The Kentucky Derby is now more than five months away thanks to the coronavirus crisis, but racing goes on and the co-favorite for the Run for the Roses will be in action on Saturday afternoon.
Tiz the Law is the +120 morning line favorite for the $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. The Barclay Tagg trainee is the co-favorite at +600 at Sportsbook in early Kentucky Derby wagering along with the Bob Baffert-trained Charlatan.
Tiz the Law is Cruising Right Now
The colt has won three of his four career starts, taking the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park on February 1 in his last start. Manny Franco will be aboard the colt, who will break from the seven post.
At such a short price, there are a couple of foes he faces that are going to offer a bit more betting value this afternoon.
Gouverneur Morris is Back in Action
Gouverneur Morris is listed at +800 on the morning line. The Todd Pletcher trainee makes his second start off a 4 ½-month break after a sharp win vs Alw-1 optional claimers last out at Tampa Bay Downs going one mile and 40 yards. The colt rolled to a nine-length maiden win in his debut in the slop at Saratoga last September.
He then shipped to Keeneland where he ran well in a runner-up finish to Maxfield in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1). The third-place finisher in that race was Enforceable, who won the Lecomte (G3) and was second in the Risen Star (G2) before running fifth in the Louisiana Derby (G2).
The colt should be tighter second off the bench for Pletcher, who has won this race a record five times. In addition, five of the last nine Sportsbooks of this race exited allowance races. He is bred to handle nine furlongs, by Constitution out of a stakes-placed Unbridled’s Song mare that has dropped one other foal to race, stakes Sportsbook Final Jeopardy ($219,833). Looks as if we should get a square price on this colt.
Independence Hall Looks Like a True Contender
Independence Hall (+450) suffered his first career loss last out in a runner-up finish in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs behind Sole Volante. That foe came back to run a good second in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) in his next outing on March 7.
The colt was really good going a one turn mile, winning the Nashua (G3) by 12 ¼ lengths and the Jerome by four lengths. The colt owns a solid pace profile throughout and has the look and pedigree of a runner that can go nine furlongs.
He is by Constitution out of a Cape Town mare that has dropped seven other Sportsbooks including two other stakes Sportsbooks, top earner Black Onyx ($418,860). The Mike Trombetta trainee should work out a good trip forwardly placed and that is where you want to be going nine furlongs over this surface.
Here are a few other horses to watch on Saturday at Gulfstream Park:
Race 6 The Hal’s Hope:
#1 Harvey Wallbanger (+400) and #9 Realm (+600)
Race 7 The Sanibel Island:
#9 Seducer (+800), #7 Walk In Marrakesh (+600)
Race 9: The Sand Springs:
#2 Zofelle (+450), #7 Getmotherarose (+600)
Race 10: The Orchid
#6 Mean Mary (+300), #2 Kelsey’s Cross (+1000)
Race 11: The Gulfstream Park Oaks
#4 Lake Avenue (+450), #9 Tonalist’s Shape (+250)
There is national coverage of horse racing on FS2 on Saturday and FS1 on Sunday from 1:30 to 7 p.m. ET. The NBC Sports Network will simulcast the TVG Network from 4 to 8 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.
The list of tracks still running is shrinking. Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs, Fonner Park, Will Rogers Downs, Los Alamitos, Remington Park and Oaklawn Park are still in action.
Handicapper Michael Dempsey will be covering the Triple Crown for Odds Shark and his full card reports with selections, analysis, fair odds line and wagering recommendations for major tracks can be found daily at TurfnSport.com.
Related News
