49-day Layoff Comes to an End

I've been out of the racing action for nearly 50 days due, mainly due to a family emergency and the holidays. But, it's a new year and the Triple Crown prep races will begin in earnest soon so now's the perfect time to jump back into things.

I'll recap the graded stakes activity for the first couple weeks of the new year later. In the meantime, we'll take a look at today's trio of graded stakes.

JACKSON BEND returns to the races in the G3 Hal's Hope at one mile on the dirt at Gulfstream Park. This one runs up against an average field that includes last year's winner, SOARING EMPIRE, and SUCCESSFUL MISSION, a runaway winner of the Elkwood Stakes at Monmouth and a G3 turf race at Calder in spring of 2011. If JACKSON BEND is anywhere near ready, he should handle this group, but if you're looking to score an upset, it's tough to look past those two and SANGAREE, who finished 2nd in the G3 Bold Ruler at Aqueduct in November. I'll likely make an action play here, a $2 exacta box: SOARING EMPIRE, SUCCESSFUL MISSION, and SANGAREE.

The G3 Ft. Lauderdale is up next and run at one mile on the turf at Gulfstream Park. UPTOWNCHARLEYBROWN dives back into the graded stakes scene for the first time since the 2011 Triple Crown trail, which culminated with a 5th place finish in the Belmont Stakes. He's trying turf for the first time (his 3rd place finish on the Polytrack at Keeneland suggests he should handle the surface switch). SANTIVA also returns from a grueling Triple Crown schedule that featured a 6th place finish in the Kentucky Derby and 8th in the Belmont. This one just missed in his return prep, a one mile turf allowance, and could offer value at 20-1 on the morning line. YUMMY WITH BUTTER is an accomplished G3 turf runner with two G3 wins at Monmouth last year. MUTUAL TRUST is making his first North American start and the first under the care of Bill Mott. The class of the field might be TEAKS NORTH, who won the G1 United Nations and the G3 Monmouth at Monmouth Park last summer and returns to the races for the first time since running next to last in the BC Turf. We also have FLAT OUT making his turf debut in his first start since third in the G1 Clark Handicap on Thanksgiving weekend. SILVER MEDALLION is another contender who has taken to the turf nicely since joining Todd Pletcher's barn.

I'll focus on SANTIVA here and play this one on top and underneath of SILVER MEDALLION, TEAKS NORTH, and MUTUAL TRUST. I'll go $6 with SANTIVA on top and $4 underneath for a total investment of $30.

Finally, in the G2 San Fernando at Santa Anita, PRAYER FOR RELIEF opens his 4yo campaign after a disappointing finish in the Clark Handicap last November (9th of 13). The Iowa Derby, West Virginia Derby, and Super Derby winner gets a much easier spot here with TAPIZAR, winner of the G3 Sham and 5th in the BC Dirt Mile, the main threat. IRISH ART finished 2nd in a G2 last time out and figures to be part of the outcome here, too. If you're looking for an upset, Eoin Harty's BALLADRY fits the bill. This one took a 40k OC two back and finished a very close 4th in a 62.5 OC last time. This one steps up into the graded stake ranks for the first time under a trainer you must respect.

I won't go too crazy here, but will play the two favorites, PRAYER FOR RELIEF and TAPIZAR on top and bottom of exactas with Harty's horse. We'll go with $5 both ways for a total investment of $20.

I'll check back in to recap, but until then, good luck at the windows.

Today's total investment: $62