Betting Saturday's Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park

 This race preview/picks is reposted via permission of ScoresandStats.com

Oaklawn Park’s Essex Handicap Highlights Saturday’s Betting Action

The 2022 Kentucky Derby prep schedule takes a break this weekend ahead of a fantastic finish leading up to the annual Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 7. However, Oaklawn Park in Arkansas is the place to be this Saturday for some major graded racing action featuring a solid group of veteran Thoroughbreds.

This year’s Grade 3 Whitmore Stakes gets things started on Saturday’s card as the first featured event. Open to horses four years and older, this six-furlong sprint on the dirt track at Oaklawn offers a total prize purse of $200,000.

The featured graded stakes event on Saturday’s card at Oaklawn is the $500,000 Essex Handicap. Open to Thoroughbreds four and older, this Grade 3 race covers 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. There are eight horses list as entered in what would have to be considered a field deep in talent.

Going through all eight entries for this year’s Essex Handicap, the following three are my personal “best bets” to finish in the money.

Saturday, March 19

2022 Essex Handicap- Oaklawn Park

Win: Plainsman

Backed by a victory the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap on February 12 at Oaklawn, this seven-year old horse immediately caught my eye as the top choice for Saturday’s main event. On paper, he is not the best horse in the field according to Horse Racing Nation ratings. However, he has been able to finish in the money in his last six races including three winning efforts

Starting from gate No. 4 with jockey Joel Rosario, the son of Flatter is one of two entries in this race trained by Brad Cox. With the win his last time out, Plainsman has now either won or finished second in three of his last four races at Oaklawn Park.

Place: Warrior’s Charge

Also trained by Brad Cox, this six-year old Florida-bred veteran race horse will break from the No. 3 post for this race with jockey Florent Geroux leading the way. He has not raced since late January where he won a 1 1/16 mile Allowance Claimer at Oaklawn.

Over the course of an extended racing career, the son or Munnings has had a great deal of success at Saturday’s track. Going back over his last seven competitive events dating back to September of last year, he has finished in the money in five of those seven races. Given the level of experience Warrior’s Charge brings into this race gives him a significant edge in this field.

Show: Popular Kid

Rounding out my top three entries for this race, I decided to go with another horse that has a strong history of success at this track. Trained by Shawn Davis, he will break from the favorable No. 5 post on Saturday with Franciso Arrieta as his jockey. As one of the older horses still racing competitively, this eight-year old still has excellent speed and stamina.

He placed third in last month’s Razorback Handicap after closing out last season with a victory in the ungraded Jeffery A. Hawk Memorial Stakes at Remington Park. In that victory, he covered the 1mile, 70 yard distance on dirt in 1:43.35. Sired by Popular, his best performances over the course of an extended racing career have come at the 1 1/16 miles distance of Saturday’s event.

 

All Time Top 10 NCAA Tournament Upsets

 This year's NCAA Tournament for men's college basketball gets underway on Tuesday with the first of four play-in games. Each Division I program in this 68-team field has its sights set on winning a national title. 

In the end, only one team will be cutting down the nets at Caesars Superdome as winners of the national title game on Monday, April 4. Along the way, there are bound to be a few major upsets as a big part of why this annual single-elimination tournament is referred to as March Madness.

Going back over the illustrious history of the annual NCAA Tournament, here is a look at 10 of the biggest upsets that rocked the betting public over all of those years. Originally posted on Vegas Insider as the ultimate sports betting site for March Madness, below is the link to bracket busting list of the All Time Top 10 NCAA Tournament upsets.

All Time Top 10 NCAA Tournament Upsets

Big East Tournament Championship: Villanova vs. Creighton

 This season's Big East conference tournament wraps up later this afternoon with the championship game at Madison Square Garden. The No. 2 Villanova Wildcats will face the No. 4 Creighton Bluejays for the Big East title at 6:30 p.m. on FOX.

