Davona Dale was a champion filly who raced for the storied Calumet Farm. The daughter of Best Turn won 11 of 18 starts. Her best victories came in the Kentucky Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks, Acorn Stakes, and the Mother Goose Stakes. She was trained by John Veitch who also trained 1978 Travers Stakes winner Alydar. The Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes is named in her honor. A solid field has gathered and any number of filles could take the top honors.

Bickersons is likely to be the favorite after freaking to a seven length victory in the Grade 2 Forward Gal Stakes last out. The daughter of Silver Deputy earned a 104 BRIS figure for that effort. She has performed well every time that Joe Bravo has has been in the irons. Conventional wisdom would suggests that she will regress in this spot. Her past performances show good efforts on the dirt, minus her debut over a sloppy track. She will be tough to take down if she runs back to her last race.

Dale Roman’s filly Sassy Image owns a win over the track and at this distance. She is riding a three race win streak. Two of those wins include the Grade 3 Pocahontas, and the Grade 2 Golden Rod. She has an adaptable running style. Jockey Robby Albarado should be able to lay fairly close if he chooses, or rally from the back of the pack. He might try to get first jump on the pacesetters before Bickersons is able to. I think this would be a smart decision.

Amen Hallelujah won the Grade 2 Santa Ynez in her last start, but got a tough break drawing the one hole in this race. Julien Leparoux will pick up the mount and he figures to try and take back in the early stages of the race. If she is able to come with one strong run for trainer Richard Dutrow and owner IEAH Stables she could find herself in the winners circle.

Christine Daae broke her maiden last out by 8 3/4 lengths for trainer Patrick Biancone. She is bred to run all day as a daughter of Giant’s Causeway and should do well at this distance of one mile. She sports a nice :59 2/5 B five furlong bullet. Corey Nakatani is in to ride from Oaklawn Park. The filly looks like quite a runner based off her last effort, but she will have to prove she can do it against winners.

Who do you like in the Davona Dale Stakes? Click here for information on how to get my horse racing picks and plays for this race and all the stakes action this weekend!

Bob Baffert has a deep stable of three-year-olds this year. The Program may be his fourth or fifth best sophomore, and he is the likely favorite in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes which is a prep for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. That really says something about his stable when he is sending out his fourth stringer for a nice prep race worth $150k.

The field for this race looks fairly weak and I have a hard time seeing any of the entrants making it to Churchill Downs on the First Saturday in May, but anything is possible. The Program is probably the most likely candidate. He will be racing for Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable and Martin Garcia will be in the irons. The son of Harlan’s Holiday was last seen scoring a nose victory over Indian Firewater in an allowance event. He was fourth in the CashCall Futurity at the age of two. The extra distance in this race should suit him well. He obviously wouldn’t be a surprise.

Kettle River enters the Sham on a two race win streak for trainer Eion Harty and owner Darley Stable. He defeated The Program in his last race which was an allowance win. He is working up a storm, but I have to wonder if the distance will suit him. He is a son of Congaree. Brice Blanc will get the call to ride. He has started just three times, and I doubt we have seen his best stuff yet. Maybe this is his coming out party?

Alphie’s Bet figures to get plenty of support for trainer Alexis Barba. The son of Tribal Rule was last seen breaking his maiden against state bred company at Santa Anita over the lawn. Before that he was second behind Robert B. Lewis Stakes winner Caracortado in the California Breeders Champion Stakes. He is a big time closer, so he will need things to get hot up front if he is going to have a chance. He is working up a storm and should run well.

Michael Machowsky is getting recognition as the trainer of Caracortado, but he also has a tough Triple Crown contender with Nextdoorneighbor. He is a son of the Chilean bred Lido Palace. He took a maiden special weight by four lengths last out in his third trip to the track. The colt figures to get the distance. Mike Smith will pick up the mount in place of Rafeal Bejarano who has opted to ride Setsuko. Both colts look strong. Setsuko is bred to run all day as a son of Pleasantly Perfect with Mr. Prospector on the dams side.

Who do you like in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes? Click here for information on how to get my picks and plays for this race and other stakes action this weekend!

The Grade 2 Hutcheson Stakes at 7 furlongs is perfect for colts that aren’t ready to go 9 furlongs in the Fountain of Youth. The race has produced notable sprinters and routers alike. Kentucky Derby winners Spectacular Bid and Swale both own a win in this race. Last year’s winner was Capt. Candyman Can who would go on to win the Grade 1 King’s Bishop. The field for 2010 is very strong and the winner will pick up much needed graded stakes earnings for the Kentucky Derby.

Although he didn’t fare well in his first start in the United States, Radiohead still looks like a strong contender. His only race in the US was a seventh place finish in the Breeders Cup Juvenile. The son of Johannesburg is trained by Richard Dutrow for IEAH Stables. He won the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes as Ascot last summer. He is working sharply for his first race over the dirt. Julien Leparoux will have the mount. He usually does well with horses coming in from overseas.

