Well, we got off to a great start last week with all 6 winners showing up in our write-ups for each race.  This week we have the Gotham Stakes from Aqueduct, which is part of the Kentucky Derby Championship series.  In addition to 2 races at Aqueduct, we head back to Gulfstream for three races, and then hit the west coast for the Santa Ysabel Stakes to finish off the day.  I’ll be giving you my thoughts on three contenders in each race, not necessarily in 1-2-3 finish order, but three horses that I like in each race, and why.  Don’t forget that if you want to play the Pick 6 Challenge, the free fantasy horse racing game, just click the link in the menu and see how many winners you can get each week?  Can you beat Cornelio?

Race 1: The Very One Stakes

• Guapanza – Talented Johnny V and Chad Brown combo, winner of last 3, although hasn’t raced in 2016 yet, 2 1-1-0 at distance, working out well
• Dacita – Training OK, gets Javier Castellano / Chad Brown combo, has won at distance
• Olorda – Training Well, Chad Brown AGAIN! and Leparoux on turf, has gone distance, but not won, hasn’t raced in 2016
• Just Missed – Quiet Kitten, you know I like a good Kitten horse, this one has a lot of experience at Gulfstream, just missed the win last time out, fast, and working out well, will definitely wager a WPS on this one, and hope the odds stay around 5-1 or better

Race 2: Heavenly Price Invitational

• Cali Star – Working bullets, and winning races under new trainer, Hot Jockey, 3 1-2-0 at distance, looking like the horse to beat
• Pangburn – Winner at distance last time out, Cornelio Velazquez riding well, coming off a win, plenty of experience at distance
• Mei Ling – hasn’t won recently, just beaten by Pangburn last race, training OK, hot jockey trainer combo, placed a Aqueduct in Jan
• Just Missed – House Rules, I like the dropping in class, but hasn’t won since the Top Flight last April, at the Big A, hasn’t raced since Sept, training well though

Race 3: The Gotham Stakes

• Shagaf – undefeated, fast, super hot jockey / trainer, working out well
• Sunny Ridge – 3 lifetime wins, 2 1-1-0 at distance, has speed, winner of the Withers
• Conquest Big E – working out well, has a win at distance, Jose Ortiz racing well
• Just Missed – Mo Power, keep an eye on the Pletcher / Repole / Johnny V combo here, they just win races, not sure if this horse is in the same class as others, but will probably put a WPS on this one and hope for 6-1 or 8-1 odds or better

Race 4: Gulfstream Park Handicap

• Stanford – 4 wins in 7 starts lifetime (all at Gulfstream), Pletcher trained, 2 wins in 2  starts at distance, has the speed, working out OK
• Itsaknockout – coming off a 2nd place, with 103 beyer, Castellano / Pletcher combo is hot,
• Valid – In a race of youth vs experience, I took the youth, coming off pair of 2nd place finishes, lots of speed, training great, many wins at distance

Race 5: Mac Diarmida Stakes

• Twilight Eclipse – last years “show” horse returns to 2016, good speed figures in the past, can he do what it takes in 2016?
• Da Big Hoss – won last race, won only start at distance, good trainer / jockey combo, I like the recent speed figures
• Mr Maybe – hasn’t raced this year, but won last 2 races at this distance, and with good speed, super hot jockey / trainer combo, working well, lots to like here

Race 6: Santa Ysabel Stakes

• Songbird – undefeated, two for two at distance, closest win was by 4 lengths, looks to kill the competition in this one
• Land Over Sea – raced Songbird each of last 4 races, second twice, maybe the best of the rest?
• Code Warrior – working bullets, won first 3 races before a second and a 4th

There you have it, the first weekend of racing in March, best of luck if you are betting, enjoy the days races.