Villanova has been opened as a 6.5-point favorite with the total set at 129.5 points. The Wildcats split their season series against Creighton with each team winning big at home early in the season. 

Villanova has gone 9-1 straight-up in its last 10 conference games with Creighton posting a SU 9-2 record in its last 11 Big East games. The Wildcats has a 14-3 SU edge in their last 17 games against the Bluejays and the total has stayed UNDER in five of the last seven meetings.

As part of my ongoing college basketball coverage for Vegas Insider, below is a link to my "best bet' pick for this game.

Villanova vs. Creighton

Tampa Bay Derby "Best Bet" Picks

 The following post was reprinted via permission of ScoresandStats.com

Tampa Bay Downs Features Saturday’s Top Kentucky Derby Prep

The deeper we get into the month of March, the bigger the Kentucky Derby preps become on each Saturday’s racing schedule. This Saturday is no exception with the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs.

The official field for this race is still coming together but the final list of entries should be deep. You can expect to see more than a few talented three-year old Thoroughbreds vying for the crucial qualifying points that could lead to a spot in the 20-horse field for the 2022 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May. 7.

The fact that this Saturday’s featured event at Tampa Bay Downs has a total prize purse of $400,000 is another big plus for the trainers and owners entering a colt in this race.

Working through the list of probable entries for the 1 1/16 miles run on the dirt track at Tampa Bay Downs, I have come up with my top three picks to finish in the money.

Saturday, March 12

Tampa Bay Derby- Tampa Bay Downs

Win: Major General

My top choice to win Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby will be making his three-year old debut. Trained by Todd Pletcher, this Kentucky-bred colt closed out his juvenile campaign by winning the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sept. 18. He covered the 1 1/16 miles on dirt with a winning time of 1:44.88.

The long layoff should not impact his performance in this race. Pletcher has been waiting for the right race to get his prized colt back on the track and the son of Constitution is ready to make his mark as a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender. Major General started his racing career with a victory in a Maiden Special Weight race at Saratoga last summer.

Place: Classic Causeway

I have been following this colt since his third-place finish in last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 9. He went on to place second in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill to further bolster his two-year old racing resume.

Making his three-year old debut in this year’s Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, the Kentucky-bred colt won that 1 1/16 miles run on dirt with an impressive winning time of 1:42.80. Trained by Brian Lynch, the Giant’s Causeway sire could easily win this race as well if he is in top form. The betting recommendation would be to box my first two choices in an exacta wager.

Show: Shipsational

As my “best of the rest” in a projected field of 10 entries, this New York-bred colt has posted three victories in the first five events of his racing career. He closed out his two-year old season by winning the ungraded Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 30. This followed a victory in the ungraded Bertram F. Bongard Stakes at Belmont in late September.

Trainer Edward Barker entered the son of Midshipman into this year’s Sam F. Davis and he did not disappoint with a second-place finish behind Classic Causeway. Volcanic was the show horse in that race. With a strong pedigree that goes back to Unbridled, Shipsational has the ability to run with the best this three-year old class has to offer.

 

 

 

Betting Picks for Two of Saturday's Key Kentucky Derby Props

 My horse racing predictions for each of these races have been posted via permission of ScoresandStats.com

Two Key Kentucky Derby Preps Highlight Saturday’s Horse Betting Card

The month of March may be big for betting college basketball. Yet, this month also ranks high on the list when it comes to wagering on major graded prep races for May’s Kentucky Derby.

The first stop on this Saturday’s race card is Gulfstream Park in South Florida for this year’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes. This 1 1/16 miles run on the dirt has 13 three-year old Thoroughbreds listed as entered. Top trainers such as Dale Romans and Todd Pletcher have a major stake in the outcome of this race.

Heading out to the West Coast and Santa Anita Park in Southern California, trainers Doug O’Neil and Bob Baffert have loaded up the field with top contenders to win the 2022 Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes. This 1 1/16 miles major stakes event has seven three-year old colts listed as entered.

