Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. Consider this your weekly guide to the best stakes in North America. This week we have cards loaded with stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and Gulfstream Park, Dortmund 's return to dirt, and more. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern) and full previews are available through the links below.
Saturday, April 1
1:24 p.m.—$200,000 Appleton Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park
Following two efforts on dirt, Stronach Stables' Delta Prince, a half brother to champion filly Royal Delta, was switched to the grass and broke his maiden first out in December. He came back to score an allowance victory at Gulfstream in February.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, April 01, 2017, Race 4Entries: Appleton S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Diamond Bachelor (KY) Nicky Figueroa 119 Patrick L. Biancone 10/1 2 2Our Way (FL) John R. Velazquez 121 H. James Bond 2/1 3 3All Included (KY) Javier Castellano 119 Todd A. Pletcher 9/5 4 4My Point Exactly (FL) Paco Lopez 119 Elizabeth L. Dobles 12/1 5 5Market Outlook (KY) Nik Juarez 117 Nick J. Mastronardi, Jr. 30/1 6 6Siding Spring (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 117 Mark E. Casse 8/1 7 7Delta Prince (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 117 James A. Jerkens 3/1
1:53 p.m.—$200,000 Orchid Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park
Olorda had a short but productive season in 2016, when she won Gulfstream's The Very One Stakes (G3T) and Bewitch Stakes (G3T) in her only two starts a year ago, besting eventual grade 1 winners Dacita and Al's Gal in the process.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, April 01, 2017, Race 5Entries: Orchid S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Olorda (GER) Javier Castellano 119 Chad C. Brown 9/5 2 2Summersault (NY) Paco Lopez 119 Mark A. Hennig 7/2 3 3Temple Fur (KY) Edgar S. Prado 119 Jessica J. Campitelli 4/1 4 4Maquette (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 117 William I. Mott 5/2 5 5Quiet Kitten (KY) Luis Saez 117 Dale L. Romans 5/1
4:25 p.m.—$300,000 Honey Fox Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park
After dispatching fellow grade 1 winner Catch a Glimpse in her 2017 debut, Moyglare Stud Farm's Celestine will look to continue her roll by defending her title in the Honey Fox. The 5-year-old Scat Daddy mare was impressive in the Sand Springs Stakes March 3 at Gulfstream, where she set the pace, never gave in to the pressing Catch a Glimpse, and pulled clear to win by two lengths.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, April 01, 2017, Race 10Entries: Honey Fox S. (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Lori's Store (FL) Javier Castellano 119 Martin D. Wolfson 6/1 2 2Dad's Princess (KY) Luis Saez 117 Patrick L. Biancone 15/1 3 3Inside Out (KY) Paco Lopez 117 Martin D. Wolfson 15/1 4 4Josdesanimaux (FL) John R. Velazquez 119 Ralph E. Nicks 8/1 5 5Celestine (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 121 Christophe Clement 3/5 6 6Mississippi Delta (KY) Jose Lezcano 119 Mark E. Casse 8/1 7 7Linda (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 123 Ian R. Wilkes 5/1
4:39 p.m.—$400,000 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds
Honorable Duty will try for a third straight stakes win at the Fair Grounds meeting and the most prestigious victory of his career. He enters Saturday's 1 1/8-mile test for older horses off a half-length score over International Star in the Mineshaft Handicap (G3) Feb. 25 at Fair Grounds.
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, April 01, 2017, Race 8Entries: New Orleans H. (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Breaking Lucky (ON) Luis Contreras 118 Reade Baker 8/1 2 2Iron Fist (KY) David Romero Flores 116 Steven M. Asmussen 6/1 3 3International Star (NY) Tyler Gaffalione 118 Michael J. Maker 6/1 4 4Honorable Duty (KY) James Graham 119 Brendan P. Walsh 6/1 5 5Aglimpseofgabby (KY) C.J. McMahon 112 Dallas E. Keen 50/1 6 6Hawaakom (KY) Miguel Mena 118 Wesley E. Hawley 4/1 7 7Roman Approval (KY) Rajiv Maragh 114 Michael J. Maker 12/1 8 8Mo Tom (KY) Robby Albarado 115 Thomas M. Amoss 10/1 9 9Noble Bird (KY) Florent Geroux 121 Mark E. Casse 7/2 10 10Eagle (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 118 Neil J. Howard 6/1
4:57 p.m.—$250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park
Overlooked prior to her 14-1 upset of the Forward Gal Stakes (G2) six weeks ago, Dorothy Alexander Matz's homebred Tequilita figures to be one of the horses to beat when she returns to Gulfstream Park for the Oaks.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, April 01, 2017, Race 11Entries: Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Conquest Sorceror (KY) Miguel Angel Vasquez 122 Rasharn Creque 50/1 2 2Tequilita (KY) Luis Saez 122 Michael R. Matz 5/1 3 3Summer Luck (KY) Patrick Husbands 122 Mark E. Casse 6/1 4 4Spring Mist (KY) Javier Castellano 122 William E. Deaton 30/1 5 5Jordan's Henny (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 122 Michael A. Tomlinson 8/1 6 6Salty (KY) Joel Rosario 122 Mark E. Casse 9/5 7 7Nonna Bella (KY) John R. Velazquez 122 Todd A. Pletcher 2/1 8 8Shezaprado (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 122 Michael J. Maker 20/1 9 9Modacious (KY) Nik Juarez 122 Robert E. Reid, Jr. 15/1
5:06 p.m.—$300,000 Muniz Memorial Handicap (G2T) at Fair Grounds
A trio of Mike Maker-trained graded stakes winners, two owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, will face eight others when they line up for the Muniz. With graded stakes-placed Roman Approval, Maker has a total of four entrants in the approximately 1 1/8-mile turf test.
