If March comes in like a lion, Sunday’s month-opening card at Oaklawn Park will roar. The $1 million Grade 2 Rebel tops the 12-race program that includes the Grade 3 Honeybee. Both are part of the late pick 5 sequence boasting field sizes of 9x10x11x10x14 before scratches.Horseplayers with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet be sure to register for the Money-Back Special promo for the Rebel Stakes. Get up to $10 back if your win bet finishes second or third in the Race 11 feature.Let’s get to work.Oaklawn Race 8: Maiden Special Weight#2 Munnings Challenge debuts for Brad Cox and if he’s half as good at Oaklawn as his super sprint dam Amy’s Challenge was in her heyday, lookout. A bullet workout at Fair Grounds and a strong tab indicate this one should come out running under Irad Ortiz Jr. #6 Silver Syndicate showed excellent speed in his debut and would be no surprise to carry it wire-to-wire with Flavien Prat. #3 Fancy Fairlane’s debut second to next-out Lecomte winner Golden Tempo obviously is a race that can be very competitive if he takes to Oaklawn as well. John Velazquez rides as the trio of power jockeys here are all very live.Oaklawn Race 9: Honeybee Stakes#4 Newtown Pike is the value play after a longshot runner-up in the Martha Washington in which she was hung wide and now draws better. I’m not convinced #9 Explora, who will be odds-on, is a lock at the distance after a 28-second final quarter in losing the Las Virgenes at a mile while a 4-5 chalk. But she’s obviously a player. I’ll also use Martha Washington winner #6 Search Party as Mark Casse continued to dominate the local stakes this week with a ninth such win Friday.Oaklawn Race 10: Maiden Special Weight#2 Gethsemane’s mid-pack finish last out was an improvement on the stretch-out and note winner Reagan’s Honor came back to obliterate older allowance horses next out at Fair Grounds. This Brad Cox trainee draws beautifully in post 2 and should be running late. The counter to him would be to take some early pace. I wasn’t impressed by the race Feb. 6 won by Crupper in which many of these exit. #11 Dragones has early foot and will be hard-used from the outside. This $1.7 million blueblood for Steve Asmussen may have caught an easier field.Oaklawn Race 11: Rebel StakesI’m all-in on a pair of prices in the Rebel, #3 Class President (10-1 morning line) off a Swale runner-up in which he could have caved and didn’t vs. an elite 3YO sprinter. He’ll like the stretch-out and Pletcher won this race with Malagacy off similar Florida sprint form. The other 10-1 ML shot to fear is #10 Soldier N Diplomat, wide but trusted in the Southwest and I love that he was back on the workout tab 10 days after and got 2 drills since that race vs. 1 for the others. There’s new-found fear of #2 Litmus Test. I thought he was decent at 2, but overrated. He missed the Southwest after a dull work, but has trained better since. The kicker is Bob Baffert’s ridiculous performance Friday by 3YO maiden Cherokee Nation, a total outlier of a massive race in his sixth career start. When the Bafferts do things like that, often many of them follow.Oaklawn Race 12: Maiden Special Weight#11 Breaker Wave was the only closer to make a dent in a similar Feb. 8 race as speed held first, third and fourth. Her runner-up by a neck may have suffered from an earlier move that left her a tiny bit flat late. If Israel Hernandez times it up right, she could graduate. Using her with logical #7 Like a Diamond, who gets Lasix and should be more forward off 2 good tries.The Ticket2,6,3 With 4,9,6 With 2,11 With 3,10,2 With 11,7 = $54 for 50 cents

EXTRA INCENTIVES2 Million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split | Gulfstream | Late Pick 4$10 Money-Back Special | Fountain of Youth (GP), Gotham (Aqu) | up to $10 back if win bet finishes 2nd, 3rdSPECIAL WAGERSSunset Pick 6 | Gulfstream Races 12-13-14; Santa Anita Races 7-8-9Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 11-13-14; Santa Anita Races 5-7TOURNAMENT TIME$1500 Fountain of Youth Challenge | details$50 Beat the Host vs. Ron Nicoletti | details$100 Gulfstream Feeder | details$40 Santa Anita Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $138,362 | Gulfstream Park | begins Race 9 | pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $93,497 | Fair Grounds | begins Race 4 | 3:25 pm ETKEY RACESGulfstream | Race 3 | 12:32 pm ET | Colonel Liam StakesGulfstream | Race 4 | 1:03 pm ET | Canadian Turf StakesAqueduct | Race 2 | 1:13 pm ET | Busher StakesFair Grounds | Race 1 | 1:45 pm ET | Red Camelia StakesGulfstream | Race 6 | 2:04 pm ET | Herecomesthebride StakesAqueduct | Race 4 | 2:13 pm ET | Tom Fool StakesGulfstream | Race 7 | 2:34 pm ET | Gulfstream Park MileGulfstream | Race 10 | 4:04 pm ET | The Very One StakesAqueduct | Race 8 | 4:15 pm ET | Stymie StakesGulfstream | Race 11 | 4:34 pm ET | Davona Dale StakesFair Grounds | Race 6 | 4:35 pm ET | Johnston Memorial StakesGulfstream | Race 12 | 5:05 pm ET | Honey Fox StakesFair Grounds | Race 7 | 5:10 pm ET | Star Guitar StakesAqueduct | Race 10 | 5:18 pm ET | Gotham Stakes | Meet the ContendersGulfstream | Race 13 | 5:36 pm ET | Mac Diarmida StakesFair Grounds | Race 8 | 5:45 pm ET | Black Gold StakesOaklawn | Race 10 | 6:00 pm ET | Razorback StakesGulfstream | Race 14 | 6:11 pm ET | Fountain of Youth Stakes | Meet the ContendersFair Grounds | Race 9 | 6:15 pm ET | Charged Cotton StakesSanta Anita | Race 7 | 6:39 pm ET | Buena Vista StakesTurfway | Race 8 | 9:25 pm ET | Evergreen StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXTampa Bay Downs | Race 1 | 12:15 pm ETGulfstream Park | Race 8 | 3:04 pm ETTurfway Park | Race 5 | 7:55 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHMike Maker | Aqueduct | 3 of 4 entrants 4-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | trainer Anthony Farrior | Laurel, Charles Town | 3 wins, 2 seconds from 6 startersPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Gulfstream Late Pick 4 Hit & Split Promo PicksJeremy Plonk: Race of the Week – Gulfstream’s The Very One StakesScott Shapiro: Triple Crown Prep Picks – Gotham, Fountain of Youth + Sunday’s RebelScott Shapiro: Santa Anita Saturday Spot PlaysFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The Meadowlands has a 14-race card with the Early Pick 4 starting in Race 6. The sequence has a $50,000 guaranteed pool with a 15% takeout, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 6 (8:05 PM EST)1-Lovers Trouble (5/2)-Could get a smoother top of the stack trip after having post 6 last week and did manage to finish 3rd. The only horse in the field to finish ahead is the one below. Joe B could work the inside draw to a winning advantage.7-Order One To Go (9/5)-Took a good step up in class last time after beating $15k claimers and missed by a length as the 3/2 chalk. Starts outside so that might help the price, comes back in sequence, and will look for another big try.Race 7 (8:30 PM EST)2-Spirit Of StLoiuis N (7/2)-Drew off on 2-14 by 4 lengths and the race time chalk looked the part. Steps up and this will be a bigger test but could get a similar trip with this post draw.8-Expedited Service (6-1)-Left from post 10 at 20-1, landed in the 2 hole and rewarded backers. Steps up and with the outside draw, should still offer a square price.9-Compensate Me (5-1)-Was hung early on into a quick pace and then faded down the lane. Cashed a 3rd place check, and will respect chances for better tonight. Should be a good price from post 9 and gets a ++ driver change in Jordan Stratton.Race 8 (8:55 PM EST)2-Soho Santorini A (2-1)-Faced similar in the last 3 races since arriving from Yonkers. Has posted a win 2 back, and a 2nd place finish last time. Hasn't missed the board at M1 and recent form should be respected.5-Stellar Yankee (5/2)-Team Stratton entry took advantage of hot fractions and got up in time. Comes right back, Jordan Stratton will be between the pipes again and will use in what appears to be a chalky sequence.Race 9 (9:20 PM EST)4-Joemikiyoursofine (8-1)-Yonkers shippers takes a meaningful drop in class and should relish the company. Does good work at M1 (18-4-2-3) and will look for Colin Kelly to have in play around the last turn.6-Ignatious A (8-1)-Took the long way around in last but kept coming and finished 3rd at 6-1. Moves out 1 slot and might be overlooked here. Beat this kind on 1-3 and has 10 wins in 36 races at M1. This is a price shot who could surprise with a smooth trip.$1 Late Pick 41,7/2,8,9/2,5/4,6Total Bet=$24Check me out on X!

