Winning Ponies – Free Selections – Saturday – 4/15/17

One of the last opportunities to make an appointment for the Derby starting gate happens Saturday afternoon. Hard to believe as it seems we just started. – That’s just fine as horse players will be locked and loaded for some super racing just ahead. Be sure to enjoy the weekend as there is plenty of great racing on the docket. – Best of luck from your friends at Winning Ponies !

 

Oaklawn Park

4/15/17

 

Race #7 – The G-3 Count Fleet – 6f – 4:57 pm EST

#8 – Whitmore = Ricardo Santana in the saddle for Ron Moquett and this son of Pleasantly Perfect is shooting for a perfect 4/4 after last year’s Kentucky Derby. He’s a horse-for-the-course going 6/6 ITM and faced some very tough runners last year. – Use him with #9 – Apprehender and #6 – Holy Boss. 

 

Race #8 – The Northern Spur – 1 1/16 – 5:33 pm EST

#6 – Jerrid – Ricardo Santana in the driver’s seat for Scott Young, and they were a beaten favorite last out and seem to take to the track pretty well. They have the right man in the irons and he brings his “A” game every time.

 

Race #9 – The G-2 Oaklawn Handicap – 1 1/8 -6:09 pm EST

#3 – Midnight Storm = Mike Smith has the call for Phil D’Amato and this speedy son of Pioneer of the Nile looks the one to beat and at (1-2) on the morning line the public will be right there with you. He was just beat in the 1 1/4 Santa Anita handicap and the cut back in distance and a little class relief should have Smith dictating the pace and tough to beat. – Use him over = #4 – Madefromlucky, and #1 – Texas Chrome. 

 

Race #11 – The G-1 Arkansas Derby – 1 1/8 – 7:18 pm EST

#3 – Silver Dust = At (20-1) this son of Tapit gets first time blinkers and has been knocking on the door in the Rebel and Southwest. –#9 – Untrapped (6-1) = Mike Smith has the call and he wanted to wait to see how Untrapped did before announcing his Derby mount. Trainer Joe Sharp for Girvin made the announcement that Smith would take his runner and Smith agreed to be the nice guy. Keep your eyes peeled as Smith will want to give a good showing drawing a strong rider to have interest in the colt by Trappe Shot. – #12 – Malagacy (2-1) = Javier Castellano in the irons for Todd Pletcher and the son of Shackleford puts his undefeated 3/3 record on the line but will have to overcome the outside post. He’s been working well at Palm Meadows and notched an impressive victory in the (G-2) Rebel. – If you’re gonna bet ’em, you gotta box ’em !

 

 

Keeneland

4/15/17

 

Race #7 – The G-3 – Ben Ali – 1 1/8 – 4:24 pm EST

#2 – Eagle (5-2) = The horse-for-the-course has the services of Robby Albarado and this son of Candy Ride is a perfect 3/3 over the Keeneland oval and won the Ben Ali last year. He is third off the layoff and looked to have been pointing to the this race since the beginning of 2017.

 

Race  #8 – The Giant’s Causeway – 5 1/2f on the turf – 4:57 pm EST

#12 – Miss Katie May (12-1) = Jose Ortiz in the saddle for Graham Motion, and they are exiting the (G-3) Ken Maddy at Santa Anita and takes a drop in class and cuts back in distance. Ortiz is a very talented turf rider winning (26%) and Motion knows how to bring them ready with a layoff runner of 5 months. This daughter of Dark Angel should stalk in the second flight and make her presence felt at the top of the lane. – Use with – #7 Lady Aurelia and #10 – Pretty Perfection.

 

Race #9 – The G-3 Lexington Stakes -1 1/16 – 5:34 pm EST

#4 – No Dozing(4-1) = Joel Rosario in the irons for Arnaud Delacour and this son if Union Rags has faced some of the best runners of the year and by looks of the field they are not going to post in here. – He’s been well backed and knocking on the door against better. Delacour is a much better trainer than his Keeneland record reflects. – #3 – Senior Investment (5-1) = Channing Hill in the saddle and exits the (G-2) Louisiana Derby. Kenny McPeek is known for having an ace up his sleeve. – #2 – Souper Tapit (10-1).