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, April 01, 2017, Race 9Entries: Muniz Memorial H. (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Enterprising (FL) Tyler Gaffalione 119 Michael J. Maker 5/1 2 2Blarp (KY) Miguel Mena 114 Thomas M. Amoss 8/1 3 3Sky Flight (KY) Richard E. Eramia 114 Michelle Lovell 20/1 4 4Roman Approval (KY) Rajiv Maragh 115 Michael J. Maker 8/1 5 5One Mean Man (KY) James Graham 115 Bernard S. Flint 8/1 6 6Granny's Kitten (PA) Shaun Bridgmohan 119 Michael J. Maker 6/1 7 7Pumpkin Rumble (PA) Mitchell Murrill 114 Gary M. Scherer 20/1 8 8Kasaqui (ARG) Robby Albarado 118 Ignacio Correas, IV 7/2 9 9Bullards Alley (KY) Marcelino Pedroza 116 Tim Glyshaw 12/1 10 10Oscar Nominated (KY) Florent Geroux 119 Michael J. Maker 4/1 11 11Special Ops (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 113 Brad H. Cox 15/1
5:41 p.m.—$400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) at Fair Grounds
Coffee Pot Stables' homebred Farrell will look to score her fourth straight stakes win and keep her status atop the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard. Already assured a spot in the starting gate at Churchill Downs May 5 with 70 qualifying points, the Malibu Moon filly could cement her status as the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) favorite.
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, April 01, 2017, Race 10Entries: Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Majestic Quality (KY) Richard E. Eramia 122 J. Keith Desormeaux 6/1 2 2Daria's Angel (KY) Robby Albarado 122 W. Bret Calhoun 6/1 3 3Wicked Lick (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 122 Brendan P. Walsh 12/1 4 4Corporate Queen (KY) Florent Geroux 122 Mark E. Casse 5/1 5 5Vexatious (KY) Kent J. Desormeaux 122 Neil D. Drysdale 6/1 6 6Farrell (KY) Channing Hill 122 Wayne M. Catalano 8/5 7 7Summer Luck (KY) Patrick Husbands 122 Mark E. Casse 9/2 8 8Queen Bernardina (KY) Miguel Mena 122 W. Bret Calhoun 20/1
6:06 p.m.—$200,000 Pan American Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park
The first three finishers out of the Jan. 28 W. L. McKnight Handicap (G3T) will again face one another in the Pan American. Taghleeb, who got the job done in the McKnight with a driving rally from well off the pace, will be going for his third straight black-type victory. He also won the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes in December.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, April 01, 2017, Race 13Entries: Pan American S. (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Designed for War (KY) Joel Rosario 117 Michael J. Maker 10/1 2 2Sadler's Joy (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 117 Thomas Albertrani 3/1 3 3Taghleeb (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 123 Michael J. Maker 7/2 4 4Snag (KY) John R. Velazquez 117 Todd A. Pletcher 15/1 5 5Patterson Cross (KY) Jose Lezcano 117 William I. Mott 4/1 6 6Reporting Star (FL) Javier Castellano 119 Brendan P. Walsh 6/1 7 7Montclair (IRE) Nik Juarez 119 Armando De la cerda 12/1 8 8Mr Maybe (KY) Paco Lopez 119 Chad C. Brown 5/1
6:21 p.m.—$1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds
In a Triple Crown prep season that has been full of chaos, Brad Grady's Girvin will hope to supply a bit of stability. The Tale of Ekati colt has played his part in the chaos. Last time out he upset the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at odds of 8-1, but will have to play the favorite in Fair Grounds' final prep for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, April 01, 2017, Race 11Entries: Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Patch (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 122 Todd A. Pletcher 9/2 2 2Hollywood Handsome (KY) Francisco C. Torres 122 Dallas Stewart 12/1 3 3Local Hero (KY) Florent Geroux 122 Steven M. Asmussen 7/2 4 4Senior Investment (KY) Channing Hill 122 Kenneth G. McPeek 12/1 5 5Monaco (KY) Rajiv Maragh 122 Todd A. Pletcher 12/1 6 6Guest Suite (KY) Robby Albarado 122 Neil J. Howard 4/1 7 7Sorry Erik (KY) Kent J. Desormeaux 122 J. Keith Desormeaux 30/1 8 8Girvin (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 122 Joe Sharp 8/5 9 9Hotfoot (KY) James Graham 122 Joe Sharp 30/1
6:40 p.m.—$1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park
Even as trainer Antonio Sano considers the Gunnevera's greatest challenge yet, from a difficult outside post under Javier Castellano, his confidence is unwavering. "We're going to be dropping to the rail," Sano said. "Castellano knows what to do. He knows this track better than anyone. And my horse comes from behind, so it's not a problem for us."
