Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Tuesday 3/17/20
By Mike Dempsey
As Monday morning turned into afternoon the news was not getting any better regarding the Coronavirus crisis and then the cancelations starting coming in.
The Grand National was canceled, as well as all racing in France. Then Keeneland announced their spring meeting, which was scheduled to get underway on April 2 would be scrapped.
We will hear more about the Kentucky Derby this afternoon. Reports have said it will be postponed until as late as September.
After watching the press conference from New York Governor Cuomo, I thought for sure the New York Racing Association would cancel Aqueduct, the next race day on the calendar being Friday.
However, some good news started coming out. Oaklawn Park plans on continuing their meet without spectators and Fair Grounds has no plans to close. Gulfstream Park is still planning on running on Wednesday and the NYRA came out and said racing at Aqueduct will go on as planned starting Friday.
Monday and Tuesday are usually days off for me, but instead I thought we needed a distraction from the news media, and both Sam Houston and Will Rogers Downs are in action today.
Why not play the ponies? My Best Plays Report for Tuesday includes my nine strongest plays from Sam Houston and Will Rogers Downs.
Horseplayers can stream all of the action using the Watch TVG App. The horse betting company based in the U.S. is offering a risk free bet up to $200 for new players.
If you are new to horse racing, both Fair Grounds and the New York Racing Association have apps to stream the action on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Firestick.
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Will Rogers Downs:
WRD Race 4 Md Sp Wt (2:45 CT)
#3 Dakamo Rose 7-2
#8 Lilly Belle 12-1
#11 Kallie Sioux 6-1
#12 Hallies Dream 4-1
Analysis: Dakamo Rose showed good early speed in her debut at Sam Houston, setting the early fractions and tiring to finish fourth at 5-2 in a field of 10. She is in good hands with the Nolan barn and this filly owns solid early and mid pace numbers. Speed was very tough to beat at the meeting here last year at this 5 1/2 furlongs distance. She is out of a Sasha's Prospect mare, her first foal to race. She takes this group farther.
Lilly Belle adds blinkers here and figures to be in the mix early. She chased the early pace and faded to finish eighth last out at Remington Park. Her best effort was two back where she was weakened to finish fourth after dueling for the early lead. She is out of a De Sarmiento mare that has dropped four other foals to race with a pair of winners, top earner stakes winner Skedee ($385,232).
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 3,8 / 3,8,11,12
TRI: 3,8 / 3,8,11,12 / 3,8,10,11,12
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Sam Houston:
HOU Race 6 OClm $15,000SAL (2:20 CT)
#11 Texas Mummy Man 8-1
#9 About Our Time 3-1
#8 Exciting 6-1
#4 Sneem 4-1
Analysis: Texas Mummy Man dueled for the early lead and finished gamely to prevail by a neck over Exciting last out against $10,000 claimers. He was claimed out of that race, going from Broberg to Stuart who is more than capable. The gelding makes his third start of his current form cycle and has won five of his dozen career trips on turf including a win versus Alw-2 company at Remington Park last September. He picks up Elliott and looks headed in the right direction form wise.
About Our Time stalked the early pace and made a mild late rally to finish third versus Alw-1 optional claimers last out off a two-month break. He earned the top last out speed fig which was his first start off the claim by Broberg. He was taken for $20,000 two back out of a third-place finish. The runner up in that race was Imma Wild Bling who beat $10,000 starter optional claimers in his next outing on Jan. 10. This looks like a good spot for a sharp barn. The gelding is just 1 for 6 lifetime on turf but has landed in the money in four of his trips.
Wagering
WIN: #11 to win at 9-2 or better.
EX: 9,11 / 4,8,9,11
TRI: 9,11 / 4,8,9,11 / 2,4,8,9,11