Richard Dutrow also has Grade 2 Saratoga Special winner D’funnybone entered in this race. He backed up big time last out in the Breeders Cup Juvenile after pressing the pace. I’ll forgive that effort because dirt horses werent running well on that weekend at all. The son of D’wildcat delivered an electrifying win in the Grade 2 Futurity at Belmont before the Breeders Cup. If he can regain that form he will be tough. He figures to get a nice stalking trip with Edgar Prado in the irons.

A Little Warm and Wildcat Frankie could shake things up for the Dutrow runners. They finished one-two in the Spectacular Bid Stakes, respectively. Wildcat Frankie has posted an allowance win since then, but A Little Warm hasn’t raced since. A Little Warm is trained by Anthony Dutrow and will be ridden by Jeremy Rose. A wet track would likely help his chances. Wildcat Frankie will be piloted by Paco Lopez  for trainer James Hatchett.

City Trooper, Ibboyee, Sum Champ, and Hear Ye Hear Ye round out the field. Who do you like in the Grade 2 Hutcheson Stakes? Click here to get my picks and plays. I had the winner in 5 of 7 races last week. Don’t miss out!

The Fountain of Youth Stakes served as a “coming out” party of sorts for Quality Road in 2009. He would use the race as a springboard for a win in the Florida Derby. The field was very strong last year and is just as strong in 2010. Jackson Bend and Buddy’s Saint figure to get most of the money. Buddy’s Saint is making his three-year-old debut after a strong win in the Remsen at 2, and Jackson Bend was last seen running second in the Holy Bull Stakes. Let’s take a look at the field.

Eskendereya looks like the speed of the speed for trainer Todd Pletcher. The son of Giant’s Causeway is a perfect two for two on dirt tracks. He was last seen winning an allowance at Gufstream Park. He is training very well and will have John Velazquez in the irons. Stablemate Aikenite is also entered here. He ran 6th in the Holy Bull in his last start. Pletcher was quoted that the extra distance today will help his cause.

Trainer Nick Zito will send out Jackson Bend and Ice Box. The latter won an allowance in his last start. Joe Bravo will pick up the mount on the son of Pulpit. Jackson Bend turned many heads when he swept the Florida Stallion Stakes. He was so impressive that Robert LaPenta privately purchased him. He is sired by Hear No Evil. The colt was super impressive last out when he finished second to Winslow Homer in the  Holy Bull. He had a bad trip and had to endure brutal fractions. He should have a huge shot to win here.

Buddy’s Saint is a son of the ill fated Saint Liam who died shortly after  beginning his career at stud. He has showed tons of ability so far with huge wins in the Nashua Stakes and Remsen Stakes at 2. If he has improved since those efforts its going to be scary to see how good he is. Jose Lezcano will retain the mount for Bruce Levine. It would come as no shock if he won this race.

Lost Aptitude will be switching to dirt from turf for trainer Dale Romans. The son of Aptitude has never run a bad race on the turf, but its hard to know how he will do on the dirt. He won the Grand Canyon Handicap at Churchill Downs in November. He just missed winning the Grade 3 Tropical Park Derby in his last start where he ended up second. Rajiv Maragh will get the mount.

Mike Smith will be in to ride Pulsion for Patrick Biancone. He finished second in the Grade 1 Norfolk behind Lookin at Lucky, but couldnt put it together in the Breeders Cup Juvenile where he finished 11th. He is working very strongly, but will need a fast pace in order to have a chance.

Pleasant Prince, Prince Will I Am, and Positive Split round out the field. Who do you like in the Fountain of Youth Stakes? Leave a comment and share your thoughts. My picks and plays are available by clicking here. I did very well last week. I had the winner in 5 of 7 races. Don’t miss out!

The Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes is in the final prep for the lucrative $750,000 Louisiana Derby. It was won by Friesan Fire in 2009. He would go on to be the favorite in the Kentucky Derby. This years field is competitive with 12 entrants and is lead by Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes winner Ron The Greek. Other notable entries include Stay Put, Drosselmeyer, Tempted to Tapit, and Discreetly Mine.

Ron The Greek will  be spotting the field 4 pounds after closing from far back to take the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes in his last trip to the track. The son of Full Mandate is trained by Thomas Amoss and piloted by James Graham. He came from 16 lengths off the pace in the Lecomte. It may be wise for Graham to try and keep him closer this time around due to the fact that this is a much more competitive field. If he waits too long the other closers will get first run. He looks like a very solid colt with a huge shot at winning this race at odds of 3-1.

