By Joe Quillen
We head to our usual Wednesday hangout as we had to Tampa Bay Downs for today’s Quills Picks Winners as we will look at the fifth race which is an optional claiming race going one mile on the turf. Post time is an earlier one today, with a first post of 2:50 pm Eastern time.
We have nine three-year-old fillies entered here, and the favorite in today’s race is the 2 My Lords Ladyness (8/5 morning line). She is two for two lifetime on the turf. And looks to add to her perfect record on the green today. This filly is bred for the turf and should be forwardly placed as well. Trainer Jamie Ness has found where she should be running and it is on the turf.
If the favorite is challenged on the front end, it looks like it could be the 4 Lets Go Koko (10/1) pressing the 2. She broke her maiden on the turf two races back at Tampa, but tried to go get to wire in her first race against winners three weeks ago at Gulfstream and couldn’t hold on. She could be a versatile sort here, as she has shown that she can rate behind the leaders as well.
The 8 Seafarer (6/1 ML) would benefit the most from a speed duel. She won two races in a row at Tampa on the turf but did not threaten last time out 10 days ago at Tampa. She looks like a candidate to close into this field.
Also looking like she could close into this field is the 1 Retired Kathy (3/1 ML) who broke her maiden last time out at Tampa on the turf. She drew off to win by four lengths in her turf debut and could show something similar today.
If there is one thing that I will tell you is that Jamie Ness’ horses always seem to be well placed and win at a high percentage. He trains My Lords Ladyness and I will take her to win. I’ll call this race 2-8-1-4, and I will have two wagers today.
First, I will place a $20 win wager on the 2, and then I will have a 50-cent superfecta box 1-2-4-8 as well, which would be for a total wager of $12 for that superfecta. If one of my horses are scratched from the super, then just ignore that wager.
That’s it for now, good luck everyone!
QPW Update Desk
- Be on the lookout for Forever Young in the UAE Derby at Meydan in Dubai on Saturday morning US Eastern time. I’m not going to look at that race for Saturday’s article, but he is getting hype after winning on the Saudi Cup undercard. A top 2 finish on Saturday morning will clinch his berth in the Kentucky Derby if his connections bring him over to Churchill Downs.
- Saturday is the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, and the three horses that should get bet are Hades who won the Holy Bull, Le Dom Bro, who almost pulled off a shocker in the Fountain of Youth, and Fierceness, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but is looking to get back on track after a disappointing Holy Bull.
- Ten horses are entered for the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, and Timberlake returns after winning first race off of the layoff to win the Rebel Stakes last month. Mystik Dan is back after winning the Southwest Stakes on the slop on February 3. Bob Baffert will ship in Muth who will try to cause some chaos by winning this $1.5 million race despite the fact that he cannot earn Kentucky Derby points due to Baffert’s Churchill Downs suspension.
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