2022 Top Stakes Races to Bet On: 3 Kentucky Derby Preps for the Weekend

Three Kentucky Derby preps happen this weekend, including the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and the El Camino Real at Golden Gate Fields. Also on Saturday, Oaklawn runs the Razorback Handicap. Even though the Razorback is just a grade 3, the purse is $600,000, which means connections for top horses will enter. 

Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds for the Top Stakes Races of the Week from Saturday, Feb. 12th. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks. 

Horse Racing Odds & Picks February 7th Edition

Tampa Bay Downs – Saturday, Feb. 12

  • Suncoast Stakes – 1 mile 70 yards dirt 3-year-old fillies

Bill Mott and Todd Pletcher should saddle the top two choices. Mott puts the bridle on Outfoxed, first in the listed Gasparilla Stakes in her last. Pletcher saddles Grade 2 Demoiselle winner Nest. No doubt, Nest will offer underlay odds, which means Outfoxed could go off at overlay odds. Keep that in mind when handicapping this race. 

  • Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes – 1 1/16 miles dirt  3-year-olds

Second-place Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club sophomore Classic Causeway headlines what should be a full Sam F. Davis field. Classic Causeway figures to battle last out-maiden winner and Mark Casse trained Volcanic for favoritism. Others that will garner action if they run are Make It Big from the Saffie Joseph barn, the ultra-fast Shipsational, and Howling Time trained by Dale Romans. 

Golden Gate Fields – Saturday, Feb. 12

  • El Camino Real Derby – 1 1/8 miles  3-year-olds

Grade 3 Sham fourth-place finisher McKinnon figures to go off the chalk. American Pharoah sired the Doug O’Neil trained runner. Bob Baffert has a last out maiden winner in Flying Drummer. Jonathan Wong saddles the home track choice in Boise. If Boise offers odds, consider because at Golden Gate, Wong dominates the competition. 

Santa Anita Park – Saturday, Feb. 12

  • Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes – 6 ½ furlongs turf  3-year-olds

13 equines are listed as probable for the Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes. John Sadler has a couple of contenders in Dolly May and Unbridled Mary. Urban, a Simon Callaghan trainee, should also attract action.  

Oaklawn Park – Saturday, Feb. 12

  • Grade 3 Bayakoa – 1 1/6 miles dirt  4-year-olds and up

Grade 3 Chilukki second-place finisher Matera could go off at odds-on. Not only did Tapit sire, but Brad Cox trains. Cox also trains the likely second-choice, Coach. A Commissioner sired 3-year-old filly, Coach won the listed Pippin Stakes earlier this year. If you want to back a horse that Cox doesn’t train, give Steve Asmussen’s Jilted Bride and Mike McCarthy runner Queen Goddess looks. Asmussen can turn the switch on fillies in any race. Queen Goddess won the Grade 2 American Oaks over the turf in her last. If her form translates to dirt, she can win this.     

  • Grade 3 Razorback Handicap – 1 1/16 miles dirt   4-year-olds and up  

Tinsel Stakes winner Lone Rock and Fifth Season Stakes winner Rated R Superstar figure to attract the most action. Rated R Superstar is a stone cold closer that depends on a fast-pace. If you don’t believe the pace is fast, consider Plainsman from the Brad Cox barn. Plainsman has finished third in his last couple against much better horses, including Americanrevolution in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile in the last.   

  

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