though we’re in the lap of the gods slightly when it comes to what sort of starting odds will be on offer.
Assuming he’s a backable price, Double Crown remains a very attractive proposition in this and there is the possibility that the presence of Green Light Go, who had initially been thought of as a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Triple Crown horse, may mean his odds are not too prohibitive.
While Green Light Go’s defeat last time came in race conditions that did not suit him and he is bound to improve somewhat, his level of form doesn’t really come up to scratch with our horse in all truth and he also has to give the bang in-form gelding 4lbs.
For show bets, Cajun Casanova could be the one who runs on and gives the two big-hitters most to do, but assuming all things are equal this Double Crown should take some beating on the day.
21:52 Gulfstream Park (Powder Break Stakes) – VALEDICTORIAN
Another $75,000 stakes race here, this time for the fillies and mares over a mile on the turf. Again, we have no idea at this stage what odds will be offered up but it’s assumed that Mark Casse’s Breeders’ Cup Mile runner-up Got Stormy will be that one who gets most attention.
In truth, her level of form lately hasn’t matched up to her best, she gives weight away and is drawn a little wide and so having been beaten at long odds-on recently under Tyler Gafflione she is passed over on this occasion.
Chad Brown’s French recruit Noor Sahara is drawn on the inside and is interesting, however the one who looks to be betting better as this year goes on is the six-year-old mare Valedictorian and she is given the nod.
She tired from second spot around the turn here in February to finish sixth in Grade 3 company with today’s rival Silver Kitten four lengths ahead of her at the line, and she is 2lbs worse off now. However, she improved plenty next time when leading most of the way before tiring much closer to the line to run third over the track and trip in Listed company.
It seems another step forward is coming and, all things considered, it should put her in with a very fair shout of landing this and hopefully at a nice price from an ideal draw.
22:24 Gulfstream Park (Musical Romance Stakes) – J P’s DELIGHT
Another stakes race for the females, this time over seven furlongs and for a cool $100,000. With any luck the prolific course specialist six-year-old Lady’s Island will be the one for money, making our selection much more backable.
She does keep moving yard though, isn’t getting younger and has been well placed to keep up her great record and so could be much more vulnerable here, especially to an improving four-year-old filly such as J P’s Delight of the Kathleen O’Connell barn.
After winning three races in 2019 and achieving a fine rating, J P’s Delight was out of her depth at 20/1 in a Grade 2 over this track and trip at the beginning of this year before winning easily at Tampa over seven and taking care of an odds-on favourite in the process.
She was down the field last time, but that was over six and she was sent off favourite which tells its own story, and so now she’s taken to win this large prize. Lady’s Island is next best ahead of Wildwood’s Beauty, Bellera and Oceans of Love.
23:00 Santa Anita Park (Echo Eddie Stakes) – BIG SWEEP
This is a six-furlong sprint on the Santa Anita dirt track, one for the Golden State Series featuring California bred or California sired three-year-olds for $150,000.
The only filly in the line-up, Big Sweep, was impressive on debut in taking care of an older horse while giving weight away and should be well equipped in receipt of plenty of weight here to land this prize.
Others worth considering including Rookie Mistake, Club Aspen and Phantom Boss from an outer draw but as long as the price doesn’t prove to be too restrictive come Saturday night this should be all about Flavien Prat’s mount from gate 8.
00:00 (Evening Jewel Stakes) – BULLETPROOF ONE
This $150,000 contest is the fillies’ equivalent to the Echo Eddie Stakes, one in which Big Sweep could well have been entered.
Peter Miller’s filly Bulletproof One has been in great form, albeit at a lower level over at Golden Gate Fields, but at least she’s a proper dirt track sprinter and her overall form at these weights gives her an outstanding chance.
From the inside gate Smiling Shirlee has a strong chance under Mike Smith, but there are many in this field who have been going over various distance and/or on the turf and so cannot be assessed as readily as these two, though their overall ability doesn’t seem to quite stack up anyway unless they improve. The who could claim a place is Bella Vita.
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