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, April 01, 2017, Race 14Entries: Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1State of Honor (ON) Julien R. Leparoux 122 Mark E. Casse 8/1 2 2Talk Logistics (FL) Joe Bravo 122 Edward Plesa, Jr. 30/1 3 3Charlie the Greek (FL) Leonel Reyes 122 Mikhail Yanakov 50/1 4 4Always Dreaming (KY) John R. Velazquez 122 Todd A. Pletcher 4/1 5 5Quinientos (KY) Carlos Montalvo 122 Enrique A. Sanchez 50/1 6 6Coleman Rocky (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Gustavo Delgado 30/1 7 7Unbridled Holiday (FL) Nik Juarez 122 Patrick L. Biancone 30/1 8 8Impressive Edge (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 122 Dale L. Romans 12/1 9 9Battalion Runner (KY) John R. Velazquez 122 Todd A. Pletcher 3/1 10 10Three Rules (FL) Luis Saez 122 Jose Pinchin 8/1 11 11Gunnevera (KY) Javier Castellano 122 Antonio Sano 9/5
7 p.m.—$75,000 Santana Mile at Santa Anita Park
In the March 11 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T)—his first start for trainer Art Sherman and the first grass try of his career—Dortmund looked uncomfortable on the turf throughout and never seriously threatened, so he'll switch back to the surface where he's won eight races in the Santana Mile.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, April 01, 2017, Race 8Entries: Santana Mile S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Magic Mark (CA) Joseph Talamo 120 Ronald W. Ellis 8/1 2 2Dalmore (FL) Stewart Elliott 122 J. Keith Desormeaux 8/1 3 3Dortmund (KY) Victor Espinoza 120 Art Sherman 6/5 4 4Clever Royal (FL) Corey S. Nakatani 120 Kristin Mulhall 12/1 5 5Collected (KY) Martin Garcia 120 Bob Baffert 3/1 6 6Mithqaal (KY) Rafael Bejarano 122 Doug F. O'Neill 8/1 7 7Avanti Bello (CA) Flavien Prat 122 Doug F. O'Neill 9/2
Sunday, April 2
5:17 p.m.—$200,000 Top Flight Invitational Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack
William Schettine's Isabelle showed she could handle stakes competition with two wins in her last three starts. She now will see if that success translates to a higher level. The 6-year-old Successful Appeal mare went gate to wire for an impressive 12-length victory last time out in the Heavenly Prize Invitational Stakes March 4.
Aqueduct Racetrack, Sunday, April 02, 2017, Race 8Entries: Top Flight Invitational S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Disco Rose (PA) J. D. Acosta 116 Robert E. Reid, Jr. 20/1 2 2Oasis At Midnight (KY) Rajiv Maragh 116 Joseph F. Orseno 20/1 3 3Verve's Tale (KY) Paco Lopez 123 Barclay Tagg 5/2 4 4Isabelle (NY) Kendrick Carmouche 123 William I. Mott 8/5 5 5Mo' Green (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 116 John C. Servis 3/1 6 6Winter (KY) Trevor McCarthy 118 Cathal A. Lynch 5/1
7 p.m.—$100,000 Tokyo City Cup (G3) at Santa Anita Park
With a relatively short turf prep race under his belt, Michael House's Big John B will attempt to repeat his 2016 victory in the 1 1/2-mile dirt test. Also a two-time grade 2 winner on grass, the son of Hard Spun has run on dirt just twice in 16 starts for trainer Phil D'Amato—he has 15 wins from 41 starts overall—but he's won them both.
Santa Anita Park, Sunday, April 02, 2017, Race 8Entries: Tokyo City Cup S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Beach View (MD) Stewart Elliott 120 Leonard Powell 5/1 2 2Infobedad (ARG) Tyler Baze 120 John W. Sadler 5/1 3 3Hi Happy (ARG) Tiago Josue Pereira 120 Felipe N Souza 5/2 4 4Irish Surf (KY) Flavien Prat 120 Dan L. Hendricks 12/1 5 5Big John B (FL) Rafael Bejarano 122 Philip D'Amato 8/5 6 6Hard Aces (KY) Santiago Gonzalez 124 John W. Sadler 7/2
