Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Clairefontaine and Gulfstream Park.
Clairefontaine Best Bets
Race 1: No1 – GINGA
Trainer: M Seror – Jockey: Felix de Giles
Bringing solid Compiegne form to the table, it’s hard to oppose GINGA who is learning all the time. A distant fourth placing on debut was followed by a three and a half-length defeat by Joumana De Retz three weeks ago, showing she is now right in the zone. The daughter of Martaline can thwart once raced unbeaten Risk D’Aimer, who achieved that at a small provincial track, while supporters of Unknown Girl are on a recovery mission, bets on this filly having gone astray when she departed at the first on debut at Auteuil.
Prediction: 1-2-7
Race 7: No4 – EVERY WHERE
Trainer: Mme I Pacault – Jockey: M Daubry-Barbier
The visored EVERY WHERE began the year well, with an earning run over fences and victory over hurdles. He then finished second in a €31K chase at Compiegne and has formulated a good rapport with his rider. The combination can halt the hat-trick bid of Prince De Bellouet, who got home by the skin of his teeth at Angers earlier in the month and could enjoy a fitness edge. Enola Gay has made a bright start to his career in France with three straight runner-up finishes. However, there’s a kink in his demeanour and he might again have to settle for a minor role.
Prediction: 4-13-3
Race 8: No1 – VOIX DU SOUR
Trainer: M Seror – Jockey: Felix de Giles
Only a few pounds separate those at the top of the handicap and I’m not put off VOIX DU SOIR because he’s carrying joint top weight. Last season he enjoyed a pleasing campaign in which he improved from race to race, winding up with a handicap chase win in heavy conditions at Cagnes. His pipe opener over hurdles at Auteuil in which he finished fourth of 18 starters should have brought the gelding nicely to the boil. Fair Play Sivola looked an improved filly when returning with a wide margin success at Maure de Bretagne. She’s in the right hands to continue that progression in this tougher contest. Debut De Printemps is worth putting in if an uncharacteristic fall on his comeback hasn’t left its mark.
Prediction: 1-4-2
Race 10: No8 – SA CARLEX
Trainer: Guillaume Macaire – Jockey: James Reveley
SA CARLEX has attracted plenty of market support in her five-race career, starting a warm favourite on three of those occasions. She impressively landed hurdles at Bordeaux and Pau before a slightly disappointing chase debut at Fontainebleau. However, if she’s learned from that experience she should be too lively for her foes in this four-year-old only chase. The main threat may lie with High King, who is getting better race by race and was impressive on his chase debut at Toulouse. Espionage De Vindecy represents a top trainer/jockey combo and also figures to get into it on third run back.
Prediction: 8-2-7
Gulfstream Park Best Bets
Race 1 (Maiden Claiming): No16 – MYSTERY BANK
Trainer: Saffie Joseph – Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr
After hovering over the winner’s circle in his three starts for the Joseph barn, MYSTERY BANK can put that experience to good use to break his duck in a competitive affair. The grey has a couple of worthy foes alongside him in the outside gates. Holy Maister doesn’t know how not to earn with career figures of 233243, and interestingly has blinkers added for the first time. On the inner Policy Option is one that stands out based on the form he showed at Saratoga last summer, and poses a threat.
Prediction: 16-15-2
Race 4 (Maiden Special Weight): No12 – OCEAN AIR
Trainer: Christophe Clement- Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr
Forming part of a Clement entry together with Sneer, OCEAN AIR can endorse the promise of her introduction here in March, having skipped an opportunity earlier this month. That’s given her more time to develop mentally, and the daughter of English Channel can progress into the winner’s circle. Barn mate Sneer has the points on the board in terms of experience and is a must to include if she takes her chance. North Broadway caught the eye to place on debut here and should take something home granted normal improvement.
Prediction: 12-14-3
Race 8 (Starter Optional Claiming): No2 – BLOOD MOON
Trainer: Danny Gargan – Jockey: Samy Camacho
Plenty of genuine fancies in this means BLOOD MOON should offer up some value against the likes of Venezuelan Hug and Jesus’ Team. The selection has menaced on all four career starts, moving to this barn off the claim with a win over the mile trip in late December, then posting two earning runs for his new handler. Venezuelan Hug is a barn mate of the main pick who delivered on first run over track and trip a month back and looks progressive. He may prove a more reliable foe than Jesus’ Team, who after successive wins here now takes a step up the ladder.
Prediction: 2-1-13
Race 10 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No1 – COWTOWN
Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr
Pletcher could hold the key to this and it’s going to be a short price about one of his two chances Mystic Lancelot and COWTOWN obliging. Mystic Lancelot ran his best race yet with Edgard Zayas in the irons and should make a fist of taking out the race under the same in-form pilot. Cowtown needs to step up after breaking his maiden on first run at Gulfstream. He’d been unlucky not to deliver on several occasions at Aqueduct and Belmont and the win could act as a spur to his confidence. Unconquered Lea operates for a new barn but has shown he’s more than capable of standing his ground at this level.
Prediction: 1-6-7
