1. Union Rags
2. Mr. Bowling
3. Liaison
4. Gemologist
5. Algorithms
6. Out of Bounds
7. Junebugred
8. Alpha
9. Hansen
10. Creative Cause
11. Ever So Lucky
12. O’Prado Again
13. El Padrino
14. Discreet Dancer
15. Sabercat

Union Rags tops the list based on his 2011 campaign, which finished with a second place finish to Hansen in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.  After winning the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont, Union Rags was sent off as the even-money favorite in the Juvenile.  Drawing post ten was probably the reason for the defeat as the Dixie Union-colt was wide the entire trip.  Off since then Union Rags is eyeing a return in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park on February 26.

Hansen won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but plummets down the list based on his performance in the Holy Bull last weekend.  After stumbling at the start the nearly white colt made the lead on his own, but was run down late by the impressive Algorithms.

Algorithms is trained by Todd Pletcher, who also has Gemologist, El Padrino and Discreet Dancer on the list.  Gemologist is number four after his win over the highly touted Ever So Lucky, who will be starting in the Hutcheson at Gulfstream Park on February 4, in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs in November.  El Padrino won an allowance race over Take Charge Indy, who was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, on the same day as the Holy Bull and looks like a horse who will love ten-furlongs.  Discreet Dancer has been uber impressive in his two races, a maiden and an allowance at Gulfstream Park, and gives Pletcher a hot hand in the upcoming months. 

Pletcher has the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby, March 31, at Gulfstream Park as well the Risen Star, February 25 at Fair Grounds, and the Southwest, February 20 at Oaklawn Park as possible races for his foursome.

Should Pletcher ship one or more of his horses out-of-town then he is going to have to face the winner’s from the local prep races Mr. Bowling at Fair Grounds and Junebugred at Oaklawn Park.  Mr. Bowling won the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes by a head and is expected to move on to the Risen Star while Junebugred took the Smarty Jones by a neck with a rail-skimming ride by Jersey Joe Bravo.

The Southern California contingent is led by Liaison, who won the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park in his last start in mid-December.  The Bob Baffert-trainee is expected to show up next in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis on February 4 at Santa Anita. 

Out of Bounds and Creative Cause are the other Southern California-based runners with Out of Bounds the slight edge based on his recent start in the Sham.  Out of Bounds was 10-1 in the Grade 3 Sham earlier this month, but did not run like it.  He stalked the early pace then ran right by the 1-2 favorite Secret Circle, who won the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint last year.  Out of Bounds is expected to start in the San Felipe at Santa Anita on March 10.

Creative Cause was arguably the top two-year-old in California last year with wins in the Grade 2 Best Pal at Del Mar and Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita.  In the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile the Giant’s Causeway-colt was third, beaten just over a length.  Trainer Mike Harrington could kick off his campaign with a run in the seven furlong San Vicente at Santa Anita on February 19.

With most of the New York runners wintering in Florida, including Remsen winner O’Prado Again, Alpha leads those in the Empire State.  Alpha was second to Union Rags in the Grade 1 Champagne then was eleventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile before scoring an easy win in the Count Fleet at Aqueduct in early January.  His next start is to come in the Grade 3 Withers over the track on February 4.

Sabercat deserves a spot on this list after winning the $1,000,000 Jackpot at Delta Downs last year.  That win guaranteed him a spot in the field of 20 on the first Saturday in May as the winner’s purse was $600,000.  Sabercat’s last published work came in early December at Fair Grounds and his trainer Steve Asmussen has yet to set the next race.

In addition to the Withers at Aqueduct and Robert Lewis at Santa Anita the other three-year-old prep races taking place this weekend are the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs and the WEBN at Turfway Park.

Who makes your Top 15 list?

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The sequence starts with race 4, a claiming race for four-year-olds and upward. The six and one-half furlong race drew a field of six led by morning line favorite Valkyrie Missile. Valkyrie Missile is taking a slight drop in class and will be looking at an outside stalking trip. Coo Cachoo drips to a sprint race for the first time in his last eleven races and may be the one to back going wire-to-wire. Via Verde drops from an allowance race into the claiming ranks for the first time since being claimed in July. In that July race, Via Verde won under wraps by just over four lengths.

