The $100,000, Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup Handicap is the featured event at Santa Anita April 3 as a field of seven veteran runners will contest the mile and a half race on turf.
Big John B, as staple on the southern California marathon turf circuit, is the 2/1 morning line favorite for trainer Phil D'Amato. The seven year-old gelding has failed to hit the board in two of his three starts this year, including a seventh-place finish March 13 in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey. Big John B will try to rediscover his best form with jockey Rafael Bejerano in the irons while breaking from the rail. In his career, Big John B has won 13 of 39 starts with his best form coming in long-distance turf races.
Lieutenant Colonel (5/2) is a younger and fresher challenger rival with 3 wins in 6 career starts for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The four year-old gelded son of Colonel John will try the lawn for the first time after winning an allowance race on dirt February 15 at Santa Anita. Lieutenant Colonel has some back class, competing briefly on the Kentucy Derby trail last year as a three year-old, running 10th in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes and 7th in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial. Hollendorfer does will with surface- switchers and Lieutenant Colonel's sire was a grade stakes winner on turf. Jockey Mike Smith will be aboard breaking from post 7.
Class Leader (7/2) rounds out the top three betting choices. The John Sadler trainee gets back on turf after trying the main track in a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap last out. The versatile five year-old is certainly capable if able to duplicate some of his better efforts on turf.
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.
Join The Conversation