Bill Mott is leaning towards shipping Drosselmeyer in for this race after an impressive performance at Gulfstream Park where he stopped the clock in 1:49 2/5 for 9 furlongs. The Winstar Farm owned son of Distorted Humor will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux. He is a perfect 2 for 2 on dirt tracks. The colt looks very fast and if he improves off his last effort he is going to be very tough to hold off in the stretch. His morning line price is 4-1.

Tempted To Tapit turned many heads last out at Aqueduct where he splashed home in a maiden to win by 11 1/2 lengths going wire to wire in the mud. Before that race he was second to Laus Deo. Before that he was second to Schoolyard Dreams who would go on to finish second behind Rule in the Grade 3 Sam F Davis Stakes. The son of Tapit will have David Cohen in the irons. Steve Klesaris is trainer. His pedigree tells me he should run all day. He may stay at Gulfstream Park for the Fountain of Youth Stakes. It will be interesting to see how he performs at odds of 8-1.

He looked very fast running second in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at 2, but Discreetly Mine hasn’t lived up to his potential so far. The speedy son of Mineshaft was last seen finishing fourth in the Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream Park. JJ Castellano is picking up the mount up for trainer Todd Pletcher. I expect an improved effort from him at odds of 5-1, but it is probably going to take a step forward for him to win.

Stay Put is a wild card for trainer Steve Margolis and jockey Jamie Theriot. He is a fast closing son of Broken Vow. He has won his last two races. I had the good fortune of betting him when he won last out at odds of 7-1. His pedigree tells me he can get this distance with ease. If he can win this race he will quickly find himself on the road towards the Run for the Roses.

Who do you like in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes? Click here for information on how to get my picks and plays!

Those who purchased my selections this weekend were rewarded when I correctly picked the winner in 5 of 7 races. I’m hoping to continue handicapping hotly this weekend and I am looking forward to all of the stakes action! Let’s examine the races where I was successful.

Robert B. Lewis Stakes: Caracortado ($11)- I had a REALLY good feeling about this gelding. He had never failed in four tries and had already proved he could go two turns whereas the favorite had not done so. Paul Atkinson gave him a great ride and he won fairly easily. Trainer Michael Machowsky is pointing him to the San Felipe Stakes where he could meet up with Lookin at Lucky in a matchup akin to David and Goliath.

San Vicente Stakes: Sidney’s Candy ($6.60)- I believed this colt would trounce all comers in this race and he did so. He lived up to the form he showed over the summer at Del Mar. He won this race quite easily and has to be the early favorite for the Santa Anita Derby. He looked scary good and I’m really looking forward to seeing more of him.

Santa Maria Handicap: St Trinians ($4.60)- I believed that Life Is Sweet freaked when she won the Breeders Cup Ladies Classic due to the fast pace set by Careless Jewel. While she ran second, I was right to believe she couldn’t handle my top selection St Trinians who improved her record in the US to a perfect four for four. Mike Mitchell wants her next start to come in the Santa Anita Handicap. I may support her there also depending on the field!

Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship: Munnings ($4)- It seems that all this son of Speighstown really needed was a fast track. Trainer Todd Pletcher wants to target a Grade 1 race for his next start. If the track is fast he will have a heck of a chance to win.

Las Virgenes Stakes: Blind Luck ($2.40)- Who didn’t have this filly? She is incredibly fast although she narrowly got up after a perfectly timed ride by Rafeal Bejarano. I advised bettors to sit this race out because she looked overwhelmingly good, but wasn’t worth a bet at such a short price. Like many of the other previously listed horses, I can’t wait to see more of her!

This weekends lineup includes:

Fountain of Youth Stakes

Risen Star Stakes

Hutcheson Stakes

El Camino Real Derby

Mineshaft Handicap

San Carlos Handicap

San Luis Obispo Handicap

I’m going to try and best last week. It won’t be easy but I think I can do it. For information on how to get my picks click here or use the form below!

It seems that every race I’m talking about lately is led by a fast Bob Baffert three-year-old. I don’t know if the Hall of Fame trainer has ever had as many good young colts as he does right now. He is sending out Conveyance in the Southwest Stakes which is raced at 1 mile over the dirt at Oaklawn Park. The son of Indian Charlie is a perfect three for three and was last seen taking the Grade 3 San Rafael Stakes. The first three finishers from that race will contest this event. Conveyance showed he can take off the lead when he won last out after being passed on the lead. All three of his wins have come on synthetic surfaces. It will be interesting to see how he responds to dirt.

Bob Baffert isn’t the only master in this race. D Wayne Lukas will send out Grade 1 winner Dublin for the first time since he finished seventh in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes as the even money favorite. He is likely to get a lot of support at the windows. The son of Afleet Alex is working well and will have TJ Thompson in the irons for the first time. If he runs well in this race it is likely that Lukas will target the Rebel for his next start.