After a Friday that saw mostly formful results at the “Great Race Place,” they are back it at on Saturday afternoon for a 9-race card that kicks off at the normal 12:30 PM local time. The slate is headlined by the Buena Vista (G2), which marks the return of Phil D’Amato trained Thought Process. The 9-5-favorite looks like the filly to beat in the feature. Here are a few horses I like most on the day out west.Race 1:The afternoon in Arcadia kicks off with a $25k claimer for non-winners of two traveling one mile over the lawn where there is very little early speed signed on. This should bode well for #5 Newport Dreamz. The daughter of Danzing Candy goes two sprints to a route in her third start of the form cycle for trainer Tim Yakteen after a pair of even efforts at one-turn over this course. The lack of zip on paper should allow jockey Welfin Orantes to get this gal to the front. Hopefully, from there she has the stamina in the tank to seal the deal for the second time in her career.Play: #5 Newport Dreamz (4-1 ML)Race 3:My next play comes in this optional claimer at one-mile over the grass for older fillies and mares where I will hope #8 Dea Matrona can make it back-to-back wins since being claimed in late August by trainer Richard Baltas. It has been a slow winter for Baltas evidenced by his 4 for 41-record with a $0.99 ROI over the last 60 days, but that did not prevent this mare from finishing with a flurry in an open $25k claimer on January 30. Baltas protects this daughter of Dark Angel this time after the strong late run last month and finds a group that she should handle if she gets just an honest pace to chase. Emisael Jaramillo will pick up the mount with Juan Hernandez on the sidelines.Play: #8 Dea Matrona (7-2 ML)Race 8:Trainer Jeff Mullins has had a strong Classic Meet and has really got things going as of late. The veteran conditioner has won with 5 of his last 9 starters heading into Saturday afternoon and sends out a pair in this $25k claimer for 3YO fillies. #1 Darlin Sugaree was made the 8-5-ML favorite, but I prefer #8 Dakota’s Shadow. The daughter of Stay Thirsty takes on open company foes after a dominant 7 � length romp in her first try over this surface on January 9. Jockey Diego Herrera should have options out of the gate from his outside draw in this filly’s first start against winners. Hopefully, she avoids regression off of the big maiden win less than two months ago.Play: #8 Dakota’s Shadow (9-2. ML)

After a slow week when it comes to Triple Crown preps, things pick up big time this weekend on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. A pair of qualifiers take place on Saturday afternoon with Oaklawn Park taking center stage on Sunday. As many of you know, 1/ST BET and Xpressbet launched a $10 Money Back offer earlier this year on all Triple Crown prep races. It continues this weekend with a trio of opportunities for horseplayers. Here is how I plan to take advantage of my Money Back plays. If it is your first time jumping in on this promotion, remember to register.Gotham (G3), Aqueduct Saturday Race 10The first of the three Derby qualifiers is the lone one-turn points race on the weekend. This one-mile event over the Aqueduct main track drew a field of 9 led by 6-5-ML favorite #6 Iron Honor. The Chad Brown trainee broke his maiden in impressive fashion going 6-furlongs in mid-December and has been given time since. Brown opts to ship him back north for this spot despite the fact he has been training in Payson Park in Florida over the last month plus. He is the likeliest winner, but given the Money Back Offer insurance and his likely price it makes sense to look elsewhere. #2 Hammond is a colt that should get a great trip in his first start outside of the Sunshine State for Saffie Joseph. He did not get out of the cleanly when we saw him run third in the Swale in late January, but still ran decent to finish third to his undefeated stablemate. If he can relax along the inside early, he should have a big chance when they turn for home.Play: #2 Hammond (5-1 ML)Fountain of Youth (G2), Gulfstream Race 14I am not sure all three of the morning line favorites in this year’s Fountain of Youth will run their races, but expect at least one of them to exit arguably the strongest prep to date with a spot all but assured in the Derby starting gate. #4 Commandment is listed as the considerable public choice after his win in the Mucho Macho Man. He is likely to run his race and get a favorable setup, but I think there is a good chance there is at least one better. #7 Napoleon Solo is probably the likeliest to be that horse by getting the jump, but the value will most likely be better with #7 Chief Wallabee. The Constitution colt won under wraps and did so extremely professionally in his debut on January 10. He has to answer the two-turn question and prove he belongs at this class level, but projects to get a great trip. I will use my Money Back play on him, assuming he is a bigger price than Napoleon