While Major Stakes and Handicap Races abound this weekend, minor allowance races also provide excitement and great opportunity.
This weekend, Santa Anita Park and Gulfstream Park each have full slates of major stake races. Gulfstream Park is hosting a Gulfstream Park Handicap. the Hutcheson Stakes and the Fountain of Youth Stakes, while Santa Anita Park is running the Frank E Kilroe Mile Handicap, the Robert B. Lewis Stakes and the Santa Anita Handicap. However, there are still plenty of minor races of great interest throughout the nation this weekend. Let's review.
The second race at Santa Anita is a 1 mile allowance optional claiming race for four year olds and up. The race features Sinister Minister and Racketeer. Sinister Minister, as you may recall, was the front runner in last year's Kentucky Derby and has plenty of speed. Racketeer was one of the more successful three year-olds last year and is a strong closer. Garrett Gomez gets the assignment on Sinister Minister while David Flores gets Racketeer.
The 11th race at Santa Anita is at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, for four year olds and up. This allowance race features the likes of Railroad, Icy Atlantic, Greater Good and 49 er's Son. Each of these horses is very accomplished with Railroad having more recent success, but one cannot rule out Icy Atlantic and 49 er's Son. This is quite a race to end the day's race card and just may be the best closing race in quite a long time, any racetrack.
Gulfstream Park's fifth race is an allowance race for three year olds at 1 1/8 miles. The race includes such Kentucky Derby hopefuls as Chelokee, Silver Express and Sacrifice Bunt. Whoever finishes in the money may be a probable for the Florida Derby next month.
The ninth race is the Richter Scale Breeders' Cup Sprint Championship Handicap, a Grade II race of seven furlongs for four year olds and up. This race includes many familiar names such as Mach Ride, Park Avenue Ball, Ecclesiastic, Bright One, Diabolical and Half Ours. Bright One should be the early speed in the race, demanding a very fast pace. Diabolical is most likely the one to beat but all eyes will be on half Ours, the expensive Todd pletcher colt.
Turfway Park is hosting the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, for three year olds at one and one 16th miles. The race features Rutledge Cat, eighteenthofmarch and likely favorite Joe Got Even. Like some of the allowance races mentioned earlier, expect whoever finishes in the money to take the next step on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
The Texas Heritage Stakes at Sam Houston Park is a one-mile stakes for three year olds, and is the park's eigth race on Saturday. Of note here is Beta Capo and makeithappencaptain. Success in this race may not translate to any Triple Crown races, but the race will serve as a building block for other races run in the summer or early fall.
Lastly, the Stymie Handicap at Aqueduct is at 1 1/8 miles for three year olds and features several notable racers such as Malibu Moonshine Silver Prospector, Carminooch and the ancient Evening Attire. The sentimental favorite here is Evening Attire. This colt came out of retirement over the winter to commence another year racing, not bad for a nine year old.
The major races this weekend include the return of Great Hunter in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, the eighth race at Santa Anita. Lava Man returns in the Santa Anita Handicap, the race which he won last year. He will have to beat the likes of Awesom Gem, Arson Squad, McCann's Mojave and speedster Ball Four. The race also includes El Roblar and Molangaro from Brazil. This race promises to be very competitive and should not be as automatic as Lava Man's other victories.
Finally, Gulfstream Park features the Fountain of Youth Stakes, a very important Derby prep. The race marks the return of Stormello, who flew in from California to face likely favorite Nobiz Like Showbiz. Also included are Drums of Thunder, Johannesburg Star, Scat Daddy and Adore the Gold. Another major stakes in the handicap Division is the Gulfstream Park Handicap at 1 3/16 miles. The heavy favorite will be Corinthian, winner of last year's Fountain of Youth prior to disqualification. Also included are hesanoldsalt, who defeated Corinthian last year in Saratoga, A P Arrow and local favorite Rehoboth. Rounding out the field is Noble Causeway, runner-up of the 2005 Florida Derby. He has had significant health issues over the last two years and should not be a factor.
Weekends like this is what was racing was made for and fans everywhere have plenty of races to follow and enjoy. A review of this weekend's winners and losers and other notes of interest will be presented here next week.
