Races of the Week

Jambalaya tries for two in a row in the Pan American Handicap

Surprisingly, both of my selections last week went off as post-time favorites, but both finished out of the money. Victorina finished fourth as the 8-5 favorite in the Distaff Breeders' Cup Handicap. Twilight Meteor finished sixth as the 5-2 favorite in the Lane's End Stakes.

This week, the Daily Racing Form's races of the week are the Florida Derby and the Pan American Handicap, both scheduled for today at Gulfstream Park. The Florida Derby is also Equibase's race of the week.

In the Florida Derby, I'll bet Notional. Notional can come from off the pace, and draws the inside post today. He's also undefeated on dirt. The Form provides free past performances.

I'll bet Jambalaya in the Pan American. Jambalaya is coming off of a grade 1 win, and likes the turf course at Gulfstream. The Form provides free past performances.

My selection in the Royal North Stakes today at Beulah Park is the entry of Magg's Choice and Cruise Liner. Magg's choice has been impressive in her two starts. If you look closely at the past performances, you'll see that Cruise Liner and morning-line favorite Laird's Prize both won 5 1/2-furlong races at Beulah Park in 1:05 3/5 on March 16. Brisnet.com provides free past performances.

The Royal North Stakes

Three undefeated fillies are set to face off tomorrow at Beulah Park in the Royal North Stakes, the first stakes race of the year for Ohio-breds. Morning-line favorite Laird's Prize has two wins from two starts , both at Beulah Park. The other undefeated fillies are the Blazing Meadows Farm entry of Cruise Liner and Magg's Choice.

The only stakes winner in the field is Mini Mom, who won the John W. Galbreath Stakes and the Glacial Princess Stakes last year. Mini Mom finished second to Laird's Prize in a state-bred allowance race two weeks ago.

Brisnet.com provides free past performances for the Royal North.

Races of the Week

Last week, Officer Rocket finished second in the Rebel Stakes, paying $3.80 to place and $3.20 to show. Grapelli finished last in the San Felipe Stakes.

This week, the Daily Racing Form's races of the week are the Spiral Jim Beam GalleryFurniture.com Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park and the Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct.

In the Lane's End, I'll bet Twilight Meteor. Twilight Meteor won the Bourbon Stakes on polytrack at Keeneland last year and is coming off of a bullet work at Palm Meadows. The Form provides free past performances.

In the Distaff, I'll bet Victorina. There's a lot of speed in this race, and Victorina can come from off the pace. She's never finished out of the money and her recent Beyer figures are competitive with the rest of this field. The Form provides free past performances.

Races of the Week

Last week, Cowtown Cat won the Gotham Stakes, paying $6.70 to win, $4.90 to place, and $3.40 to show. Kethcikan finished second in the Louisiana Derby under a controversial ride by Larry Melancon, paying $4.20 to place and $3.60 to show.

Today, the Daily Racing Form's races of the week are the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, which is also Equibase's race of the week, and the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.

In the Rebel, I'll bet Officer Rocket, who finished second in his last start in the Southwest Stakes. There looks to be a lot of early speed in today's race, and Officer Rocket can come from off the pace. The Form provides free past performances.

In the San Felipe, I'll bet Grapelli. Grapelli is the only colt in this filed who has placed in a graded stakes race, finishing four lengths behind Notional in the San Rafael Stakes. Grapelli will race with blinkers for the first time today. The Form provides free past performances.

Free Past Performances

I remember a time when the only way to get free past performances was to get to the track late in the day and fish a Daily Racing Form or a program out of the trash (come on, you know you've done it), but now the web offers a wealth of resources to horseplayers like me who are too cheap to spring for a Form.

I've updated the free past performance links at the top of the left sidebar. They're arranged into categories. Horse-Races.net probably has a few that I missed.

Races of the Week

Last week, Adore the Gold, my selection in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, finished fourth. Lava Man was impressive in winning the Santa Anita Handicap, but I didn't bet him at 3 to 5.

This week, the Daily Racing Form's races of the week are the Louisiana Derby, which is also Equibase's race of the week, at the Fair Grounds, and the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

In the Louisiana Derby, I hate to go against Birdbirdistheword, but I think Ketchikan looks like the best bet. Ketchikan is coming off a win around two turns at the Fair Grounds. I think the pace will set up well for his stalking style, with Liquidity and Soaring By dueling for the early lead. The DRF provides free past performances.

In the Gotham, I'll bet Cowtown Cat. Cowtown Cat has never been around two turns before, but his Tomlinson rating indicates that he should like the distance. He's coming off of a bullet work, the inside post should help him, and he can come from a little bit off the pace. The Form provides free past performances.

Races of the Week

I was disappointed last week when Cherokee Prince faded in the stretch to finish sixth in the Tampa Bay Breeders' Cup, breaking my 4-race in-the-money streak. That disappointment was short lived, however. Half an hour later, Jambalaya came from off the pace to win the Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Turf, and Honey Ryder finished second. Jambalaya paid $16.20 to win, $7.40 to place, and $5.20 to show. The Jambalaya-Honey Ryder exacta paid $25.30. Secret Scheme, my selection in Las Flores Handicap, finished eighth.

This week, the Daily Racing Form's races of the week are the Fountain of Youth Stakes, which is also Equibase's race of the week, and the Santa Anita Handicap.

In the Fountain of Youth, Nobiz Like Showbiz looks like a heavy favorite, but I'll look for a colt who can pull off the upset. Adore the Gold might be that colt. He ran a triple-digit Beyer figure last month in the Swale Stakes. He won his only start around two turns in the Dover Stakes last October. The Form provides free past performances.

Lava Man looks like a prohibitive favorite in the Santa Anita Handicap. I can't bet against him, but he'll likely go off at too short a price to be worth a bet.The Form provides free past performances.