Mike Somich’s Gulfstream and Santa Anita Picks:

My favorite prep of the year has come! It’s Fountain of Youth day at Gulfstream Park, which boasts an amazing 14-race card, including an all-graded stakes Pick 5 to close the day. On the West Coast, we will see three of the top Derby favorites take each other on in the San Felipe in one of four graded stakes from Santa Anita. Aqueduct will also keep their prep season rolling with the Gotham. While I will not highlight all of the preps, I will put the horses I like in order at the end of the article.

The Fountain of Youth, Gulfstream Park, Race #13

This highly competitive field is highlighted by three standouts. #6 River Thames is currently one of the favorites in the future pools in the Kentucky Derby. He has won twice in two career starts and was very impressive in both starts. He will try two turns for the first time and face the best field of his career. He’s a very logical winner, but I would not be willing to play him to win at too short of a price.

#2 Sovereignty returns to the racetrack looking to build off of a very good 2-year-old campaign. After debuting in a key maiden race at Saratoga, he just missed breaking his maiden at Aqueduct in another solid maiden race. He jumped into stakes company and won impressively at Churchill Downs in the Grade 3 Street Sense. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott chose to keep him on the bench until now to set up the 3rd start off the layoff pattern heading into the Derby, which screams confidence. If he improves on his form from last year, I think he is the horse to beat.

#3 Burnham Square won the Holy Bull over this track last time out. He has won on the lead, he has won from off the pace, and he’s accomplished over the track going two turns. Today’s race is much tougher than the Holy Bull, and he will need to improve again to beat the aforementioned horses. It’s possible, but again, as the second choice, his price is likely too short to play today.

Of the prices, #8 Keep it Easy is the wild card. He’s yet to go 2-turns and will need to improve against the toughest field he has faced. His trainer Dale Romans has been having a phenomenal meet and chooses this spot to take a chance with one of the better young horses in his barn.

The Bet – $50 Win #2

Frank E. Kilroe Mile, Santa Anita, Race #9

Let’s head to the West Coast for one of my favorite betting races of the day. The morning line favorite is #1 Mi Hermano Ramon who is a very good horse, but his best efforts have all come going longer than today’s distance. While he did just miss at this distance four races back, that was a restricted stakes and he was 12-1. Today’s field is tougher and he is 9/5.

#3 El Potente is the second choice on the line who is coming off a dominant mile performance over this track at this distance. He has early speed but has proven that he does not need the lead, and he has been getting better as the year has progressed.

I’m highlighting this race because of #7 Almendares, who is 12-1 on the morning line. Today’s mile distance is his best distance, and he will have pace to chase. Two races back, he ran a great second to Johannes, who is one of the best milers in the world, and he reunites with Antonio Fresu for Phil D’Amato, one of the best turf trainers in California. He should be closer to 5-1 vs this field than the 12-1 line.

#2 Air Force Red will be one of the horses that is on the pace. He has shown he is capable to hanging around at a mile and should be in the mix late. I think a win would be surprising, but he is one that I would be using underneath.

The Bet – $50 Win #7, $25 Exacta Bot 3,7

Preps:
San Felipe – SA, Race #8 – 3 / 2 / 4
Wood Memorial – AQU, Race #8 – 5 / 8 / 4 / 10 

Other bets:
Gulfstream Park Race #14 – $50 Win #5
Santa Anita Race #11 – $50 Win #8