The Jury: Expert Picks, Bets, and Fades for March 29 [VIDEO]
Cornucopian winning his debut at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Media)
March 27th, 2025
The TwinSpires Jury of James Scully, Ashley Anderson, and Darin Zoccali discuss their best bets and fades at Oaklawn Park for the Arkansas Derby (G1) card and Gulfstream Park for Florida Derby (G1) Day. Plus, they give their top picks for both 100-point Kentucky Derby prep races on Saturday.
In Hot Springs, Arkansas, Oaklawn will play host to a 14-race card on March 29 with the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby slated as Race 13. Bob Baffert's debut maiden winner Cornucopian is the 7-5 morning-line favorite following his 5 3/4-length victory when racing six furlongs at Oaklawn in a maiden special weight on Feb. 23. He will stretch out to a route and face winners for the first time while breaking from an outside post.
One race earlier, fillies will vie for 100 Kentucky Oaks (G1) points in the 1 1/16-mile Fantasy (G2), headlined by #7 Simply Joking (8-5), an unbeaten stakes winner for trainer Whit Beckman. The Practical Joke three-year-old last won the one-mile and 70-yard Silverbulletday S. and will clash with recent Honeybee (G3) upsetter Quietside.
At Gulfstream, the Florida Derby is the final race on Saturday's 14-race program and will feature Baffert's Madaket Road, who placed second in last month's Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn, plus recent Fountain of Youth (G2) hero Sovereignty for trainer Bill Mott. Also in the mix is Brad Cox colt Tappan Street, the runner-up in the Feb. 1 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream, and Gun Runner colt Disruptor, who dominated by 9 1/4 lengths in a seven-furlong maiden special weight last out at the track on March 1. The $1.15 million yearling purchase is conditioned by Todd Pletcher.
Among the stakes-laden schedule at Gulfstream on Saturday is the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) in Race 9. Sophomore fillies once again compete for Kentucky Oaks (G1) points in the 1 1/16-mile event. #4 Five G will look to bounce back off her second in the Honeybee at Oaklawn, and she'll face a strong contingent from Saffie Joseph's barn, including recent Davona Dale (G2) victress The Queens M G.
Watch the TwinSpires Jury livestream at YouTube and TwinSpires' other social channels each week to hear full racing analysis from James, Ashley, and Darin!
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