The Jury: Expert Picks, Bets and Fades for Jan. 13 [Video]

Best Bet for Weekend Racing

Ashley Anderson:

#3 Peruvian Lucky (10-1) in the seventh race at Turfway on Saturday. The Lookin at Lucky five-year-old raced on turf in his last four and will switch back to all-weather at Turfway, where he broke his maiden at 6 1/2 furlongs the last time he raced on a synthetic track. Trainer Nacho Correas is a 16% winner at the claiming level and a 25% winner this meet, and Peruvian Lucky is regaining rider Luan Machado (21% winner at Turfway), who guided the closer to his maiden victory at Turfway. Peruvian Lucky is the lone closer in the field and should have plenty of speed to run into. He also drew a favorable spot in post 3, with posts 1-3 winning at a high rate in six-furlong sprints at Turfway.

Blaise Bollman: 

#9 King Russell (4-1) in R10 at Oaklawn Park is my best bet. This Derby 149 contender, trained by Ron Moquett, will be racing as a first-time gelding following a long layoff. He has never finished off the board in four starts at Oaklawn, making this a horse for course. Expect a focused performance around the Hot Springs oval in this one.

Top Fade for Weekend Racing

AA:

Brad Cox trainee #8 Flashy Gem (5-2) should get a ton of attention at the betting windows in the Likely Exchange S., Race 8 at Turfway on Saturday. The Bolt d'Oro four-year-old just won by more than seven lengths at Turfway on Dec. 23 and will move back up in class, but she's 0-for-5 in stakes races. The filly may have added trouble with an outside post, and her lone loss at Turfway came when breaking from post 7 in the Bourbonette Oaks, where she finished an even second. 

The Likely Exchange drew a competitive field of 11, and I like both of the runners breaking from the inside. Todd Pletcher pupil #1 Silver Ticket (9-2) will move up in class after winning her last two by a combined 10 lengths, and she's eligible to improve off a layoff. #2 Catiche (4-1) is also coming off a solid win in the My Charmer S. at Turfway on Dec. 9 and earned a 92 Brisnet Speed figure in the effort, tied for the highest last race speed figure among the field. The other runner who posted a 92 last out was #9 Ghostly Gal (10-1), an intriguing longshot on the outside of Flashy Gem, who will make her second start for Jeff Engler after a 12-length victory in a claimer at Turfway on Dec. 21. With a number of competitive fillies and mares in the field, I'll fade Flashy Gem.

BB:

#2 Shimmering Allure (4-5) in the Busanda S. at Aqueduct is my horse to fade. She has the class advantage and best resume overall of the five-horse field; however, I favor the lightly raced three-year-old daughter of Street Sense, #4 Class Act in this one. The outside runner #5 Princess Mayfair would be my second choice ahead of Shimmering Allure.

What Else Is Worth Noting

AA:

Saturday's Cal Cup Day at Santa Anita will feature five stakes on the card, including the Cal Cup Derby — a rematch of the King Glorious S., with winner #1 Last Call London the one to beat among the five-horse field. But the headliner of Cal Cup Day will be in the Cal Cup Sprint, with horse-for-the-course The Chosen Vron returning to Santa Anita, where the six-year-old is 7-for-9 for his career. One of the top sprinters in the country, The Chosen Vron went 6-for-7 last season, with his lone loss a fifth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), which snapped an eight-win streak. His connections opted to run him 14 days after the Breeders' Cup in the Cary Grant at Del Mar, and the Vronksy gelding recorded a sharp 2 3/4-length win with a 103 BRIS figure. He'll be tough to beat in this small field of five, but could get locked into an early speed duel with pacesetter #5 Brickyard Ride. The seven-year-old is 10-for-16 at Santa Anita and will cut back in distance off his third in the 1 1/16-mile San Antonio S. (G2). He'll get a rematch with The Chosen Vron for the first time since the Thor's Echo S., where he was a distant third to his rival back in May.

BB:

#3 Book'em Danno (3-2) is one to watch in the Pasco S., R9 at Tampa Bay Downs. This gelding has had its best success sprinting and is well-suited for the specialist distance of seven furlongs. Pedigree should also be considered when betting this speedy son to Bucchero.