Race five is a maiden claimer for four-year-olds and upward going five and one-half furlongs on the main track. My Slew drops from a maiden special weight, but that was against Cal-breds and he faces open company on Sunday. Our Last Monte and King of Swing rate well as does Joburg Star if he is ready to roll off the long layoff.

On the turf for race six, an allowance, optional claimer going one mile. The eleven-horse field is going to be a separator in the pick-6 as the race is wide open. Surplus, Utopian, Boxeur des Rues, Tigah and Mega Heat are all between 4-1 and 6-1 on the morning line. The race does appear to have a lot of speed so give Utopian the slight advantage. He is dropping out of the Grade 2 San Pasqual on the dirt and is a much better animal on the turf.

Back on the main track for race seven, a maiden special weight for three-year-olds. Eight will line-up for the seven furlong race and Zackn’mat looks like the one to beat for trainer Marty Jones. Zackn’mat is going to need to be good in order to beat a couple of first-time-starters for high percentage barns. Verne, trained by Steve Assmussen, and Stirred Up, trained by Bob Baffert, both come in with strong work tabs and could win first up.

The feature race on Sunday is the 8th running of the Wishing Well on the downhill turf course. Unzip me scratched out of the Valentine Dancer yesterday to run here and might be the single on many tickets. If the favorite does not score then look to Givine or Teroda for the upset.

The finale is a low-level claiming race going seven furlongs on the main track for fillies and mares, four-years-old and upward. It’s a tough way to end the sequence as there are at least four main contenders in the field. Coparcenary, Brooklyn Rose, Capalatte, and Russian Bayou are between 7-2 and 9-2 on the morning line with another four at 8-1. Coparcenary is the morning line favorite and the choice to win wire-to-wire. The Canadian-bred made her Southern California debut a winning one after one run at Hastings Park in Vancouver. Russian Bayou looks to be the best closer in the field and will need someone to run with the favorite early.

First post on Sunday at Santa Anita is 3:30 ET with the Pick-6 going to post at 5:03.

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The morning line favorite for the eight and one-half furlong race is Eden’s Moon for trainer Bob Baffert. Eden’s Moon was sent off as the odds-on choice in her debut, but hooked the speedy Reneesgotzip, who would go on to win a stakes in her next start. Then in her second race Eden’s Moon took control early and rolled home to an easy eleven-length victory. She jumps straight from the maiden ranks to a Grade 3 and neither of the other fillies are just going to hand it to her.

Charm Maker and Killer Graces are the second and third choices on the morning line and look like the biggest threats to the favorite. Both fillies have not run since running one-two in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet at Hollywood Park in mid-December. Killer Graces got the better of her rival that day, but the feeling is Charm the Maker may be the one to back on Saturday. Both Joe Talamo on Killer Graces and Rafael Bejarano on Charm the Maker hope someone hooks Eden’s Moon or the race could be over going into the first turn.

Should Coup de Coeur or Willa B Awesome push the favorite early then the race will set up perfect for Charm the Maker and Killer Graces as well as deep closer Lady of Shamrock. In her four race career Lady of Shamrock has only started on turf, but she has two wins and is bred just as well for the dirt as she is for the turf. Her sire Scat Daddy was a multiple Grade 1 winner on the dirt and her dam sire was third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic behind Sunday Silence and Easy Goer in 1989.

Post time for the Santa Ysabel is 4:00 ET and is the third leg of the Pick-5, which starts in race one at 3:00 ET.

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Friday’s pick-6 starts in race three, post time 5:02 ET, which is a $25,000 claiming race for four-year-old sprinters. The morning line favorite is Cat in the Forest, who is going first-off-the-claim for trainer Bob Hess Jr. Cat in the Forest comes off a good second place finish in a race one level lower and looks like the one to beat. First; however, he is going to have to catch Runaway Wildcat, who looks to be lone speed. He drops to his lowest level of his career and has two wins, a second and a third in four starts at Santa Anita.

Race six is a maiden special weight for three-year-old fillies and Nihilist is going to be tough to beat for trainer John Sadler. Nihilist is making her second career start after finishing second by a half-length in her debut at Del Mar in early September. Others to consider are second-time starter Flashy Dame and debut runner Salt Tequila Lime.