Solo.Play: #6 Chief Wallabee (9-2 ML)Rebel (G2), Oaklawn Sunday Race 11I struggled coming up with a strong opinion in this $1M event at 1 1/16 miles. #4 Blackout Time can definitely win, but is an underlay at his ML price. #2 Litmus Test is likely to get bet down from his ML offering and might have things his way on the front end, but has yet to prove to me is a supremely talented runner. Mark Casse holds a strong hand much like he did in the Southwest (G3) with winner #7 Silent Tactic and Smarty Jones winner #6 Strategic Risk. Silent Tactic has been very good through two starts on dirt, but his running style requires him to get the right trip and setup. On the other hand, Strategic Risk usually puts himself into the race making things a little easier on himself. That was not the case in the Southwest though when he got caught in chase mode immediately and was not competitive from there. Without D’Code and Buetane, I expect this pace to be far more moderate though, which should allow jockey Javier Castellano to stalk just off the pace like he did well to kick off his 3YO campaign. At his likely price, I will take a chance he bounces back big on Sunday evening.Play: #6 Strategic Risk (12-1 ML)

SPECIAL WAGERSSunset Pick 6 | Gulfstream Races 8-9-10; Santa Anita Races 7-8-9Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 9-10; Santa Anita Races 3-5-7TOURNAMENT TIME$100 Gulfstream Feeder | details$40 Santa Anita Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $102,685 | Gulfstream Park | begins Race 5 | 2:20 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $90,048 | Fair Grounds | begins Race 3 | 2:45 pm ETPick 6 | $27,855 | Oaklawn | begins Race 4 | 3:04 pm ETSunset 6 | $69,685 | Gulfstream/Santa Anita | begins GP Race 8 | 3:53 pm ETPick 6 | $198,741 | Santa Anita | begins Race 4 | 5:04 pm ETKEY RACESOaklawn | Race 8 | 5:15 pm ET | Trivista StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXGulfstream Park | Race 1 | 12:20 pm ETTampa Bay Downs | Race 7 | 3:41 pm ETTurfway Park | Race 8 | 9:25 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHAnthony Farrior | Laurel, Charles Town | all 7 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Aqueduct, Oaklawn | trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci | 3 wins, 1 second from 6 startersYesterday | Turfway Park | 20-cent jackpot pick 6 hit for $138,752.13 on single ticketPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli: Sunset 6 Carryover Analysis for FridayScott Shapiro: Santa Anita Carryover Pick 6 Analysis for FridayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Hoosier Park begins the weekend with a 14-race card. The 0.50 Late Pick 4 starts in Race 11, it has a low 12% takeout, and will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 11 (9:20 PM EST)5-Lous Avalon (4-1)-Won last from post 9, was able to race at the top of the stack and should get the same trip here. Comes back in sequence for the hot Steve Searle barn and should fit well with this group.6-Asifbycue (4-1)-Comes off a nice try after shipping in from the Meadows. Was hung the mile in last and John DeLong should provide a smoother steer this time. Has hit the board in 8 of 13 at HoP with 2 wins.7-Lanzador (6-1)-Didn't race in 6 weeks after coming off a sick scratch at MVR and raced evenly. Will look for better on a drop in class and has 4 wins in 11 races at HoP.Race 12 (9:43 PM EST)1-Fox Valley Julian (8-1)-Qualified well on 2-18 and had been on the bench since 11-28. Drops to a soft spot and regular driver Jordan Ross is at the controls. Could handle this crew if dialed on high.8-Franco Tyson A (5-1)-Driver trainer Larry Stalbaum has arrived in Anderson. Finished an even 5th in the 2nd race since 11-15 and this will be the 2nd start on Lasix. Will use the 11-time winner in 2025 and in a race without a standout.9-Henry The Horse (5/2)-Henry at 5/2 from the 9-hole wouldn't be my first choice in most cases but takes a good drop in class. Should be a player versus these but will need a good steer from Kyle Wilfong.Race 13 (10:06 PM EST)6-Tickertape Hanover (4-1)-Came off the bench with a win from post 9. Came back again versus this kind and got the top, set a lively pace, and faded to finish 2nd. Could offer a square price and gets a little post relief.7-Im Skinnydipin N (9/5)-Finished 3rd after shipping in from MVR against the Open 1-2. Could relish the company and the race should go through the Tyler George veteran.Race 14 (10:29 PM EST)2-Tellmeaboutit (5/2)-Drops again in its 3rd local start in search of an overdue win. Doesn't have an excuse for not being a main player and might be over bet but needs to be used.8-Play Action Pass (6-1)-This is the 3rd race since 11-28 and came a good 3rd against tougher foes on 2-13. Will toss the next start from post 8 on a sloppy track. Will look for a more aggressive steer off the gate, could be sitting on a big try, and hopefully the morning line price holds up.0.50 Late Pick 45,6,7/1,8,9/6,7/2,8Total Bet=$18Check me out on X!

