Weekend Stakes Races – Picking Winners from Florida

Weekend Stakes Races:  Grade III Next Move and Grade I Florida Derby

Race-day:  3/28/2009
Race-time:  Next Move at 4:50 pm est. and Florida Derby at 5:44 pm est.

Once the Dubai World Cup ends BetOnline online racebook fans should take a quick nap and then get started on handicapping the top races in the United States.

That includes the Grade III Next Move at Aqueduct and the Grade I Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

Let’s analyze the weekend’s top stakes races.

Aqueduct – Race 9

Grade III Next Move Handicap
$100,000
For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Up
1 1/8th miles on the inner dirt

Weathered will be chalky but she just won on the inner dirt at this distance and busted a fantastic work on March 22nd.  She will rate behind the speed and then take over around the turn.  Winning Point should have enough to run past Successful Sarah, the likely speed in this, but she won’t get to Weathered.  Still, a second place finish is very likely for the Kiaran McLaughlin trained miss.  Successful Sarah will try to lead these gate to wire, but Weathered will be right with her the whole way.  Hanging on for third is not out of the question, though.

1. Weathered
2. Winning Point
3. Successful Sarah

Gulfstream Park – Race 10

Grade I Florida Derby
$750,000
For Three Year Olds
1 1/8th miles on the dirt

Dunkirk has to win or he might not have enough graded earnings to get into the Kentucky Derby field.  Unfortunately, he’s not going to win because Quality Road, who won the Grade II Fountain of Youth in his last, is easily one of the best three year olds in the country.  He rates behind Dunkirk and then takes off at the top of the stretch.  As good as Dunkirk looked in his last race, this is a huge step up in class for him.  We’ll see.  Theregosjojo has put together a nice career so far with 2 wins and a 2nd out of 4 lifetime starts.  He gets Kent Desormeaux and has an outside shot to win this.

1. Quality Road
2. Dunkirk
3. Theregoesjojo