The Grade 2 $300,000 Azeri is the first of three stakes races on the card March 14 at Oaklawn with last years Female Horse of the Year Untapable a heavy favorite in the field of six.
Untapable, the prohibitive 1/2 choice on the morning line, was last seen October 31 winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff by a length and a quarter capping a 2014 season that included four grade 1 victories and over $2.8 million in earnings. The Steve Asmussen trained filly’s lone blemish in seven starts last year came when competing against males in the Grade 1 Haskell. Untapable has trained forwardly at Fair Grounds and ships to Hot Springs, Arkansas for her first try over the Oaklawn track. John Velazquez has the mount breaking from the rail.
In a race without much early speed, Sugar Shock (10/1) could get comfortable on the front end for jockey Channing Hill. The four year-old daughter of Candy Ride returned from a lengthy layoff to win the American Beauty Stakes at six furlongs in her last start, and has four wins in five tries and a second place finish over the local strip.
Gold Medal Dancer (10/1) is another live longshot who could benefit from a modest pace. The fiver year-old mare returned from nearly a seven month layoff in her last start to finish a tiring third in the Grade 3 Bayakoa behind two of her Azeri rivals – Mufajaah (4/1) and Flashy American (5/1). Gold Medal Dancer should be much tighter for the Azeri.
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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