Free Selections / Saturday / 3-9-2013

The weather seems to winding down as only parts of the country feel Mother Nature’s wrath. But, all bad things come to an end and we are getting closer to the Kentucky Derby with each prep race. Here are a few races to stimulate some thought, and you will want to grab your E-Z Win Forms to make that average win into a top shelf score!

Tampa Bay Downs

Race #5 – Alw $30,000 – 1 mile on the turf – 2:43 p.m. ET

#8 – Noble Tune (6-5) – Johnny V in the saddle for Chad Brown, and they can get the job done today.  Team Brown wins with (25%) of his turf runners, and they haven’t started in four months since the Breeders’ Cup. Working well, and gets added ground to gobble up down the lane. This son of Unbridled’s Song looks solid, and you will have to dig deep into your E-Z Win Forms to find that nugget of gold to complete your gimmicks.

Race #9 – G-3 Hillsborough Stakes – 1 1/8 on turf – 4:45 p.m. ET

** This race begins the pick-four **

#7 – Old Tune (7-2) – Joel Rosario in the irons for Todd Pletcher, and he is red-hot at 33%. Rosario is a very good front rider, and they are stretching from a 1 1/16 – 1 1/8, and I look for an up close effort to hold off the cavalry charge down the lane.

Race #10 – G-2 Tampa Bay Derby – 1 1/16 – 5:15 p.m. ET

#6 -Verrazano (4-5) – John Velasquez up for Todd Pletcher, and they are doing well at GP. Now this guy looks good, and he is 2/2 with wins. The last race was a winning effort by a widening 16 lengths. If he runs that effort back, his next stop will be Churchill Downs for the first Saturday in May.

Santa Anita

Race #7 – G-2 San Felipe – 1 1/16 – 6:35 p.m. ET

Flashback – Julien Leparoux in the irons for Bob Baffert, and they have been winning at a 25% clip the last few months. This son of Tapit is 1/1 at SA, and has been shooting bullets in the morning. His ability to rate will come in time for this lightly raced colt, and his last effort was as-he-pleased. I think Baffert may have a real tiger here, and with a win today, I think they will be making plans for Churchill.

Race #8 – $70,000 China Doll Stakes – 1 mile on the turf – 7:07 p.m. ET

Flashy Ways – Joe-Joe Talamo is the pilot for Richard Baltes. Blinkers off today, and the barn scores 33% on this move. Drops down from graded company, and they roll at a 25% win going down the ladder. Good works, solid rider who wins 16% on the weeds, and a perfect spot for a good payday.

Dig into your E-Z Win Forms and just think.. Only 57 days until we here the sweet sounds of ” My Old Kentucky Home.” So get building that bankroll, as the best races are yet to come!