Holland’s North American Spot Plays for Apr. 15

by Tim Holland

Handicapper Tim Holland provides expert race picks below for Fonner Park, Tampa Bay Downs, and Will Rogers Downs on Wednesday.

Fonner Park Race Picks

Race 5

Speed on the rail is dangerous on this oval and #1 Classy and Fast (5-1) breaks from the inside in her first outing for trainer Dieter. 5-year-old drops in class off a weakening third place finish over the track and distance last month, and Dieter wins with 16% of runners first time for his barn. Mare owns a record of 7-2-1-1 here and may be sent early with Fackler retaining the mount.

Race 6

#4 Who’s the Diva Now (10-1) may have just needed her latest when fading to finish third after setting pressured early fractions at Turf Paradise last month, being her first outing since October. 3-year-old has won 1-of-3 career outings and makes her first start for trainer Wise, who won with two of first 16 runners this meet. Filly posted a sharp 4-furlong work in :46 4/5 earlier this month and figures to be the one to catch with Olesiak up.

Race 7

Trainer Martinez wins with 17% of runners that have not raced for 90 days or more and saddles #3 I’m River (6-1), who has not been seen since fading to finish unplaced at Churchill last October. Son of Stay Thirsty has been facing better and has been working well for his first start on this oval for Martinez, who has won with 31% of runners at this meet. Chestnut can be in good early position under Armando Martinez, who has won with 32% of rides for the barn in the last two months.

Tampa Bay Downs Race Picks

Race 2

Maidens going 5-furlongs on turf include #4 K’s Funhouse (10-1), who has not been seen since finishing a well-beaten fourth in his debut on the all-weather surface over a mile at Presque Isle last August. Gelding should take to turf, being by Palace Malice and out of a mare by Galileo, and gets Lasix added by trainer Hamm, who wins with 16% of runners that have not raced for 90 days or more. Dark bay has been working well and can be along from off the pace under Suarez, who has won with 19% of mounts for Hamm in the last 60 days.

Race 4

#5 Milburn (5-2) drops into a maiden claimer for the first time in his first outing for trainer Granitz. Son of Lemon Drop Kid is a half-brother to Sparkling Review, winner of the Ms Revere (G2) on turf at Churchill. 4-year-old has not been seen since losing chances when checked at the start at Monmouth last May and has been working well for Granitz, who wins with 16% of his runners that have not raced for 90 days or more. Dark bay can be along from off the pace with Camacho taking the mount.

Race 5

Trainer Gonzalez won with two of last 12 first-time starters and saddles #3 Impressive Speed (8-1), a debuting son of 12% first-out sire Speed Ring and a half-brother to two winners. Gelding’s works include a solid 4-furlong move in 48 2/5 for Gonzalez, who wins with 26% of runners overall in maiden claiming events. Dark bay should provide some value under Speith, who has won with one of his last seven rides for this stable.

Will Rogers Downs Race Picks

Race 2

#6 Kreative Kisser (8-1) ships in from Kentucky, where she was last seen when losing chances at the start when unplaced in a maiden special weight event at Turfway in February in her second outing. Daughter of Sidney’s Candy is out of a stakes-winning mare and makes her first outing for trainer McEntee, who wins with 14% of his maiden claimers. Chestnut can be tough at this level with Luzzi taking the mount.

Race 6

Another Kentucky shipper, #7 Spun Eazy (6-1), gets blinkers added and makes her first start since an unplaced effort in a tough November turf allowance at Churchill. Daughter of Hard Spun is out of Sutra, winner of the Frizette (G1), and the filly has been working well for trainer Ewing, who wins with 19% of runners that have not raced for 90 days or more. 3-year-old is 1-for-2 on dirt, and she will be running from off the pace with Herrera.