Friday, March 12

Featuring the:

Phoenix Gold Cup Arizona Oaks Cotton Fitzimmons Mile Turf Paradise Derby

How to play

RACE 5: CHIEF CICATRIZ is clearly going to be tough in this Phoenix Gold Cup, even if he was a beaten favorite in this race in 2020. That was his only loss in six starts at Turf Paradise, but traffic trouble played a big role. He hasn’t been out since September but he runs well fresh and his tactical speed should mean he’s able to work out a trip regardless of how the pace scenario develops (1).

RACE 6: MY PRINCESS ELLIE was against the race flow in that first start off the layoff last time and that prompted a premature run, one she was unable to sustain; better set up likely here. A REAL HERO is another who stands to benefit from the expected race flow in this Arizona Oaks, and she may be able to run them all down late given a clean trip (2).

RACE 7: ARTICULATOR and PATRIOT DRIVE were a half-length apart when last seen, with the former winning as the 7/5 favorite, and that effort makes him a threat in the Cotton Fitzsimmons; if one of these is to beat OHIO they’ll need to post an improved Beyer, though that’s certainly a possibility given a more favorable set up in terms of pace. OHIO won this race in game fashion last year and he’s the one to beat as he makes his second start off the long layoff (3).

RACE 8: Going to use the closers in the Turf Paradise Derby, as there seems to be an abundance of pace in this field, and that includes the Morning Line favorite, It’s My House, who could be caught in the early fray. SATURDAY VALUE, SUPERDUTY JUSTICE, BECKHAM JAMES, MANDREW, GIVE EM HECK BECK and DEVILS WORKSHOP will all be looking to make the last run, and should benefit from a fast, contested pace up front. I’ll also use TONY’S TAPIT, who goes long for the first time but he may be able to rate and make one run (7).

THE PLAY: 2 / 3, 4 / 2, 7, 8 / 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 = 42 Combinations ($21 Ticket).