Holland's North American Picks for April 30
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© Melanie Martines
by Tim Holland
Gulfstream Park
Race 1
#12 Percher (15-1) showed little when unplaced in his debut behind the talented Dr Post, but gets class relief and switches to turf. Son of 14% grass sire Quality Road is a half-brother to four winners and trainer Wilkes wins with 13% of his second time starters. Wide post is not ideal, but gelding should show improvement with Landeros retaining the mount.
Race 3
Trainer Rodriguez wins with 19% of his runners second off the claim and saddles #4 Crupi’s Pizza Dom (10-1), who tries the main track for the first time off a fading unplaced effort after setting fast fractions facing better on turf last month. Rodriguez has won with 11% of his starters at this meet and gelding figures to be the one to catch with Arroyo riding.
Race 6
Maidens going 5 furlongs on grass include #4 Cassey’s Girl (15-1), who faded to finish unplaced in her debut on the main track in mid-February. Trainer Lynch wins with 18% of his second time starters, and daughter of Tale of the Cat is out of a stakes-winning mare who has produced four winners. Chestnut can show more here at long odds under Jaramillo, who won with one of his last two rides for the barn.
Race 8
#1 Legal Deal (12-1) has not raced since weakening to finish unplaced in his debut as the mild favorite last May. Gelding has a speedy pedigree, being by Khozan and out of a mare by Wildcat Heir, and trainer O’Connell wins with 16% of her runners that have not raced for 90+ days. Bay could be dangerous if able to make the early lead breaking from the rail with Davis in the saddle.
Oaklawn Park
Race 4
Trainer Sharp wins with a solid 21% of his runners that have not raced for 90+ days and saddles #4 Irish Intuition (10-1), who has not been seen since showing little as the mild favorite on grass at Ellis last August. Daughter of Exchange Rate finished third in one of two previous starts on dirt and gets blinkers added by Sharp, who has won with 21% of starters at this meet. Filly has been working well and barn shows confidence entering recent $23K purchase in this spot rather than taking on easier.
Race 6
#7 C Z Rocket (5-1) tries claiming company for the first time and cuts back in distance off a fading unplaced effort earlier this month. Son of City Zip finished third in a tough allowance in one of two previous starts at this distance and trainer Stall wins with 29% of his runners going from a route to a sprint. Gelding can get a good trip running from just off a likely solid pace with Borel riding.
Race 8
Plenty of early pace in this one mile allowance could set-up well for a closer, such as #2 Vexatious (9-2), who has not been seen since fading to finish unplaced in the Spinster (G1) at Keeneland last October. Trainer Sisterson wins with a slightly low 7% of his runners that have not raced for 90+ days but mare has been working well and finished a close second to the talented Blue Prize two starts back. Daughter of Giant’s Causeway can be along in time under Cannon, who has won with one of last five rides for the barn.
Race 9
Trainer Moquett has been going well recently with runners here and saddles #9 Breaking News (12-1). Son of Mineshaft has a record of 5-1-2-1 on this oval and was last seen when closing to finish fourth at Churchill in November. 4-year-old should find a good pace to help his closing style under Talamo, who has won with 22% of his rides for the barn in the past 60 days.
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