The Jury: Expert Picks, Bets, and Fades for March 8 [VIDEO]

Ashley Anderson, James Scully, and Darin Zoccali offer their best bets and fades at Aqueduct, Fair Grounds, Oaklawn Park, and Tampa Bay Downs, which will host the next stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) with Saturday's Tampa Bay Derby (G3).

Best Bet for Weekend Racing

James Scully:

#5 Outrageously (12-1) will cut back to a favorable sprint distance in Saturday’s ninth race at Oaklawn Park. Ignore her first four starts on synthetics or longer distances; Outrageously relished a pair of sprint attempts at Churchill Downs last fall. After romping by 7 1/2 lengths at seven furlongs three back, she cut back to Saturday’s six-furlong distance to easily defeat a nice group of starter allowance foes, registering an 89 Brisnet Speed rating that looms large in this spot. Outrageously runs well fresh, winning smartly off a six-month rest three back, and she appears to be training forwardly for Jordan Blair.

Ashley Anderson: 

#6 She's Inthearmynow (3-1) in the opener at Fair Grounds on Saturday. The five-year-old mare will make her second start at Fair Grounds, where she dominated by 13 lengths over a muddy track at today's distance of six furlongs on Dec. 27. The Wayne Catalano trainee is 2-for-13 lifetime and has moved around quite a bit since transferring to Catalano's barn in early 2024. Aside from her 13 3/4-length romp in a six-furlong claimer two back, She's Inthearmynow's other career win came on turf in a five-furlong maiden special weight at Golden Gate Fields back in 2023 when trained by Jonathan Wong. While she's been inconsistent throughout her career, a return to Fair Grounds and a drop in class from her last start should trigger a win for the daughter of Army Mule. She put in a bullet three-furlong work at Fair Grounds on March 1, and Declan Cannon (a 15% winner this meet) will pick up the mount. Catalano is also a 21% winner at the claiming level and a 28% winner with beaten favorites. She's Inthearmynow has displayed good speed in her four previous starts, and she should be able to get the early lead here. I'll back the co-second choice on the morning line and look for a gate-to-wire victory.

Top Fade for Weekend Racing

JS: 

#2 Channel Check (2-1) in the 12th race at Tampa Bay Saturday. This Chad Brown trainee shows a bullet work in preparation, but I prefer several with experience, including stablemate #8 Lady Authentic (7-2), who will make her second start off the layoff following a commendable runner-up effort. I also think #7 Currane (8-1) and #11 Por Voce (12-1) are in with a chance at second asking.

AA:

#2 Captivating Sound (5-2) at Tampa Bay Downs in Race 2, a seven-furlong claimer for fillies and mares four years old and up who have never won two races. The daughter of Audible will drop in class today after finishing an eight-length fifth in a $25,000 claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs and was beaten a half-length two back at today's distance when facing a similar class level at Tampa Bay. However, the four-year-old filly is making her third start in 22 days and showed declining form and speed last out when recording a light 61 BRIS figure in defeat. The Pablo Torres trainee is also 0-for-6 at Tampa Bay and 0-for-3 from today's distance. I'll play against the morning-line favorite, whose lone win from 14 starts came back in July of 2024 in a maiden claimer on Monmouth's turf.

What else is worth noting?

JS:

Sparkle Blue will make a title defense for Graham Motion in Saturday’s Hillsborough (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs, but it’s her stablemate, unbeaten South African multiple Group 1 winner Gimme a Nother, who has piqued interest in the 1 1/8-mile turf affair. Unraced since early April, the five-year-old mare will bring a 7-for-7 record to her North American debut and adds the services of Irad Ortiz Jr. She faces a stiff test from a trio of Chad Brown runners, including Endeavour (G3) romper Saffron Moon and Spaliday, unraced since winning the Lake Placid (G2) last fall.

Earlier in the program, Skippylongstocking will seek a third consecutive edition of the Challenger (G3). He’s won by open lengths the last two years and returns in fine fettle for Saffie Joseph Jr., missing second by a neck to Locked in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) on Jan. 25. The six-year-old will face an interesting matchup against Most Wanted, who will be looking to step up in the older dirt male division as a four-year-old. The Candy Ride colt didn’t make it to the races until last June, winning his first four starts, including the Oklahoma Derby (G3) and Ellis Park Derby, before concluding his three-year-old season with a close second to Rattle N Roll in the Clark (G2), and Most Wanted appears to be training forwardly for Brad Cox in preparation for his return in the 1 1/16-mile Challenger.

AA:

Reigning Horse of the Year and champion three-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna will make her four-year-old debut in the Azeri (G2) on Saturday at Oaklawn Park. The winner of last year's Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) is a 2-5 morning line favorite in the 1 1/16-mile event, which attracted seven older fillies and mares. Thorpedo Anna drew the rail post and will keep regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr., who guided her to a four-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Fantasy (G2), Thorpedo Anna's lone previous start at Oaklawn back in March of 2024. Her lone defeat in her last seven starts came in the 1 1/4-mile Travers (G1), in which she came home a head second while facing males. The Kenny McPeek trainee has been working out sharply ahead of her season debut and will be tough to beat on Saturday. Her main opposition will be #2 Alpine Princess (6-1), a four-year-old stakes winner by Classic Empire who placed second by a head and a neck facing graded stakes company in her last two. However, based on speed figures and Brisnet Prime Power ranking, Thorpedo Anna should be in a class of her own on Saturday as she launches her four-year-old campaign and attempts to build on a stellar three-year-old season.

Tampa Bay Derby (G3) pick

JS:

#2 Chancer McPatrick (8-5). Unraced since an unplaced effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), the Champagne (G1) and Hopeful (G1) winner underwent surgery for a minor chip and missed training time due to a reported quarter crack, but Chancer McPatrick has been working steadily since late January and figures to receive a nice set up in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby. Chad Brown adds blinkers, and Flavien Prat sticks with the late runner.

AA:

#7 Patch Adams (2-1). The Into Mischief colt graduated at second asking with a 10-length romp in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill on Nov. 30, which earned him favoritism in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest (G3) last out at Oaklawn on Jan. 25. Breaking from post 6, the Brad Cox pupil bobbled at the start and lacked early foot off the inside. He was closest to the winner by midstretch but flattened out late to finish fourth by 2 1/2 lengths to Speed King. Leading up to his second try at a route, Patch Adams has been working well at Payson Park and put in a bullet five-furlong workout on March 1. Cox is a 29% winner with horses making their second start at a route and a 43% winner (7-3-3-0) at Aqueduct this meet. Florent Geroux will regain the mount and won with Patch Adams when the colt broke his maiden. I'll play the second choice on the morning line and look for improvement in his second start at age 3.