The $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes January 3 at Gulfstream represents a serious handicapping puzzle for horse players who enjoy a formidable challenge.
With eleven three year-olds signed on to contest the six furlong event on dirt, there are few throw-outs in the race and the possibility of a blistering early pace. 5/2 morning line favorite Ready for Rye earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure in his last start – the second of his career – beating maiden special weight foes by seven lengths at Aqueduct in front-running fashion. Both the second and third-place finishers from that race were next-out winners, but it’s worth questioning how much Ready for Rye benefitted from a sloppy track. In his debut, Ready for Rye earned a 77 Beyer while still running a very respectable second behind eventual Grade 1 Stakes winner Carpe Diem.
Toasting Master (7/2) and Its’ Not Me (5/1) are also early-speed horses who have combined for five wins –all in gate-to-wire fashion. With Toasting Master breaking from post number 2, jockey Corey Lanerie will likely use the inside post to outbreak his main pace rivals. That could leave It’s Not Me (post 11) and Ready for Rye (post 12) wide and chasing rapid fractions early. Ready for Rye could prove to be the most tractable of the three with Javier Castellano in the irons.
Both Morgans Harbor (12/1) and Barbados (6/1) have posted victories from off-the-pace, and should benefit from the likely set-up. Barbados posted a bullet work December 28 at Gulfstream for trainer Michael Tomlinson.
Saturday, January 29 at Gulfstream Park is one of the biggest races of the year: the Pegasus World Cup (G1)! This $3 million race, covering a mile and an eighth on the Gulfstream dirt track, drew a field of nine handicap horses. The eyes of the racing world will be on Gulfstream on Saturday, and you can bet it from the comfort of your own home here in Canada!
The Kentucky Derby trail makes its way to Oklahoma on Friday, December 17 for the Remington Springboard Mile! The race drew a field of nine up-and-coming two-year-olds to go a mile on the main track. The prizes are rich: a $400,000 purse, as well as Road to the Kentucky Derby points (10-4-2-1) for the first four horses across the wire.
The Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), California’s most important Kentucky Derby Prep in December, is coming up on Saturday, December 11! The race features the most promising two-year-olds in California, set to go a mile and a sixteenth over the dirt at Los Alamitos Racecourse. The race offers a purse of $300,000, as well as Road to the Kentucky Derby points, apportioned 10-4-2-1 to the top four finishers.
Let's have a look at the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf betting picks and predictions.
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