Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Friday’s racing taking place at Gulfstream Park and Oaklawn Park.
Other international racing tips for Friday:
Port Macquarie
Werribee
Gold Coast
Cranbourne
Neil Morrice Tips
Gulfstream Park Best Bets
Race 3 (Maiden Claiming): No3 – PANAREA
Trainer: Antonio Sano – Jockey: Edgard Zayas
Zayas has an alluring book of rides on the ten-race programme and PANAREA could be his best, now contesting what looks a weak maiden. With her jockey hitting a 35% strike-rate and her trainer an even better 45% there will be plenty of cash heading in the direction of the Liam’s Map filly, whose two frame finishes from as many starts puts her firmly in charge. KOZY DREAMS moved barns after a near miss here in March and although out of the money on first start for her new connections, is the obvious pick for a runners-up cheque.
Prediction: 3-7-2
Race 5 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No2 – TIGER BLOOD
Trainer: Steve Klesaris – Jockey: Edgard Zayas
TIGER BLOOD to confirm his superiority over WHAT’S INSIDE is the way I see this one panning out. There’s been no stopping the selection with three claiming conversions at the same level out of four starts this year. In fact, he’s been something of a winning machine since his optional claiming win here last July, landing six of his nine starts for the Klesaris barn. What’s Inside has himself taken out a couple over this course and distance but found the selection too hot to handle last time. FRENCHMAN STREET is another regular scorer and has done it at this level, making him a danger to all and the probable value pick.
Prediction: 2-4-6
Race 8 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No5 – SKYE SNOW
Trainer: Mike Maker – Jockey: Miguel Vasquez
With plenty of winning form on the table for this interesting heat, the play is to look for the best value, which should derive from the lightly-raced and improving SKYE SNOW. The daughter of Lemon Drop Kid landed some good bets when breaking her maiden here in early March and with the prospect of being, even more, the finished article, looks sure to run well. SECRET STASH is making her debut at the track and this filly, much-traveled in her short career, shaped encouragingly at Tampa on her 2020 debut from which she can also progress. EVE OF WAR rates more of a threat to the selection, however, as she was an impressive winning favourite on debut here before getting rolled when odds-on for a better race. She is going to enjoy a chunky step up the trip ladder.
Prediction: 5-3-2
Race 9 Allowance Optional Claiming): No5 – HUNTING SEASON
Trainer: Shug McGaughey – Jockey: Edgard Zayas
The beautifully-bred HUNTING SEASON holds the key to this distaffers’ contest and should enjoy coming back off a 61-day break. She enjoyed a bountiful three-race campaign at Laurel last fall that resulted in a win and two seconds and has been unwanted in the market on each of her starts in Florida. I doubt that will be the case today. GRACEFUL PRINCESS shoots for this under the tutelage of top connections, but in order to regain the winning thread needs to show she’s ready after a more than seven-month break since transferring into her new barn. Also coming off a lay-off is SLAM DUNK who brings decent form to the table from New York.
Prediction: 5-1-3
Race 10 (Maiden Claiming): No11 – CANDY COMA
Trainer: Wesley Ward – Jockey: Dylan Davis
CANDY COMA looks like a horse worth waiting for and can take out the nightcap as his trainer’s only runner on the card. The Twirling Candy gelding was turned over when starting a shade of odds on for his introduction over course and distance last month, but has learned bundles from that and can recoup the losses. NOTHIN BUT NET rates a live threat to the main pick after running second on his reappearance here. He looks sure to earn in some form although FIFTY CENTS can also be afforded an each-way chance and is hard to leave out.
Prediction: 11-5-8
Oaklawn Park Best Bets
Race 7: No8 – RAGTIME BLUES
Trainer: Bob Baffert – Jockey: Martin Garcia
RAGTIME BLUES earned $8,000 when just falling short on his debut and the Union Rags colt is carded to go one better with that experience in the locker. His legendary trainer will have exacted improvement from the selection whose main foes GOLDEN NOTION and DERBY DATE each add blinkers and can step up to menace with the aid of the headgear.
Prediction: 8-4-10
Race 8: No10 – MORNING SNOW
Trainer: J Caldwell – Jockey: Stewart Elliott
MORNING SNOW could have done no more than deliver on his third run back as a four-year-old to back up a successful 2019 campaign in which he posted a win and a second from as many outings. If overcoming the handicap of the widest post he can put paid to rail runner NEW COLOSSUS and TRUCK SALESMAN in this open but interesting match-up.
Prediction: 10-1-3
Race 10 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No2 – AMERICAN BUTTERFLY
Trainer: Wayne Lukas – Jockey: Stewart Elliott
With a high propensity for taking home a cheque, AMERICAN BUTTERFLY has given his connections plenty to smile about and he should be hard to beat in what is probably the best race on the card. The son of American Pharaoh went close three times to adding to his maiden win last year and has continued where he left off with a further three frame finishes from his four starts in 2020. LIAM’S PRIDE represents the best value, while from the rail NO PAROLE can also pose a threat to the main pick.
Prediction: 2-15
