The Jury: Expert Picks, Bets and Fades for Oct. 10-12 [Video]

Racing analysts Ashley Anderson, Darin Zoccali, and Nick Tammaro discuss their best bets and fades at Keeneland, Santa Anita, and Belmont at the Big A. Ashley provides her thoughts in the written portion below. Be sure to check out Darin and Nick's opinions in our on-camera portion as well!

Best Bet for Weekend Racing

Ashley Anderson:

#3 Highway Robber (9-2) in the 1 1/2-mile Sycamore (G3) on Friday at Keeneland. The Hard Spun gelding has shown improvement over his four-year-old season, with a 4-2-1-1 record in 2024, and he displayed a strong closing kick in his first stakes win on Aug. 4 at Ellis Park when winning the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Downs Turf Cup Preview S. Last out, he moved up to face graded stakes company for the first time and rallied from far off the pace to finish a half-length second to Grand Sonata in the Turf Cup (G2) at Kentucky Downs. The Brian Lynch trainee should get a favorable pace setup Friday, with Tawny Port, Cathkin Peak, Sugoi, and Ohana Honor likely to push the tempo, and hot jockey Tyler Gaffalione (24% winner at Keeneland) opted to hop off morning-line favorite #11 Bold Act (3-1) to ride Highway Robber. In his second graded stakes effort, I'll back the late closer, who posted duplicate 99 Brisnet Speed figures in his last two starts.

Top Fade for Weekend Racing

AA:

#4 Giant Mischief (6-5) in the sixth race at Keeneland on Saturday. The Into Mischief four-year-old is returning off a more than nine-month layoff for Brad Cox after finishing last season with a 4 1/2-length third to Speed Boat Beach in the seven-furlong Malibu (G1). He'll cut back slightly in distance and drop in class today while regaining Tyler Gaffalione. Giant Mischief won three back at six furlongs in an allowance optional claimer at Churchill on Sept. 20, when he rated early along the inside, then angled out to race four wide through the turn and edged clear to prevail by 2 3/4 lengths. In his next start, he stretched out to seven furlongs in an allowance optional claimer at the same track and came home second as the favorite.

Off a long layoff and facing a solid group of seven rivals on Saturday, I consider the price too low on Giant Mischief to back him here. I prefer the chances of #5 Cyclone Mischief to the outside of the morning-line favorite in the drop-down in class. The Dale Romans trainee posted a 100 Brisnet Speed figure two back when winning a six-furlong allowance optional claimer at Ellis by half a length, then failed to factor last out in the six-furlong Louisville Thoroughbred Society S. at Churchill. Corey Lanerie (22% winner this meet) will stick with the Into Mischief colt, who's 2-1-0-1 at Keeneland. #3 Bromley (9-2) is also intriguing as a late closer who recorded a 104 Late Pace rating last out when a three-quarter-length second in a 7 1/2-furlong allowance optional claimer at Churchill. He'll now cut back to a distance from which he's 2-for-2.

#1 Kavod (12-1) is also a longshot to consider as one of two speed horses in the field. The gelding will make his third start since transferring to Joe Sharp's barn, and he put in a sharp four-furlong workout on Oct. 6.

What Else Is Worth Noting

AA:

Keeneland will host the 5 1/2-furlong Franklin (G2) on Sunday, with a talented group of 12 in the main field, plus four also-eligibles. #1 Star of Mystery (3-2) is a heavy morning-line favorite for Charlie Appleby after defeating males in the Quick Call (G3) at Saratoga on July 14. She's returning off a more than three-month layoff here and retaining Flavien Prat in her first start of the season against only females. She's also one of five three-year-old fillies in the body of the field and will carry three pounds fewer than one of her older rivals. 

Star of Mystery is 6-3-2-1 on the season and 4-2-1-1 from today's distance. While she's in excellent form and will be tough to beat, there are a few older horses capable of an upset. #3 Roses for Debra (9-2) won at Keeneland in the spring in the 5 1/2-furlong Giant's Causeway (G3) and posted a career-best 99 BRIS figure in the effort. She then finished a head second and a 2 1/2-length third to today's rival #5 Future Is Now (4-1) in her next two starts — the Intercontinental (G2) and Smart N Fancy, both 5 1/2-furlong stakes at Saratoga. Last out, Roses for Debra set a track record at Presque Isle Downs when beating today's Franklin rival Pandora's Gift in a 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2 on Tapeta. She's eligible to improve third start off the layoff for Christophe Clement and will keep regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr.

Stablemate #6 Dontlookbackatall (8-1) is also a chance at a price with Tyler Gaffalione aboard. The four-year-old filly won the 5 1/2-furlong Caress (G3) two back over nine rivals and recorded a 97 BRIS rating, then finished second by more than five lengths to Ag Bullet in the 6 1/2-furlong Ladies Turf Sprint (G2) at Kentucky Downs. The Clement pupil is 5-3-2-0 from today's distance, and her last-out 98 BRIS figure is the highest last-race speed rating among the field.