Forgive me, Ozzy Osbourne, but we’re going off the rails on a crazy train this Saturday. A whopping 18 stakes are in my focus, including the inaugural California Crown at Santa Anita. Here goes (in chronological order}:
1. Belmont at the Big A Race 4, 1:38 pm ET | Skippylongstocking looks almost too simple in a 4-horse Woodward as potential lone speed from the rail, but #2 Crupi’s win in last fall’s Discovery over this same track, distance, nearly same field size and projected trip is a winning blueprint.
2. Belmont at the Big A Race 6, 2:40 pm ET | The one time #6 Silver Knott got some give in the ground, he blew away his competition like I suspect he will Saturday when the beloved mare War Like Goddess is denied a third straight victory in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.
3. Laurel Park Race 6, 2:54 pm ET | The Selima focus for me will be #4 Correto, who won her debut at Kentucky Downs (and that’s not easy), and is a half-sister to $1.3M earning turf router Spooky Channel.
4. Laurel Park Race 8, 3:54 pm ET | Mike Maker’s defending Japan Turf Cup winner Yamato is back, but hasn’t raced since, leaving 2-time local stakes winner #5 Dataman the most appealing option for Graham Motion.
5. Belmont at the Big A Race 9, 4:14 pm ET | The Vosburgh could be a coming out party for #2 Scotland, who has always hinted at talent and finally showed that kind of stuff in his Saratoga allowance win.
6. Laurel Park Race 9, 4:24 pm ET | #8 Studlydoright has been sharp on the back end of his dirt sprints, and while the Laurel Futurity is a turf route, note that his dam Peach of A Gal was a 2-turn turf stakes winner in her racing days.
7. Gulfstream Park Race 9, 5:08 pm ET | This doesn’t look like a Hollywood Beach that has had some success spring-boarding Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint prospects in its short history, but #8 Most Handsome may prove best after re-gaining interest midway through his debut victory.
8. Belmont at the Big A 11, 5:17 pm ET | With Anticipation winner Zulu Kingdom will be a solid favorite in the Pilgrim without a real knock, but Irad-Pletcher aim to win this race for a fourth straight year and may be a decent price with first-time-turf chance #1 Noble Confessor.
9. Santa Anita Race 5, 5:35 pm ET | Downhill turf sprints like the Unzip Me Stakes often are decided by trip, and the wide post (clean path) and presence of top SA turf sprint jockey Flavien Prat gives eastern-based #11 Toupie the nod.
10. Woodbine Race 9, 5:30 pm ET | #5 Paramount Prince has run 1-2 with Stanley House already in this meet's Dominion Day and Seagram Cup, and that looks almost inevitable again in Saturday's 5-runner Durham Cup.
11. Santa Anita Race 7, 6:37 pm ET | Likely California Crown John Henry Turf Championship favorite Gold Phoenix was fifth in this race as the 6-5 favorite last year when in arguably better form, so let’s roll with improving, course/distance winner #3 Divin Propos for the upset on the class rise.
12. Santa Anita Race 8, 7:07 pm ET | Tab downhill turf sprint specialist #2 First Peace (5: 2-3-0; pictured above) in the California Crown Eddie D, a race in which eastern shipper Big Invasion will take all the money while trying something completely new.
13. Santa Anita Race 9, 7:43 pm ET | Difficult to get a good read on the 3 Bafferts in the $1 million California Crown, but the pace edge appears to be with #3 National Treasure and we’ll see if he can outlast Muth over 9 furlongs.
14. Canterbury Park Race 7, 8:10 pm ET | The Shakopee Juvenile Overnight favorite may be blowout local debut winner Indie Freedom, but I much prefer #8 Don’t Fly Stand By via Prairie Meadows, who showed a finishing kick over a track that often tilts heavily to speed.
15. Santa Anita Race 10, 8:15 pm ET | #3 Johannes figures to be one of the most trustworthy favorites of the day in the City of Hope Mile, where he’s 5-for-5 at Santa Anita and 3-for-3 this year.
16. Prairie Meadows Race 10, 8:51 pm ET | While several in this Iowa Breeders’ Derby have taken turns beating one another, the consistency and recent open-company experience of #3 Dawson’s Storm makes the 2-1 morning line favorite the most likely winner.
17. Churchill Downs Race 8, 9:37 pm ET | Speedball #7 Saudi Crown draws beautifully in the outside post 7 for the Ack Ack and should have no excuses with little other pace pressure projected.
18. Churchill Downs Race 10, 10:40 pm ET | Give me 20-1 morning line bomber #1 Stilleto Boy in the Lukas Classic as he goes second off the layoff, turf-to-dirt and sprint-to-route all in a single swoop that could put him right into the mix from the start.
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