The seventh race is on the turf and will be contested by California-bred or sired maiden fillies. Spring Bloom, trained by John Shirreffs, and Sassy and Single from the Paddy Gallagher barn are the ones to beat in the one-mile race. Speedway Monkey and Always a Chance make their two-turn and turf debut and could hit surprise. Willow Switch and Our Heat are both Unusual Heat fillies trained by Barry Abrams and so can’t be completely counted out.

The back half of the Pick-6 begins with a starter allowance for three-year-olds going six furlongs on the main track. Oh Righty and Forest Souvenir are expected to take a lot of the wagering action and are must-uses on the ticket. Put It There is a maiden taking on winners, but his first race is Southern California was pretty good and he has come back to work well since that run. Hey Yup is an interesting gelding for a trainer who does not run very many and a jockey that does not win very many. In his debut he stalked the early pace before drawing off to win by almost two lengths. The race looks like it has a lot of speed, which will help Hey Yup as well as deep closer Pop the Cork.

Back on the turf for race seven, this time for $40,000 claimers. Golden Mexico is making his first start since early December and is the threat to take them gate-to-wire. The rail out at 15-feet helps his chances, but must be able to out-run the speedy Matto Mondo. Matto Mondo should never run on the dirt as he is winless in four starts on the main track. On the turf it’s another story; however, as the eight-year-old gelding has won eight of his sixteen starts. At the mile distance he is a six-for-nine with one second. Those two are going to need to run their top race if they are going to beat the morning line favorite, Muny. Muny has won eight of nineteen career races including two-for-six at Santa Anita and four-for-seven at the distance. Where’s the Remote is the class dropper in the field and is making his second start off a layoff for a trainer who is hitting at a huge 47% with similar.

The finale is back on the main track with three-year-old maiden, $30,000 claimers going five and one-half furlongs. Royal Alexander drew post twelve, but that’s not a big deal even at the shortened sprint distance. He is 5-2 on the morning line and can win with a pressing trip. Stablemate Idontrollonshabbos is first on the also-eligible list and would become the one to beat if he draws in. If your budget allows then use Tale Be Told, who will be running late, and Mr. Newton, who is looking to get his trainer Dan Hendricks off the sneid. Deeper pockets may consider the second-time starters Bertrando Grande and Mary’s App or the first-time starters Burr Tango and Zander. The two firsters won’t need to be world beaters to take this field and both go for high percentage debut trainers.

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2. Santa Anita Pick-6 Carryover
3. Santa Anita Friday Pick-6 Carryover

At Gulfstream Park there are six races for Florida-breds and at Santa Anita there are three races for California-bred or sired horses.

The interesting aspect about the cards is that there is a pick-6 wager that links the last three races at Gulfstream Park and the three races at Santa Anita. The sequence starts in race eight at Gulfstream Park with the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf, post time 4:10 ET.

The feature race on the day at Gulfstream is the $400,000 Sunshine Millions Classic for four-year-olds and upward going nine-furlongs on the main track.

A field of seven will try to take the crown of the best older Florida-bred and it’s a field without a clear cut favorite.

Mucho Macho Man was one of the top three-year-olds in training last year having run in all three Triple Crown races as well as three other graded stakes races at Gulfstream and Fair Grounds. After the Belmont the Macho Uno-colt took five months off before a winning return to the races in November. Off since then Mucho Macho Man comes into the Classic with a full work tab and will be ready to go on Saturday.

Mucho Macho Man has run his best races when close to the lead and he could find himself there again, but he will have company up front.

Turbo Compressor goes for the dangerous trainer/jockey combination of Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez and is coming off a smashing win in a $150,000 Florida-bred stakes at Calder in mid-November. Two of his four career wins and his best races based on speed figures have come at the nine-furlong distance.

Ron the Greek was once a deep closer who had no early speed, but in his last two races he has found himself close to the pace. The change in tactics has resulted in back-to-back wins and came about with a change in trainers.

With the speed outside of him Javier Castellano aboard Adios Charlie will have a decision to make. The four-year-old Indian Charlie-colt has six career runs with three wins and three seconds. He is a perfect two-for-two at Gulfstream Park and will get a good run if he can get position behind the speed.

Duke of Mischief, six, and Dream Maestro, seven, are the veterans in the field with Duke of Mischief the preferred runner. Duke of Mischief has two wins in his last ten races with both wins coming at nine-furlongs. He has won over $1.6-million in his career and could be ready for a top effort based on the two bullet works across town at Calder.