The action returns in a big way on Friday at Santa Anita Park for the start of another 3-day racing week. Not only is there a $69,685 carryover in the Sunset Pick 6, but there is a massive $198,741 carryover in the traditional $2 Pick 6. The sequence kicks off with a tricky maiden claimer in Race 4 and concludes with a full field event over the grass. Let’s get to it!Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.Race 4:Grade: CMain Ticket: 2 Bossing Mo; 5 Oswald, 1 BandoleroBackups: NoneForecast: I wish I had a stronger opinion in this state-bred maiden claimer at two-turns over the main track, but this group is simply tough to trust. I suppose I am taking the easy way out by using the three logicals. #2 Bossing Mo is likely to set the pace on the stretch out, but ML favorite #1 Bandolero is also going to search for prominent early position. If they go at it early, it should set things up for #5 Oswald. The Turf Paradise shipper ran second with a favorable flow in Arizona in late January. His trainer Don Schnell is 3 for his last 9 when shipping into Santa Anita for a $2.31 ROI making him difficult to toss against these.Race 5:Grade: B-Main Ticket: 1 Quantum Innergy; 7 She’s a JokerBackups: NoneForecast: I will fade the ML choice in this state-bred first-level allowance event for the ladies at one mile over the sod. #2 Mayacama has been consistent finishing first or second in 6 of her last 7 starts, but returns to the races after losing without an excuse at even-money versus similar on January 31. The speeds drawn to her outside are likely to make things more difficult on Friday afternoon for this Klimt mare. I will use two in hopes of running by the 5-2-favorite in the lane. #7 She’s a Joker was beaten on the square by Mayacama last out, but has 3 wins over this course and is capable of a move forward in her second try off the freshening. I slightly prefer #1 Quantum Innergy. The daughter of Clubhouse Ride is winless dating back to the start of 2024, but consistently comes with a strong rally from the back. If the pace is as hot as it looks on paper, she could be the one making the final move.Race 6:Grade: XMain Ticket: 3 Tiger FireBackups: ManiaeForecast: I am formful in this non-winners of three at 5.5-furlongs over the main track where 8-5-ML favorite #3 Tiger Fire looks like the horse to beat. The Smiling Tiger filly heads back to the Great Race Place after trying allowance foes at night at Los Alamitos. She raced against the flow battling 3-wide before tiring late two-back in her most recent start at Santa Anita, but should control the tempo from start-to-finish here for a barn that has had a strong meet with limited starters thus far. Armando Aguilar will jump aboard for the first time.Race 7:Grade: BMain Ticket: 10 Son of a BirchBackups: 1 Nesso’s Lastharrah; 9 Charlie’s to BlameForecast: #10 Son of a Birch should be tough in this second-level allowance at 6-furlongs over the grass. The son of Temple City made his Southern California debut last month in a compact group going half a furlong longer. The 6YO gelding put forth a solid third that day with a less- than-ideal trip and moves to a favorable outside draw in his second start off the bench. Jockey Florent Geroux should have him in a perfect spot throughout. #1 Nesso’s Lastharrah and #9 Charlie’s to Blame both cutback to one-turn and could be rolling late for the Peter Eurton barn. They will be my backups, but I will be leaning mostly on the Robert Falcone trainee.Race 8:Grade: B-Main Ticket: 3 Cherokee NationBackups: NoneForecast: I will take a stand in this MSW at one mile over the main track where for the most part I lack trust in this entire field. Of those with a chance on paper, I landed on #3 Cherokee Nation. #1 Latitude has had his chances against lesser and 9-5-ML favorite #2 Winston Ave was too poor last out to support, so I will give one more shot to this Keeneland September ’24 purchase. Cherokee Nation underwhelmed in his last start, but it came against Grade 3 competition. The $1.15M colt ran well enough to beat this group two-back and is capable of improvement if he can fix the gate issues that have plagued him thus far. Hopefully, Emisael Jaramillo has the keys to this pricey son of Not This Time.Race 9:Grade: B-Main Ticket: 7 Prime Artist; 10 KeagmanBackups: 8 Mendel’s Tune; 2 NezhaForecast: I will fade 3-1-ML favorite #4 Biggiebiggiebiggie in this $50k maiden claimer at one mile over the turf to close the sequence and card. The son of Maclean’s Music has had 8 chances and quite frankly was outperformed by #10 Keagman last time out despite getting past him at the wire. Keagman was forced to chase lone speed winner Classico, while Biggiebiggiebiggie sat back and made a non-threatening run to pass horses who tried to actually win the race. Keagman also has had plenty of chances, but only one thus far with blinkers against maiden claimers. He is a must use, as is #7 Prime Artist. The Leonard Powell trainee drops in class after racing against the flow against protected maidens on January 25. The European import should find this group more to his liking.