Taking a closer look at each of these races, here are my “best bets” to finish in the money at both parks this Saturday.

Saturday, March 5

Gulfstream Park- $400,000 Fountain of Youth

Win: Mo Donegal

Breaking from the outside in the No. 12 position, this Kentucky-bred colt has the highest Horse Racing Nation rating in the field at 6.57. Sired by Uncle Mo, he is coming off a third-place finish in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream in early February. Mo Donegal is one of trainer Todd Pletcher’s top three-year old prospects heading into the Triple Crown racing season. Veteran jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will get the ride in Saturday’s race.

Place: Rattle N Roll

This Kentucky-bred colt will be making his three-year old debut on Saturday after closing out his juvenile campaign with a victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland back in early October. Trained by Kenneth McPeek, the son of Connect with break sixth with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.

Show: Giant Game

Coming off a disappointing fade to eighth in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes on Feb. 25, trainer Dale Romans is looking for a much stronger effort this time around. The Kentucky-bred three-year old with break from the No. 10 post with Corey Lanerie as his jockey. The son of Giant’s Causeway placed third in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.

San Anita Pack- $400,000 San Felipe Stakes

Win: Forbidden Kingdom

As a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender, the son of American Pharoah appears to be the class of this seven horse field. Trained by Richard Mandella, he drew the No. 6 post for Saturday and Juan Hernandez will be on board as his jockey. He made his three-year old debut by winning the Grade 3 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 29.

Place: Happy Jack

The No. 1 horse in this race is trained by Doug O’Neill with Abel Cedillo as his jockey. The son of Oxbow slipped to fifth in this year’s Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita early last month but he is better than that showing. At 5.34, he has one of the higher HRN ratings in Saturday’s field.

Show: Amagnac

All eyes will be on this three-year old colt as one of two entries trained by Bob Baffert. Relatively inexperienced, he opened up his three-year old campaign with a victory in a Maiden Special Weight Race at Santa Anita earlier this year. Sired by Quality Road, he will start third with John Velazquez as his jockey.

 

Newgrange Headlines Saturday's Rebel Stakes Field at Oaklawn Park

 The following race preview/picks for the 2022 Rebel Stakes is reposted via permission of ScoresandStats.com

Saturday’s Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Led by Favorite Newgrange

February’s Kentucky Derby prep race schedule closes things out with an exciting showdown in this year’s $1 million Rebel Stakes. This Saturday’s featured event on Oaklawn Park’s live racing card is the lead-in event for the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at this same track on April 2.

The Rebel is a Grade 2 stakes race covering 1 1/16 miles on the dirt track at Oaklawn. The field has been set with 11 entries. However, this race is shaping up as a head-to-head battle between the top two favorites.

After going through the entire list of three-year old contenders on the betting board, the following three entries would be my top picks to finish in the money. Post time for Saturday’s Rebel Stakes is 6:22 p.m. (ET).

Saturday, Feb. 26- Oaklawn Park

2022 Rebel Stakes

Win: Newgrange

Coming into Saturday’s race as the 5-2 favorite on the morning line, this Kentucky-bred colt is one of trainer Bob Baffert’s prized three-year old Thoroughbreds this year’s class. The son of Violence has gone a perfect three-for-three in his brief racing career, including two victories this year in a pair of graded Kentucky Derby prep races.

After winning the one mile Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on New Year’s Day, he raced at Oaklawn at the end of January. Placing first in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes, he covered the 1 1/16 miles on dirt in 1:45.83 past Barber Road and Ben Diesel. Both of these colts are in the field for the Rebel. Newgrange will break from the No. 2 post with jockey John Velazquez.

Place: Chasing Time

My second choice for Saturday has a legitimate chance to win as well with 7-2 odds on the morning line. Trained by Steve Asmussen, he will start No. 8 and jockey Tyler Gaffalione will get the ride. Sired by Not This Time, he made his three-year old debut with a victory at Oaklawn in a one mile Allowance Claimer on Jan. 14.

