Races of the Week and Ohio Stakes Selections

Last week, Officer Rocket finished seventh in the Arkansas Derby and Head to Toe finished seventh in the Howard B. Noonan Stakes. I had a profitable weekend, however, thanks to Dominican, who won the Blue Grass Stakes, paying $18.00 to win, $5.60 to place, and $3.80 to show.

Tomorrow, the Daily Racing Form's races of the week are the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland and the Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita. Equibase's race of the week is the National Jockey Club Handicap at Hawthorne. I'll also try to pick the winners of two stakes races here in northeast Ohio tomorrow, the Angenora Stakes at Thistledown and the Battle of Lake Erie Pace at Northfield Park.

In the Lexington, I'll bet Joe Got Even. Joe Got Even has run well on the Polytrack at Turfway Park, most recently finishing third to Hard Spun in the Lane's End Stakes. His stretch running style is well suited to Keeneland. The Daily Racing Form provides free past performances.

I'll bet Solva in the Santa Barbara. All three of Solva's wins have been at today's distance of a mile and a quarter. She's coming off of a win in La Zanzara Stakes, her first North American start. The Form provides free past performances.

In the National Jockey Club, I'll bet Sweetnorthernsaint. Sweetnorthernsaint is coming off of a front-running win at Laurel. Last year he won the Illinois Derby impressively in his only other start at Hawthorne. Equibase provides free past performances.

In the Angenora, I'll bet Stone Lakes, who is 2 for 3 at Thistledown and 3 for 6 at 6 furlongs. She's coming off of a layoff, but she has two recent bullet works at Turfway, so she should be ready to run. Thistledown provides free past performances for all Angenora nominees. Equibase provides entries.

In the Battle of Lake Erie, I'll bet Load the Dice. Load the Dice has earned over $110,000 in his last five starts. He defeated Maltese Artist at Pompano Park back in February. In his last start, Load the Dice finished within a length of Gold Dust Beach, despite being wide around both turns. Northfield Park provides free past performances.