The Jury: Expert Picks, Bets and Fades for March 2 [Video]

Racing analysts Ashley Anderson, James Scully, and Darin Zoccali talk their best bets and fades in the Fountain of Youth (G2), the John Battaglia Memorial, and more stakes action at Gulfstream Park, Turfway Park, and Aqueduct. Ashley and James offer their thoughts in the written portion below. Be sure to check out Darin's opinions in our on-camera portion as well!

Best Bet for Weekend Racing

James Scully:

#7 Tawny Port (6-1) in the Mac Diarmida (G2) at Gulfstream Park. He finally switched to turf last summer, performing respectably versus stakes rivals, and Tawny Port is poised to show more at age five. None of his rivals appear imposing and Tawny Port’s tactical foot should ensure a favorable trip, allowing him to track the probable lone speed (Main Event) before taking command in the stretch. 

Ashley Anderson:

#7 Blue Eyed George (6-1) in Race 6, the John Battaglia Memorial. The Flameaway colt last finished a four-length second to John Battaglia morning line favorite #6 Epic Ride (5-2) in the one-mile Leonatus but will stretch back out to 1 1/16 miles here. He won at the distance two back on turf in an allowance at Keeneland, where he defeated a next-out stakes winner, and Blue Eyed George is eligible to improve in his second start on all-weather as well as his second start off a layoff. Trainer Michael McCarthy is a 15% winner at Turfway and a 21% winner on all-weather. Rider Luan Machado also opted to stick with Blue Eyed George rather than 4-1 morning line choice and recent maiden winner #4 Bolt At Midnight. With TwinSpires offering a Winter Money Back promo on this race, it's a chance to take a shot at a price horse, so I'll back Blue Eyed George at 6-1.

Top Fade for Weekend Racing

JS:

#6 Epic Ride (5-2) earned a 96 Brisnet Speed rating when breaking his maiden at six furlongs two starts back, and he’s a talented and promising sprint type. His Speed ratings dropped 12 points when stretching to a mile in the Leonatus S., basically overwhelming a short field lacking speed on the front end that evening, but Saturday’s John Battaglia S. has plenty of pace at a 1 1/16-mile distance. I’ll look for more from Epic Ride when he cuts back to a sprint next time.

AA:

#5 Dornoch (2-1) in the Fountain of Youth (G2), R14 at Gulfstream. The full-brother to last year's Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage is returning from a more than three-month layoff after winning the Remsen (G2) by a nose on Dec. 2. The Good Magic colt has now won back to back on a fast and muddy surface, but he's never raced off this long of a layoff since making his debut in late July of last year, and trainer Danny Gargan stated that he doesn't want Dornoch to go too forward and have to run a "crazy, big, fast number," but instead his hope is to keep him maintained and sound for the first Saturday in May. As he put it, "We'd like to win the Fountain of Youth, but it's not really the goal." I'll look elsewhere in the field and like debut maiden winner #1 Speak Easy (9-2), who just clocked a 103 Brisnet Speed figure when winning at seven furlongs at Gulfstream on Jan. 27, as well as #3 Victory Avenue (4-1), who finished second to Speak Easy and recorded a 100 BRIS figure.

What Else Is Worth Noting

JS:

#10 Just a Touch (5-2) generated a buzz when capturing his career debut at Fair Grounds in late January, registering a 97 Brisnet Speed rating for the 4 1/4-length decision, and the Justify colt will look to join the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail when making his stakes debut in Saturday’s Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct. One of four entrants for Brad Cox, who won the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park last weekend with Timberlake, Just a Touch figures to compete for Gotham favoritism with his big reputation, and he’s one of four entrants for Brad Cox, who since has saddled nine runners in the Kentucky Derby since making his first appearance in 2021.

AA:

#3 Just F Y I (7-5) will make her three-year-old debut in the Davona Dale S., a Kentucky Oaks prep on the Fountain of Youth undercard on Saturday. The Justify filly, who's 3-for-3 for her career, was last seen winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) in November, and her Brisnet Speed figures have steadily improved with each start. Just F Y I is the lone stakes winner in the field, and it's her race to lose, but I'm also intrigued to see Todd Pletcher filly #2 Leslie's Rose in her third career start. The unbeaten Into Mischief daughter most recently won a seven-furlong allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream, where she posted a 96 BRIS figure in the effort. She'll keep hot jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (22% winner this meet) and has posted a number of sharp workouts since her most recent win.