Decaf Again is the final horse in the race and looks to be the longest shot on the board when the gates open.

Post time for the Classic at Gulfstream Park is 5:25 ET and is the fifth leg of the “Luck” pick-6. Check out this week’s BetAmerica Newsletter for analysis of the other legs.

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Dayatthespa has not run since finishing ninth in the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs in early November. Prior to her disappointing race there she was second in the Grade 3 Natalma at Woodbine in mid-September. Her only win came in her debut, coincidentally at Saratoga, in a turf sprint race so the mile distance is still a question mark.

Frolic’s Revenge looks the biggest danger to the favorite off her win in the $60,000 Ginger Brew Stakes over the course in late December. That was the first start on the turf for the Vindication-filly and she made the most of it. That day she sat just off the pace, which is where she is likely to be in the Sweet Chant.

Other fillies to come out of the Ginger Brew are Ready Signal, Wholelottashakin, Sisterhood and Ann of the Dance. Of the four Ann of the Dance and Wholelottashakin rate on top. They were closing strong at the end and may get a better pace even though this race is a sixteenth of a mile shorter.

Slew’s Exchange is an interesting filly on the stretch out for trainer Edward Plesa. Note that top rider John Velazaquez takes the call and Slew’s Exchange may very well out run her 10-1 morning line odds.

Scheduled as race ten on the card the Sweet Chant goes to post at 4:45 ET. The race is part of the 10-cent Pick-6 Jackpot, which starts in race 6, post time 2:53 ET, and has a carryover of just over $11,000.

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Four of the fillies and mares in the race are between 4-1 and 6-1 on the morning line led by the 4-1 favorite Wild About Marie. Wild About Marie loves the turf course at Fair Grounds as evident by her perfect four-for-four record, two of which were in stake races. The five-year-old mare did run in the Pan Zareta last year, but it was run at six furlongs over the main track. Next on the morning line are Rapport, Mullins Beach and Starlite Starbrite. Of the three Mullis Beach is the one to back. Rapport and Starlite Starbrite are both front-runners that may cancel each other out while Mullins Beach will be doing his best running late.

Rapport and Starlite Starbrite are not the only front-runners in the race, which should result in a mad dash at the start to get early position. Wild About Marie will have the perfect pace set up and won’t be too far off the pace. Born Indy U S A, on the other hand, has no early speed and will be out run early. The A.P. Indy-mare will be coming with a flourish late and could hit the board at a square price.

The Pan Zareta kicks off the late pick-4 on Saturday at Fair Grounds, which includes the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes for three-year-old. Post time is 5:25 ET.

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A field of six goes six furlongs in the pick-6 opener and I Sense Your Luck will be tough on the slight drop in class. In for $20,000 last time I Sense Your Luck finished second with a good run and was over two lengths clear of the third place horse. Maryjean drops from a start allowance race and will get a good stalking trip from the outside.

Race four is a start allowance race going two turns on the main track and drew a field of six. If Ultimate Decision reproduces his last start then it won’t be much of a race. The four-year-old Rock Hard Ten gelding won by over eleven lengths in his last race as the even-money favorite. El Tango Ray is the threat from off-the-pace if Clearance Clarence puts pressure on the top pick.

The fifth race goes to the turf for Cal-bred or sired maiden special weight runners. No one really stands out in the field so use as many as possible. Vonn Nez, Clean Break, The Grans and Lovely Sophia rate on top.

The back half of the pick-6 is another claiming sprint race, this time for fillies and mares four-years-old and upward. Russian River is looking to make amends after two straight losses as the post-time favorite. Three of her four career wins are on the turf and the other on the synthetic so the dirt is still a question mark.

With Filly Power and Dubai Macau Girl in the field the pace of the race is expected to be a good one. The best closers in the race are Victory With Class and Line One. Victory With Class is making her first start in So Cal after running in Canada and Arizona while Line One has not run since June 2011. Subpoena the Dress goes first-off-the claim for a trainer that does not start many, but retains Rafael Bejarano in the irons.

Back on the turf for race seven and Sunburn looks like the mare to beat. She comes off a short layoff, but should be able to run them down late. Meltarib beat the top pick in early December and can make amends with a better trip.

