This weekend’s motion is highlighted by the “Street to the Derby Day” program at Honest Grounds, that includes the Lecomte (G3). James Scully, Vance Hanson, and Ashley Anderson have their say on that card and others on this week’s TwinSpires Jury dialogue. What’s your finest wager? James Scully: #4 Spartan Queen (6-1) within the sixth race at Honest Grounds Saturday. In her Dec. 31 profession debut, the Medaglia d’Oro filly raced in spots and traveled large earlier than ending with good power to be a transparent second to Amber Cascade, who will contest the Silverbulletday in a while this system. Spartan Queen netted stable Brisnet numbers within the 1 1/16-mile race and seems to be coaching forwardly since, recording a fast five-furlong drill for Michelle Lovell, and I anticipate her to maneuver ahead with a powerful exhibiting in her second outing. Vance Hanson: Saturday’s third race at Honest Grounds, a maiden occasion for three-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles, seems like a great spot for second-time starter #8 Mo Hope (5-1). The son of the long-winded Mo City was doing his finest operating on the finish of his six-furlong debut and, whereas although no risk to the winner, he completed a transparent and promising second. The Paul McGee trainee seems as if he’ll relish the extra floor right here and may present pure enchancment with that preliminary expertise behind him. Ashley Anderson: #4 Paco’s Pico (4-1) in Gulfstream’s ninth race on Saturday, a six-furlong allowance non-obligatory claimer for four-year-olds. The Sweet Experience gelding completed first or second in his final 4 at immediately’s distance, most just lately successful by 1 3/4 lengths in a six-furlong allowance non-obligatory claimer whereas posting a 99 Brisnet Pace ranking, the best pace determine at immediately’s distance among the many discipline. He adopted up that win by stretching out to seven furlongs at Gulfstream however was bumped firstly and finally evened out inside the ultimate furlong for present. He can bounce again with the cutback to 6 furlongs, a distance from which he owns a 5-2-2-1 document.
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Who’s the horse to fade? JS: #4 Hypersport (7-5) within the fourth race at Oaklawn Park Saturday. The four-year-old filly has not been a critical risk, ending second in three of her final 4 outings, recording 4 seconds and a 3rd from 9 profession outings, and the early/presser had every thing her personal manner within the lone win. Hypersport has a harmful pace rival to her inside and appears weak at quick odds. VH: #2 Manny Wah (9-5) is the early selection within the Duncan F. Kenner S. at Honest Grounds, a race he gained two years in the past. However even with the relative modesty of the competitors, he is been too inconsistent a customer to the winner’s circle for my style to love at such a brief value. Nonetheless, this stand relies on the race staying on the turf, as scheduled. If it is rained off, Manny Wah figures to be no higher than third selection if the also-eligibles Surveillance and Bango occur to attract in. AA: #2 Charlie’s Penny (3-1) opened as a slight morning line favourite within the Marie G. Krantz Memorial S., Race 5 on Honest Grounds’ Saturday card, however the five-year-old has raced simply as soon as on turf, ending second when sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs. The Race Day mare joined the barn of Chris Block late final 12 months and has since run twice on dust at seven furlongs and a mile and 70 yards, successful the previous by 1 1/2 lengths and coming house third by 2 1/2 lengths when stretching out to a route. Block is only a 10% winner with horses transitioning from dust to turf, and Charlie’s Penny has by no means raced so far as 1 1/16 miles. I’ll as a substitute again #3 Lake Lucerne (7-2), who failed as the favourite final out when operating close to immediately’s distance at this monitor, ending three-quarters of a size in third with a belated rally. The Dubawi mare can rebound right here for Brendan Walsh, a 24% winner with overwhelmed favorites.
#7 Manny Wah comes from the clouds to rise up in Race 3 from @fairgroundsnola below @_MIGUELMENA_ for @CATRacingStable. pic.twitter.com/4TLTQi326x — TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 16, 2021