Dryfly and Pleasant Storm both looked strong last out when finishing 1-2 respectively in the Smarty Jones Stakes. Dryfly went wire to wire for owner Charles Cella who also owns Oaklawn Park. He might catch a speed duel if Garrett Gomez insists on taking Conveyance to the lead. Pleasent Storm closed from way out to be second in that race. If a speed duel develops he would be the primary beneficiary. Both colts have a strong case to win the Southwest Stakes.

Mission Impazible looked very strong when racing for the first time since April when he finished a close second in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park. It appears that he has enough speed to be close if needed but the jockey may prefer to keep him midpack. The son of Unbridled’s Song looks fresh for a run at the Triple Crown, but he has to run huge in this race to get his foot in the door.

Kitty’s Turn, Cardiff Giant, Domonation, Crider, and Cool Bullet round out the field. Who do you like in the Southwest Stakes? Click here for information on how to get my picks and plays. My selections won 4 of 6 races over the weekend. Don’t miss out!

The Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes is contested at seven furlong over the main track at Santa Anita Park. It is open to three-year-olds and was won by the filly Evita Argentina in 2009. This years event has seven strong contenders. Among those contenders are the Bob Baffert trained Tiny Woods. The son of Roman Ruler went wire to wire in an allowance event last out and stopped the clock in a blistering fast 1:08 4/5 for 6 furlongs. He is clearly a need the lead type. Victor Espinoza will pick up the mount because Martin Garcia has opted to ride the other Baffert runner.

The other Baffert runner is Quiet Invader. He backed up last out in a route event and should do much better at this sprint distance. He is a son of Songandaprayer. I suspect Martin Garcia will try and take him off the pace. The colt will have a shot at winning the San Vicente if he can successfully rate. His first out effort where he just missed to be second tells me it shouldn’t be a problem.

Sidney’s Candy had a poor start and wasn’t able to recover last out when he was bet the favorite in an allowance event that was won by Tiny Woods. Prior to that race he scorched the clock to break his maiden in 1:02 3/5 for 5.5 furlongs. He is trained by John Sadler and ridden by Joel Rosario. The son of Candy Ride figures to have something to say about the outcome of this event if he can get a clean break.

Classical Slew will be racing for Doug O’Neill and Rafeal Bejarano for the first time since finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes in August. The time off likely did the son of Bernstein a lot of good, but his chances of running well off the shelf aren’t good.

The always consistent Gilligan will be saddled by Melvin Stute and piloted by Tyler Baze. He is making a huge jump in class after winning a starter allowance. However, he is working well and always seems to hit the board. He might be a good horse to use underneath on exacta and trifecta tickets.

Raging Wit and Classical Bandido round out the field. Who do you like in the San Vicente Stakes? Click here for information on how to get my picks and plays.

Bob Baffert’s four-year-old colt Misremembered enters the Strub Stakes favored once again just as he was when the race was washed away last week. The son of Candy Ride is working well and posted a :59 3/5 H five furlong move on Monday. He was last seen running second behind the lone speed M One Rifle in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes. He was beaten a neck by Blame in the Clark Handicap before that. He broke the track record while winning the Indiana Derby in his last win. The distance in this event will suit him well and he should be tough to knock off.

Rendezvous looks like a good upset candidate with Rafeal Bejarano in the irons. The colt was a victim of the track bias in his last start where he ran third the whole way in the Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes. He is a closer like his sire Victory Gallop, and the extra half of a furlong will go a long way to help his cause. His last win came by a nose in the Del Mar Derby on the turf. He seems capable of winning if he runs his race.

Smart Bid had me thinking he was a poser until he posted a strong second place finish behind Papa Clem last out in the San Fernando. He looks like the speed in this race, but distance may be a question. The last win for this Graham Motion trainee came on Breeders Cup day in the Damascus Stakes. His only time going this far came in the Santa Anita Derby where he was up the track. He may have been outclassed that day so I’ll give him another chance here. Mike Smith was quoted saying he learned things about the horse and he would love to ride him back after his last race. It wouldn’t be smart to ignore this son of Smart Strike.

Bill Mott has shipped Eagle Poise in from Woodbine for this race. The four-year-old son of Empire Maker was last seen finishing second behind Breeders Cup Marathon runner up Cloudy’s Knight in a minor stakes. He posted 4 wins from 11 starts last year and finished second 3 times.Distance is no problem for this colt, but I’m not sure if he is classy enough. Julien Leparoux’s riding style fits him very well. I’m not counting him out.

Massone, Viscount, Gallant, Son, Jeranimo, Acclamation, and Heavenly Wind round out the field. Who is your top selection for the Strub Stakes? Click here for information on how to get my picks and plays for this race and all the stakes action this weekend!