Horse Betting World

Busy Weekend Ahead – February 5-6

By Joey Adams

This time of year it seems all the focus is on three-year-olds and their march towards the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. Unfortunately the prep schedule is pretty light this weekend in those regards.

The $100,000 Whirlaway at Aqueduct won’t have any effect on the Graded Earnings list, but it may produce a starter or two for the upcoming Gotham-G3 and Wood Memorial-G1. That could leave the $250,000 Las Virgenes-G1 at Santa Anita as the most attractive prep race this weekend, as it will feature leading California three-year-old filly Turbulent Descent.

The stakes menu this weekend is not barren, however, with no fewer than 27 black-type events scheduled to be run Saturday and Sunday. Obviously, the vast majority of those will be run Saturday, so as not to conflict with the biggest sporting attraction of the weekend – the Super Bowl.

For those looking for a respite from the daily grind of maidens and claimers, Saturday’s menu offers something for everyone. Here’s a look at the schedule:

- Gulfstream Park … $500,000 Donn Handicap-G1
- Gulfstream Park … $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap-G1
- Santa Anita … $250,000 Las Virgennes-G1
- Delta Downs … $200,000 Premier Night Championship
- Santa Anita … $150,000 Strub Stakes-G2
- Gulfstream Park … $150,000 Suwanee River-G3
- Delta Downs … $150,000 Premier Night Distaff
- Aqueduct … $100,000 Whirlaway
- Oaklawn Park … $100,000 Essex Handicap
- Santa Anita … $100,000 Thunder Road Handicap-G3
- Delta Downs … $100,000 Premier Night Prince
- Delta Downs … $100,000 Premier Night Starlet
- Delta Downs … $100,000 Premier Night Matron
- Delta Downs … $100,000 Premier Night Sprint
- Laurel Park … $75,000 Marshua Stakes
- Tampa Bay Downs … $75,000 Super Stakes
- Delta Downs … $70,000 Premier Night Ladies Starter
- Delta Downs … $70,000 Premier Night Gentlemen Starter
- Fair Grounds … $60,000 Black Gold
- Fair Grounds … $60,000 Tiffany Lass
- Delta Downs … $55,000 Premier Night Bon Temps Starter
- Delta Downs … $55,000 Premier Night Ragin Cajun Starter
- Turfway Park … $50,000 WEBN Stakes
- Sunland Park … $50,000 Budweiser Stakes
- Sam Houston … $50,000 Jersey Lilly Stakes

Early Sunday we’ll be treated to additional stakes at Santa Anita ($150,000 San Antonio-G2) and Gulfstream Park ($100,000 Hallandale Beach).

That’s $3.2 million in purses, and more than 200 horses to handicap, over a two-day period – by 6:30 PM (ET) Sunday, horseplayers should be ready to hit the recliner, switch gears and turn on a little football!

* Note – Turfway Park, in Florence, Kentucky, has switched to a three-day race week through the end of the meet on April 3. Along with the schedule change, Turfway is moving to a 5:30 PM (ET) post time on Saturday’s – marking the first time in nearly 30 years that Turfway will conduct Saturday racing at night. Friday and Sunday post times will remain the same, 5:30 PM (ET) and 1:10 PM (ET), respectively.