This will be Chasing Time’s first appearance in a graded stakes race. However, he has already demonstrated the speed and ability to compete in a much deeper field. Last year as a juvenile, he finished in the money in three of four events in various races at Oaklawn and Churchill Downs.

Show: Ben Diesel (10-1)

Coming off that third-place finish in the Southwest Stakes, I have this three-year old Kentucky Bred colt as my show horse in a very talented second tier of contenders in this race. Opening at 10-1 odds, he will break from the No. 7 post on Saturday with Jon Kenton Court as his jockey.

Sired by Will Take Charge, this colt’s juvenile career was highlighted by a victory at Churchill in a Maiden Special Weight Race in late October. This was followed up with a solid fourth-place effort in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at that same track. Ben Diesel made his three-year old debut by slipping to seventh in the ungraded Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn on Jan. 1.

One to Watch

In what should be a head-to-head battle between Newgrange and Chasing Time, one other colt to watch in this year’s Rebel Stakes would be Un Ojo as a 15-1 live long shot on the morning line.

Saturday Horse Racing: Risen Star "Best Bet" Picks

 This post has been reprinted through permission of ScoresandStats.com

The 2022 Risen Star Stakes Highlight’s Saturday’s Card at Fair Grounds

A key prep race leading up to this year’s Louisiana Derby is this Saturday’s Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. This Grade 2 stakes race is also an important stop on this year’s Kentucky Derby Trail.

The eventual winner in the field of 10 three-year old Thoroughbreds listed as entered will take a major step up the betting board to win this year’s “Run for the Roses” on Saturday, May 7. A number of the top trainers in the nation also have a vested interest in the outcome of Saturday’s main event.

With $400,000 in total prize money on the line plus valuable Kentucky Derby qualifying points, this 1 1/8-mile trip around the dirt track at Fair Grounds should be a highly competitive race. The post positions have been drawn and the following three colts are my top plays to finish in the money.

Saturday, Feb. 19- Fair Grounds Race Course

2022 Risen Star Stakes

Win- Epicenter

This Kentucky-bred colt made his three-year old debut with a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds on Jan. 22. That race was won by Call Me Midnight, who is not in Saturday’s field. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Epicenter will break from the No. 5 post with Joel Rosario as his jockey. He has been opened at 4-1 odds on the morning line.

The son of Not This Time closed out his juvenile campaign by winning the ungraded Gun Runner Stakes at this same track on Dec. 26. He covered the 1 1/16 miles on dirt in 1:44.19 past Tejano Twist and Surfer Dude. In a total of four career starts, Epicenter has finished in the money three times.

Place- Smile Happy

Saturday’s race will be this Kentucky-bred colt’s first event as a three-year old. He won his only two races last year, including the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 27. The son of Runhappy posted a winning time of 1:43.94 in that 1 1/16-mile run on dirt past Classic Causeway, who just won last week’s Sam F. Davis Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Smile Happy has been opened as a 7-2 favorite to win this year’s Risen Star. Trained by Kenneth McPeek, he drew the No. 8 post for Saturday and jockey Corey Lanerie will get the ride. He started his racing career with a victory in a 1 1/16-mile Maiden Special Weight race at Keeneland on Oct. 29. His winning time in that race was 1:44.75.

Show- Zandon

Starting from the No. 7 post on Saturday with jockey Jose Ortiz on board, Zandon is listed at 9-2 odds on the morning line. This is another Kentucky-bred colt that will be making his three-year old debut in this race. Trainer Chad Brown has high expectations for the son of Upstart after a strong but limited showing last year.

He opened up his racing career with a victory in a six-furlong Maiden Special Weight race at Belmont Park on Oct. 9. He covered that distance on dirt in 1:10.61. Running in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes on Dec. 4, Zandon placed second behind Mo Donegal in a race that covered 1 1/8 miles on the dirt track at Aqueduct. Midnight Chrome was the show horse in that race.