Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing at Gulfstream Park and Oaklawn Park.
Other international racing tips for Saturday:
Ascot
Sunshine Coast
Flemington
Gosford
Kalgoorlie
Rosehill
Alice Springs
Neil Morrice Tips
Gulfstream Park Best Bets
Race 5 (Maiden Special Weight): No8 – BASQUIAT
Trainer: Chad Brown – Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr
Brown’s runners have been few and far between, but with a 50% yield in the past fortnight his decision to introduce the beautifully-bred BASQUIAT in this needs to be taken seriously. The son of American Pharoah has shown plenty in his track work to indicate inexperience may not prevent him delivering first time up. FUGITIVE hasn’t attracted any support in his two starts but finished in the money which gives the others the standard to aim at. Now in the Pletcher barn, ASHIHAM ran well on only career start for Kieran McLaughlin and has the potential to earn.
Prediction: 8-4-2
Race 6 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No1 – MALIBEAUTY
Trainer: Christophe Clement – Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr
The vast majority in this have shown they know how to win but MALIBEAUTY achieved it at the first time of asking, landing some good bets at Tampa at the end of last month. The daughter of Malibu Moon should, under Ortiz, give them plenty to think about from a dream slot of the rail and prove hard to beat. BYE BYE NICKY moved to a top barn off the claim and should have derived the improvement necessary to have a big say in the outcome on a first run here since her debut. CATHARSIS won one of these in late February and is the type of consistent filly that could menace with a top jock on her back.
Prediction: 1-3-7
Race 8 Allowance Optional Claiming: No8 – LEGIT
Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr
Five-year-old entire LEGIT is the least experienced horse in the field but the most likely winner. The son of Curlin has been supported on all three career starts, breaking his maiden at the first time of asking here two years ago and then landing the odds at this level, on a sloppy track at Pimlico. Considering he’d been sidelined with issues he put in a storming run back off a 659 day break when finishing third of 10 behind Chateau at Aqueduct. He now returns to the mile, which on pedigree is a more suitable trip for the Pletcher runner. NOBLE THOUGHT has shown more than once the ability to run well off a lay-off, so his 140-day absence can be seen as a boon. The same applies to SUPREME AURA, who brings decent form from Aqueduct to the table for his new handler.
Prediction: 8-4-6
Race 11 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No2 – SOLDADO
Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Jockey: Luis Saez
If patience is indeed a virtue then SOLDADO should be worth waiting for in the nightcap. He’s a three times winner here from only four career starts, has posted two of those at this level, and has had the same jockey on his back each time. His only defeat happened when he stretched out to a mile, and while he’s seemed at best at the six furlongs sprint trip he should have no trouble seeing out the seven on his first attempt at that distance. Stablemate SPINOFF won off a near 200-day break on his 2019 return and was also in winning form when last seen sporting first-time blinkers at Saratoga last summer. He should, therefore, be primed to go well on the first run here since scoring on debut almost two years ago. YORKTON is getting ready to win, and should also figure on the third run back.
Prediction: 2-4-9
Oaklawn Park Best Bets
Race 6 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No3 – ST JOE BAY
Trainer: John Sadler – Jockey: Joel Rosario
While not quite the force of old, ST JOE BAY has enough in his armoury to take this out in a class drop from contesting Grade 2 races at Santa Anita. The now eight-year-old delivered at that level just over a year ago but has only raced once since, finishing just out of the money when going for a repeat in the same race, the San Carlos Handicap over seven furlongs. He has a perfect slot in the gate for this return to sprinting and figures the one to beat for top connections. From his middle gate NERO poses the most obvious threat.
Prediction: 6-5-8
Race 9 (Stakes): No7 – EIGHT RINGS
Trainer: Bob Baffert – Jockey: Joel Rosario
One of the top two-year-olds in the US last year, EIGHT RINGS makes his first appearance since the Santa Anita Breeders’ Cup and 2020 debut in this $100,000 Bachelor Stakes. It’s the first time he’s encountered the five and a half furlongs trip since his winning debut at Del Mar last summer. That day he drew an outstanding 94 Beyer speed figure. From three subsequent outings, he captured the Grade 1 American Pharoah but faded to beat only two home in the BC Juvenile. Given a healthy break by his trainer, he began working at Santa Anita before heading to this track where he flew in a bullet drill last week. To further blow his trumpet, Bob Baffert hasn’t ruled out the colt turning into a Kentucky Derby candidate now that the Churchill Downs race has been put back four months.
Prediction: 7-3-1
Race 10 (Stakes): No1 – BELLAFINA
Trainer: Simon Callaghan – Jockey: Joe Talamo
There’s a compelling showdown waiting to transpire between BELLAFINA and MIA MISCHIEF in this $125,000 Carousel for older female sprinters. The pair have drawn opposite ends of the starting gate for the six furlongs race and I’d rather be in the corner of Bellafina from the rail. She has a couple of capable fillies right outside her in MIDNIGHT FANTASY and SUNNY DALE but has an all-round game that equips her for the task in hand. The six-race winner has a Coolmore-dominated ownership behind her and will, if her campaign goes to plan, be shooting for the Breeders’ Cup in the fall. However, Mia Mischief makes this a race to savour as an experienced five-year-old that will not be easy to gun down after impressively scoring on her seasonal reappearance.
Prediction: 1-8-3
