JUDE FELD’S GRADED STAKES ANALYSIS FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2014
March 21st, 2014
SANTA ANITA RACE 4 – THE SAN LUIS REY (G2)
Back in the day, when this race was weight-for-age, it was among the toughest races to win in the United States. Ruined now by allowance conditions and relegated to a Grade 2, only five horses are entered. With the short field, at this distance, comes a dearth of pace. TEMERAINE has a modicum of tactical speed, and I expect Gary Stevens, who reads the past performances as well as anybody, to utilize it to his utmost advantage. This is what many horseplayers call, “a jockey’s race,†and there is no better jockey than Gary Stevens. VAGABOND SHOES just beat the bulk of this field, so it is a no-brainer to pick him second. LUCAYAN, “clunked up for third,†in the common race, as DRF’s Jay Privman would say, and should do at least as well here.
GULFSTREAM PARK RACE 10 – THE INSIDE INFORMATION (G2)
This field is full of fillies and mares who have distance questions and speed figure concerns. CENTRIQUE likes seven furlongs, is undefeated at Gulfstream and gets the services of hot-riding Javier Castellano back today. As Porky Pig would say, “That’s all folks!â€
TURFWAY PARK RACE 10 – THE FATHEAD BOURBONETTE OAKS (G3)
AURELIA’S BELLE has been trained in old school style by Wayne Catalano. Her two close-up efforts behind ill-fated Onlyforyou stamp her as a major contender in this spot. A blistering :59 flat breeze at Keeneland last Tuesday shows she’s sharp as a tack too. Undefeated SLOANE SQUARE is by Giant’s Causeway out of the talented racemare Marylebone. She has been impressive in both of her sprint starts and seems ready to stretch out and try stakes company. The old adage, “never take a short price on a horse to do something it has never done before,†applies here, but that doesn’t mean she can’t win. SUPER SKY obviously likes the Polytrack and seems to be better at three than she was at two. She could definitely make her presence felt. SHANON NICOLE and KATIE’S EYES are two fillies with lesser credentials than the top three, but I would not hesitate to use them in any serial or horizontal bets.
TURFWAY PARK RACE 11 – THE HORSESHOE CASINO CINCINNATI RACING SPIRAL STAKES (G3)
TAMARANDO has been facing the best the West Coast has to offer and has been right there every time. He is an iron horse who dances every dance and keeps running corkers. Hard to pick against him here, especially in light of his all-weather record. WE MISS ARTIE is a Grade 1 winner on Polytrack. He was ridden very poorly in the Fountain of Youth (G2), drops in class for this race and is reunited with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who has ridden the son of Artie Schiller to both his victories. SOLITARY RANGER kicked ass and took names in the Battaglia. He has excellent speed and could be tough to down if allowed an easy lead again. BIG BAZINGA likes the Polytrack. He looked good in his latest effort on the Gulfstream sod and this race should set him up well for the Toyota Blue Grass (G1) down the road.
