Weekend horse racing handicapper best bets from Mike Somich
We’ve got a wonderful Saturday in the racing world! The Kentucky Derby preps start in full from Fair Grounds today with a couple of promising three-year-olds banging heads on a Stakes-filled card. With weather cancellations all over the country, all eyes will be on three tracks today: Gulfstream, Santa Anita and Fair Grounds!
Grade 3 LeComte Stakes, Fair Grounds Race #13
In our first Derby prep on the Louisiana circuit, we see two marquee trainers bang heads. Brad Cox will send out two of the six horses headed to post later today.
 #2 Nash is the more hyped of the two Cox starters and will most likely be the second choice. He was the favorite over #7 Track Phantom in the local prep for this but ran second that day. Nash’s effort two back when he broke his maiden is the best race on paper, but that was gate to wire. He will have to gun it today to make the lead.
Track Phantom will head to the track for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen off of back-to-back wins. He has shown the ability to win on the lead or sit just off the pace and is a major player today.
#5 Ethan Energy will be the other Cox starter in the race. For my money, he is also the more interesting runner. This is a horse that the ownership group, Stonestreet Stables, has been high on since last June, and he showed why in his maiden-breaking score last time out. He sat off the lead and absolutely demolished a field of 8 over this track at this distance. I expect him to run huge today.
#4 Can Group will try the dirt today after being on the turf the last three. It’s an interesting move from trainer Mark Casse, but the horse has shown talent and is the most live longshot in the field.
Picks: 5-7-2-4
Bets:
$50 Win #5
$10 Trifecta 5 / 7 / 2,4
The Silverbulletday Stakes, Fair Grounds Race #10
The fillies highlight the earlier part of the Fair Grounds card as they try to accrue points on the Kentucky Oaks trail. #6 West Omaha is clearly the horse to beat in this spot. She comes out of a solid prep over this track at this distance, where she ran second to Alpine Princess, who looks like she could be a star. If she runs her race, watch out.
A price I like in this spot is #2 Accommodate Eva, who will try two turns for the second time today. She has shown a nice turn of foot in the last two sprint races, if she is able to extend out that to today’s mile distance then she is live at 12-1.
#3 Miss Code West ships in from Remington Park and will put her undefeated mark on the line. She has shown the ability to win on the lead or stalk and win, which gives her an edge in this spot and could produce a hot pace. It’s a step up in class for her, but at 9-2, she’s a player.
#1 Perfect Shot will break from the rail for Asmussen and be a pace player. She looked good at Churchill last time out, but I am afraid she will get bet down from the 4-1 morning line, especially with the scratches today, and face pressure early.
Picks: 6-2-3-1
Bets:
$50 Exacta 6-2
Spot plays:
Gulfstream Race #9 – $25 Tri 1 / 3,7 / 3,7
Fair Grounds Race #6 – $50 Win #8
