The $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint at Fair Grounds is an enticing handicapping puzzle despite the presence of an odds-on morning line favorite.
A field of nine is schedule to contest the six furlong event on the main track with Heitai tabbed as the 4/5 choice. Heitai, a four year-old gelded son of Fusaichi Pegasus, is 11 for 24 in his career for earning in excess of $700,000, and rarely runs a poor race. The Karl Broberg trainee has won eight of his last eleven with two second place finishes in that span. Heitai, a confirmed front-runner, was a beaten half length last out by Too Dim (7/2) in an optional claiming event November 23 at Fair Grounds that was run over a muddy track. While other runners in the field possess early speed, Heitai should be able to control the early fractions.
Too Dim’s victory over Heitai is worth questioning as he earned the fastest speed figure of his career (96 Beyer) in the mud. On a dry, fast strip, Heitai appears to have the advantage, but Too Dim’s 5 for 7 record over the Fair Grounds track cannot be dismissed too quickly. If Heitai has to work too hard for the early lead, Too Dim stands a chance to repeat his come-from-behind victory over Heitai in the final furlong.
Palmy Bay (15/1) offers exceptional betting value if he goes to post anywhere close to his morning line. He exits the same race as Heitai and Too Dim, but deserves a pass for his well-beaten fourth place finish as he has demonstrated a clear preference for a fast track.
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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