The finale is a maiden claiming race for four-year-olds and upward going six furlongs and drew a competitive field of ten. Marker Down, Father Pabst, Baron Von Red, Relentless Heat, Sky Fox and Apply drop from maiden special weight races and look to be best. Marker Down and Relentless Heat come off of long layoffs so give preference to the other three.

Bull Ring has not run since early December at Hollywood Park, but was second by a nose in his debut and is a Bob Baffert-trainee. It’s a tough way to end the day, but it could be a profitable one.

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The Grade 2 for three-year-old fillies is carded as race 4 on the day because it is expected to have a short priced favorite. Reneesgotzip was overlooked in her debut at odds of nearly 9-1, but she ran like she was 1-9. Shooting straight to the lead under jockey Corey Nakatani the Peter Miller-trained filly increased her lead and won by just over two lengths. The filly she beat, Eden’s Moon, came back to crush in her second start making Reneesgotzip the obvious choice. Eden’s Moon is a Bob Baffert-trainee and Bob sends out Candrea to upset the favorite on Sunday. Candrea returns to what she should be doing, sprinting on dirt. A fast pace favors Made to Love Her for trainer James Kasparoff and Rowdy Gal for trainer John Sadler.

Four races later is the Paseana Handicap for older fillies and mares going two turns on the main track. The 10th running drew a field of seven led by morning line favorite Vision in Gold. Vision in Gold exits a third place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita in March of last year. She may be the favorite, but she is winless in two starts off the layoff and did not win her debut. Ellafitz and Briecat have a race under their belts and are the second and third choice on the morning line. Preference goes to Ellafitz who will try to wire the field has she has done in her four lifetime wins. She was a dominant winner of the Grade 2 Bayakoa Handicap in her last and this would be a sweet Bayakoa-Paseana double. Both of the all-time great fillies in the history of racing were trained by Ron McAnally. Should one of the top three not fire then look at Kayce Ace to upset. She has not run since July, but two of her three career wins have come under jockey Rafael Bejarano, who is named to ride on Sunday.

First post on Sunday is 3:30 ET with the Santa Ynez off at 5:03 and the Paseana at 7:07.

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Orbach is the morning line favorite with Wild Revenge the second choice.  Orbach is dropping from a turf race and his last win came at a mile at Santa Anita in October.  Star Dance MD finished third to Orbach in that race, but could be controlling speed today.  The fourth race is a sprint for maiden claimers and drew a field of twelve.  Just Meteor takes the biggest drop in the claim from maiden special weights and wins with ease if on his game.  Jack Reacher and Warren’s Tiger are others to consider.  Race six is on the turf course and is a good maiden special weight race.  She Spirit di Su is the morning line favorite for trainer Simon Callaghan, but his horses tend to need a start to show their best.  One of his other imports Slim Shadey did nothing in his first U.S. start, but won at 13-1 in impressive fashion yesterday in his second start.  It’s probably best to go deep here using Lovestealer, Antrim’s Legend, Special Charm, La Malaguena and My Sweet Candy.  Sabouli and Real Sharp are 15-1 on the morning line, but good upset with improvement. 

The back half of the Pick-6 starts with a claiming race around two-turns on the main track.  Elusive Schemes goes first off the claim for trainer Mark Glatt and comes in with a bullet five furlong drill last Friday.  He will have to catch Seven Torrents and Joyful Success then have a better late kick than Top Feeling.  Back on the turf for race seven, this time on the downhill turf course.  Whisper Louise drops from the Grade 2 Robert J Frankel on New Year’s Day and is the filly to beat in the allowance race.  Talktoomuch is the morning line favorite, but her trainer Mike Mitchell is having a tough start to the meet.  Normally a 32% trainer he is only hitting at 9% this year.  Long Lake Krista is the choice to take them wire-to-wire dropping out of a restricted stakes at one mile.  The finale is a maiden claimer going six furlongs on the main track and is a wide open affair.  Candy Sweetheart is dropping from maiden special, but drew the rail and her best start was on the Polytrack at Del Mar.  If he does not win then look to Aldadino, Cheers to Boogie, Fine and Rare, and Remember Mike to upset.

Just Meteor appears to be everyone’s single and with the other races it looks like this Pick-6 could pay very well.  Post time for race three and the start of the wager is 5:02 ET.

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