Horse Racing – Snowed In? Eight Stakes at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Will Keep You Warm

While the eastern part of the country is hammered with a snowstorm, horseplayers can find plenty of hot action on Saturday by heading off to Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita, where there are a combined eight stakes races on the wagering menu.

There is action for everyone, from promising three year olds looking to stamp their ticket to the Kentucky Derby, to talented turf horses, to seeing several of the top horses in the handicap division.

The marquee event at Gulfstream Park on Saturday is the $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1), where the talented and sometimes troubled Quality Road will go off as the favorite.

The four year old colt is best remembered for acting up at the gate prior to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) last year, necessitating a late scratch.

The Todd Pletcher trainee came back in style in the Hal’s Hope (G3) on Jan. 3, drawing clear to win by 2 ¾ lengths in a sharp looking outing.

The colt has done his best running at Gulfstream Park, winning the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) over the surface.

A foot problem knocked him out of the Kentucky Derby (G1), where he likely would have been sent off as the favorite.

Among the foes that will attempt to beat him are the top four finishers of the Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G3), which was won by Duke of Mischief.

Past the Point, who was second in the Mr. Prospector (G3) in his last start looks like a live longshot. The six year old stretches out from six furlongs, and his career best effort came at today’s nine furlong distance when he ran second to two time Horse of the Year Curlin in the ’08 Woodward at Saratoga.

A field of six will go nine furlongs in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G1).

The Richard Dutrow trained Court Vision makes his first start since a fourth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) last November.

The five year old finished a close up third in this race last year behind his stablemate Kip Deville.

Two time Grade 1 winner take the Points and European import Never On Sunday, who won a Group 1 race in France appear to be the major competition.

One of the best wagering races on the Gulfstream Park card on Saturday is the $125,000 Suwannee River Stakes (G3), which drew a field of twelve with one main track only entrant.

Lady Shakespeare, who finished in a dead heat for second in the Marshua Stakes, drew a tough post but certainly looks like a player for trainer Roger Attfield.

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The filly is a half sister to Grade 1 turf winner Shakespeare.

Long Approach, who was fourth in the race last year, is looking to end a 11 race losing streak. During her streak she has been fourth or better in five graded stakes.

The ten race card at Santa Anita includes five stakes races, three of which are graded.

The $250,000 Las Virgenes marks the three year old debut of the talented Blind Luck, who capped off her two year old campaign by winning the Hollywood Starlet (G1).

The filly won four of six starts last year and was a close up third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) where she was beaten just ¾ of a length for the top spot.

She takes on five foes, led by Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies winner La Nez, and Santa Ysable (G3) winner Crisp.

Looking for your Derby horse? You might find one in the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis (G2), which drew a field of seven three year olds.

Trainer Bob Baffert is locked and loaded with promising three year olds this year, and sends out Stuka Stakes winner Tiz Chrome, who is perfect in his two career outings.

Former Baffert assistant Eoin Harty will saddle Hollywood Prevue (G3) winner American Lion.

Baffert has a good shot of winning the prestigious $200,000 Strub Stakes (G2) as well. The hall of fame trainer sends out Misremembered, who was a game second in the Malibu (G1) in his last outing.

The four year old son of Candy Ride has landed in the exacta in seven of his nine career starts, with a couple of stakes wins, taking the Swaps (G2) and Indiana Derby (G2) last year.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will give a leg up to Eclipse Award winning jockey Julien Leparoux, who will ride Eagle Poise, who checked in second in the Valedictory Stakes in his last start.

The winner of that race was Cloudy’s Knight, who came back to win the McKnight Handicap (G2) in his next start at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 26.

Other contenders in the race are Square Eddie, seeking his first win since winning the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) as a two year old, and the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee Rendezvous, who is coming off a third place finish in the San Fernando (G2) in his most recent outing.

There is a 80% chance of rain, which likely won’t affect the three stakes on Pro Ride, but may move the two minor turf stakes to the main track.

A little rain beats the two feet of snow that will fall in the Mid Atlantic area. If you are snowed in, save the shoveling for tomorrow and fire up the wagering account today.

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