The $400,000 Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap March 28 at Fair Grounds features an interesting cast of veteran horses set to contest the mile and an eighth tilt on the main track.
Moreno (9/5) leads the field of nine after running huge off the layoff to finish second behind superstar Shared Belief in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap March 7. The race was the five year-old son of Ghostzapper’s first start since a dismal effort in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic November 1. Moreno has just 3 wins in 24 career starts, but has proven capable against elite competition winning the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga in August, and finishing second in the Grade 1 Woodward four weeks later. The front-running Eric Guillot trainee has career earnings of $2,034,940, and will be ridden by Joe Talamo.
Florent Geroux is reunited with Hawthorne Gold Cup winner Red Rifle (5/1), and the pair is likely to take advantage of an inside post position to keep close tabs on Moreno through the early stages. Red Rifle returned from winning the November 29 Gold Cup to finish third in the Grade 3 Mineshaft Handicap February 21 at Fair Grounds. Trainer Todd Pletcher connects at a stellar 26% clip with runners making their second starts following layoffs of 45-180 days.
One King’s Man (8/1) is cross-entered in the Star Guitar Stakes (Race 7), but will be a major player if his connections choose to run in the New Orleans Handicap. A two-surface star, One King’s Man has been ultra sharp defeating lesser foes on dirt in his last two starts. The Joe Sharp trainee has the speed figures to be competitive and seems well-suited to close into a lively pace.
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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