Weekend Winners Club

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Friday, March 8, 2019. Tampa Bay Downs. There are 3 big Kentucky Derby Prep races on Saturday, enough to get excited about for even the casual Kentucky Derby fan. The Gotham G3 at Aqueduct, Tampa Bay G2, and Jeff Ruby Steaks G3 at Turfway will keep us occupied.
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There was a 4th scheduled, the San Felipe G2, which may have been the biggest race, in which we expected to see Game Winner in his 3yo debut against top competition, but racing at Santa Anita has been canceled indefinitely (use Santa Anita link above for all news for that track.)
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So this leaves the Socal 3yo horse connections scrambling, with only 1 major prep, the Santa Anita Derby G1 in April. They could scatter to the southeast next weekend, but the San Felipe may be rescheduled if they can straighten out the track in time. Regardless, I would expect a crowded Sunland Derby field on March 24.
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For now, the track of the week is Tampa Bay Downs, featuring the Tampa Bay Derby G2, Florida Oaks G3, and Hillsborough Stakes G3. The TBay Derby consists of 11 solid east coast and southeast based colts and geldings, racing for 50 Kentucky Derby points.
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The TBD morning line favorite is Win Win Win, who already won won won 3 of his 4 races, last being a track record in the Pasco Stakes at 7f here at Tampa, by 7 lengths. His only loss was at Laurel to Alwaysmining, who has now won 3 consecutive stakes races including the Miracle Wood at Laurel.
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Well Defined is the 2nd ML choice after his impressive Sam Davis G3 win here a month ago, marking a return to his 2yo form where he won the FSN Reality $400k at Gulfstream. But as usual, there are other developing 3yo’s looking to crash the party, as they did in major fashion last week at Gulfstream.
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The fastest horse in the field aside from Well Defined would be Zenden, a stakes winner at 6f who was unable to keep up with Call Paul in the Swale G3 at 7f, finishing 2nd there. Other than that, the field is almost devoid of early speed, so it could be those 2 down the stretch dueling it out.
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Dream Maker is the 3rd ML choice at 4-1 but his credentials don’t appear to eclipse any of the horses in the field, regardless of a great trainer Mark Casse. Outshine looks to be the 4th choice, currently at 8-1, having won his OC75 last out for Todd Pletcher.
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Sir Winston at 12-1 will likely be the 5th betting choice after his 4th place in the Withers G3, marking his 5th straight race improving in performance figures for Mark Casse.
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Now for the juicy stuff, long shot specials who can wreak havoc on this race due to the inherent unpredictable unprovenness of its field. Admire at 12-1 ML finished a step behind Sir Winston last out, but it was only his 3rd career race and he’s been rapidly improving in each under the great Dale Romans.
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The Right Path is at 15-1 ML in his 3rd career start, losing to Outshine by a couple last out, but looks ready to hang with the big boys, with a great pedigree and Joe Bravo up.
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Great long shot specials in the Tampa Bay Derby:
Zenden 8-1
Admire 12-1
Sir Winston 12-1
The Right Path 15-1
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Check out the Tampa Bay Saturday Grid right here FREE
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Oh by the way, Kentucky Derby Futures Pool 3 is also this week!

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Kentucky Derby Central
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