Santa Anita opening day: best bet 5/5

Santa Anita Race 1

4 - Lemonaideen

Start the meet on a winning note with Lemonaideen. This 2-year-old filly sired by Square Eddie should relish this abbreviated 4 1/2 furlong sprint race. She has been working sharp for her debut this afternoon, including a 5F 1:00 work (longer than this race) last time on the track April 23. Trainer Edward Freeman clicks at a solid 20% debut winning percentage and should improve on that number after today. The entire field is first-time starters, so works and pedigree are the key, and this filly has the best in the field. Lemonaideen is the best bet on Santa Anita opening day.  

Los Alamitos Race Course: Top Play 4/22

Los Al Thoroughbred Race 5

5 - Prince of Arabia

This 3-year-old colt has finally met his field to get out of the maiden ranks. Prince of Arabia enters off a solid third place finish in a tougher event at Santa Anita, and has previously run races clearly good enough to win this today. The Los Alamitos thoroughbred course has the longest stretch in the county and this colt has the grinding gear needed to run down the competition. Jockey Joe Talamo only needs to watch favorite Magical Mystery and should be able to get to him over the 1 mile distance. Prince of Arabia is the top play of the day Friday.  

Arkansas Derby: Solid, consistent play

Oaklawn Park Race 11

4 - Suddenbreakingnews

This 3-year-old gelding has been the face of consistency, finishing in the exacta 6 out of his 7 career starts. Last time out he finished fifth in the Rebel Stakes, but ran into trouble from an outside slot. Today he returns to a nice inside post and should get a solid pace to help set up his late closing kick. Suddenbreakingnews has the pedigree, not like others in the field, to get the 1 1/8 mile distance with A.P. Indy and Afleet Alex in the family tree. We should get a nice price on a very consistent face. Look for breakingnews down the stretch in the Arkansas Derby.

Aqueduct: Outwork best in Wood Memorial

Aqueduct Race 10

8 - Outwork

This 3-year-old colt showed his talent when stretched out to a route of ground for the first time in the Tampa Bay Derby. He may have lost to his stablemate by a length, but that education will carry him to a victory in the Wood Memorial. Outwork's number from the Tampa Derby jumps off the page and shows he still has another gear entering the Wood. With Uncle Mo in the colt's bloodlines he should love the added distance today and put it all together to grab his first stakes victory of the his career. Look for Outlook to take the Wood Memorial and also be on the contender list for the Kentucky Derby. 

Gulfstream: Nyquist tops in Florida Derby

Gulfstream Park Race 14

4 - Nyquist

Look for the 2-year-old champion to remain undefeated after taking the Florida Derby. Nyquist is all heart and doesn't win in style, he wins on determination. The heart in an undefeated horse cannot be measured just in numbers, it is something that can be seen on the track. Regular rider Mario Gutierrez knows how to place the BC Juvenile winner in his spot, and in a race that doesn't look like much up front, he should get a great trip on or near the lead. Nyquist is the top play in the 2016 Florida Derby.

Santa Anita: Tinderette best bet 4/1

Santa Anita Race 4

#3 Tinderette

Jockey Tyler Baze and trainer Jeff Mullins are a strong sprinting duo and they will prove it again in this short starter allowance field. The three-year-old filly has already shown enough ability to handle this class and love the fact that Baze can sit right off a projected hot pace scenario. Look for the winning move down the stretch and be in the clear for an easy victory Friday afternoon. 

Gulfstream: Stonetastic best inside information

Gulfstream Race 12

8 - Stonetastic

The five-year-old daughter of Mizzen Mast enters the Inside Information Stakes in solid form and with the highest speed figures. This Grade II Stakes is a solid field, including longshot Tiger Ride who should love the 7F distance, but Stonetastic figures are far and above the other runners peak performances. She should work out a nice trip on or near the lead under jockey Paco Lopez and put away the competition down the stretch. 

Santa Anita: Dressed in Hermes best bet 3/13

Santa Anita Race 3

1 - Dressed in Hermes

This Kentucky bred stallion is just simply too classy for this field. Dressed in Hermes ran a solid fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland last fall and there is certainly no one close to that competition in this race today. Trainer Janet Armstrong already has the gelding at Santa Anita from the San Luis Rey Downs trainer facility and should prove tough to handle in this stakes race under champion jockey Mike Smith.  

Aqueduct: Shagaf top play in Gotham Stakes

Aqueduct Race 9

2 - Shagaf

The road to the Kentucky Derby continues with the Gotham Stakes in New York on Saturday. Shagaf enters undefeated with two very clear victories. His debut maiden score speed figure jumps off the page when compared to his main foes in this race. Love the fact that he won geared down in his last race as connections continue to educate the young colt. There is still plenty of upside with him making just his third start of his career, and with Bernardini in his bloodlines the route of ground should be no problem. Look for regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. to sit a solid trip close to the lead and make the winning move down the stretch. Shagaf enters in better form with more upside than others in this field and he is the top play in the Gotham.

Santa Anita: Uptown Rythem best bet on 3/4

Arcadia, CA

Santa Anita Race 2

4 - Uptown Rythem

The Connections have finally found the right level of competition for this son of Speighstown. Uptown Rythem broke out of the maiden ranks in his last start when dropped to the $20K level and now meets another weak field of claimers when taking on winners for the first time. This five-year-old had high hopes when running against some tough competition in a few Maiden Special Weight races last year, but thanks to a dip in class he should start this year with back-to-back victories. Uptown Rythem shows a nice 4F breeze workout last week for trainer Carla Gaines and she keeps her top jockey in Rafael Bejarano aboard. The favorite should use his tactical speed to get a great trip today in a race that doesn't come up very fast, improve second time off a layoff, and finish a clear winner.