Southwest Stakes Top Play

Oaklawn Park Race 9

11 - One Liner

Trainer Todd Pletcher likes to keep his horses fresh when on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and his One Liner has been begging to get back on the track. One Liner has the connections, pedigree with Into Mischief and the works that prove he is ready to go. The 3-year-old galloped out to an easy victory last time in an Allowance race and has since posted his fastest career workout with a 5F 1:00. Today's race flow favors One Liner, who should continue to improve for the star connections of Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez en route to victory in the Southwest. 

Tampa: Sam F. Davis Best Bet

Tampa Bay Downs Race 10

8 - McCraken

The Road to the Kentucky Derby goes through Tampa Bay this Saturday and that's where we meet McCraken. This three-year-old is the race favorite and for good reason. He is undefeated in his first three career starts and has shown a strong turn of foot, running down all of his competition to date. Today's Sam F. Davis Stakes has a lot of speed signed on that should set the race up perfectly for the favorite. McCarken already has the highest speed figures in the field, along with a powerful routing pedigree (Ghostzapper and Seeking the Gold), that make him easily the best bet in Tampa on Saturday.

Gulfstream: Holy Bull Stakes Top Play

Gulfstream Park Race 12

5 - Irish War Cry

With the Kentucky Derby coming up in May, the derby talk is heating up entering Saturday's Grade II Holy Bull Stakes. All eyes will be on Breeders' Cup champion Classic Empire, which will open the door for a mild upset with Irish War Cry. The three-year-old is certainly stepping up today in class from Laurel Park, but enters this race unbeaten while showing great versatility in both victories. The colt rallied from far behind to break his maiden and then last time out took the field gate-to-wire in the Marylander Stakes. Irish War Cry should love the route game with Curlin in his family tree, as he is making his first start around two turns, and what makes him a top play is the projected flow of the race. The main contenders signed on in this stakes race are not ones to be on the lead, which should make for an easy trip for the youngster to stretch his legs and get brave while out front turning for home under jockey Joel Rosario. Look for Irish War Cry to get the trip and a surprise first run on the field in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park Saturday afternoon.  

Santa Anita: best Bet 1/27

Santa Anita Race 2

1 - Very Hot

This Maiden race for fillies is a weak field, but Very Hot is much the best on paper when it comes to class. The 3-year-old is the only runner dropping down to this $30K level today, while still holding some of the highest speed figures in the field. She should also get a cozy trip from the rail for her first time around two turns, as there isn't a lot of pace signed on with race favorite Let Me Flatter You running a slow :48 in her last start. Regular rider Stewart Elliott stays for trainer Philip D'Amato and always positive to have three sprints before the initial route try. Look for Very Hot to race gate to wire Friday afternoon.      

Santa Anita: Best Bet 1/26

Santa Anita Race 2

3 - Delitefull Lady

This 3-year-old filly is primed to break her maiden today after a nice freshening for top connections in trainer Richard Baltas and jockey Rafael Bejarano. Delitefull Lady has the top pedigree in the field to get the 6F distance with Mineshaft in the bloodlines and show huge improvement in her second career start. The key that she is feeling well is the solid 5F 1:00 work (fastest she has shown) back on Jan. 16 and Bejarano taking the ride for Baltas. Delitefull Lady should get a solid stalking trip and cruise to an easy victory down the stretch at a very nice price Thursday. 

Santa Anita: Best Bet 1/16

Santa Anita Race 7

2 - Prize Exhibit

Making her first start in a Grade III event since 2015, Prize Exhibit should enjoy a little bit of a class break today in the Megahertz Stakes. This classy mare hasn't been in the winner's circle since this time last year, but has faced some pretty tough customers from Belmont Park to last time out at Del Mar in the Grade I Matriarch Stakes. Prize Exhibit posted one of the fastest drills in preparations for this race, a 5F :59 from the gate on Dec. 29, showing she is ready for a big run. The presence of jockey Mike Smith for trainer James Cassidy adds to the intrigue. Look for the multiple graded stakes winning mare finally add another victory today based on her class and connections on this special day of Monday racing. 

Santa Anita: Best Bet 1/14

Santa Anita Race 7

4 - Valiant Minister

 A 4-year-old colt making his debut is normally not a very good sign. However, the race conditions are age restricted and Valiant Minister has my favorite sire Candy Ride in his corner along with top trainer Bob Baffert. This Maiden Special Weight event is not very strong and Valiant Minister has the pedigree and the speed to make quick work of the field. The colt posted back-to-back 5F :58 workouts in Dec. at Los Alamitos that are unmatched by today's competition and Candy Ride debut runners excel at this 6F distance. Expect Valiant Minister to cruise to the winner's circle in his debut run as Saturday's best bet. 

Santa Anita: Best Bet 1/13

Santa Anita Race 5

6 - Perfect Pic

Perfect Pic finds the perfect spot stretching out for the first time. The 4-year-old filly has been on my horse to watch list and today is back on my top play list. Perfect Pic should love the route of ground, with Candy Ride in her pedigree, while dropping out of graded stakes company to this optional claiming level. Regular rider Santiago Gonzalez stays and love the outside post in a small field for a clean trip. The stakes placed filly brings all the class and speed to the table that is simply too much for this field. Perfect Pic is the perfect best bet of the day on Friday. 

Santa Anita: best Bet 1/8

Santa Anita Race 8

3 - Unique Bella

Meet the new prized filly for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and jockey Mike Smith. This 3-year-old has the connections, ability and pedigree to be something special. She was already a potential star with Unbridled's Song and Tapit in her bloodlines, but now after a 10+ length maiden victory at Del Mar in November she is the deserving favorite in the Grade II Santa Ynez. Unique Bella returned the top speed figure and quickest 6F (1:09) time of the field on a major track in that win. This filly is on the rise and should make quick work of the other runners as she makes your stakes debut. Unique Bella is Sunday's best bet and also a horse to watch in the future. 

Santa Anita: best Bet 1/7

Santa Anita Race 9

1 - Blue Tone

The San Gabriel is normally run on the turf, but this year the rain has moved the Grade II event to the main track. With the race now on dirt it opens the door for seasoned runner Blue Tone. This 8-year-old gelding has never run on the turf anyhow and shows the best speed figure of the field on dirt. Other runners have more class and earnings, but all of that has been on the turf - different story today. Blue Tone took off on this track back in October with a runaway victory in an optional claiming race under jockey Kent Desormeaux and the connections are looking for that same performance here with the move up to the Grade II level. Blue Tone should be on or near the lead, key on a muddy track, and cash in at a nice price as Saturday's best bet.