Horse Racing around the Country - Gulfstream and Oaklawn

National horse racing handicapper Michael Dempsey will attempt to pad his bankroll and yours with his daily column. He will feature at least one Pick 3 or Pick 4 play from a major track along during the week and covers major stakes races on the weekends.

The frigid temperatures finally caught up to the Big A. Racing was canceled for today at Aqueduct, as the high temperature may not reach 20 degrees.

That will not stop us from trying to pad our bankroll today. First, we will head out to sunny Gulfstream Park for an interesting maiden special weight race.

Then it is off to a chilly Hot Springs for the opening day feature at Oaklawn Park.

GP Race 4 Md Sp Wt (2:42 ET)

#2 Desert Falcon 6/1

#8 Battle Plan 6/1

#1 Marl 5/2

#3 Chief Bear 3/1

#2 Desert Falcon returns off nearly a three month break for the Orseno barn that is 20% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a 61-180 day layoff. The gelding exits a couple of highly graded races. He was third in his debut in a race that produced three next out winners. He just missed in his second start in NJ, coming up a neck shy of earning his diploma to See My Heart, who beat Alw-1 foes in his next outing on Oct. 23. His most recent start was a runner up finish behind a gate to wire loose on the lead winner in the slop at Philly. The gelding has been working steadily since early December over the main track here for his return.

#8 Battle Plan acted up at the gate, was sent to chase the early pace and faded to finish eighth in his debut, a race taken off the turf. There does not appear to be much early speed in here and it would be no surprise to see Johnny V. send this colt early. He has quite the pedigree, by Empire Maker out of the G1 winner Flanders ($805K) who has dropped six winners, top earner G1 winner Surfside ($1.8 million). The Pletcher barn is 23% winners with second time starters.

Wagering

WIN: #2 to win at 7/2 or better.

EX: 2,8 / 1,2,3,8

TRI: 2,8 / 1,2,3,8 / 1,2,3,6,8

OP Race 8 Dixieland Stakes (4:33 CT)

#2 Silver City 9/5

#3 Dance Caller 8/1

#5 Regardlessofoutcome 5/2

#8 He’s Boy Wonder 9/2

#2 Silver City ran huge last out in his first start against winners, trouncing a group of first level allowance foes at Churchill Downs. The colt went gate to wire and earned the top last out speed fig in the effort. The third place finisher in that race was General Quarters, who came back to finish second in the $65K Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in his next start. The colt is bred to be a nice one. He was purchased for $700K and is out of the stakes winner Proposal, who has dropped a couple of nice runners in Elope (3 for 4, $123K) and Initiation (2 for 6, $121K). The colt has popped a couple of quick works over at Fair Grounds for his stakes debut and this guy appears to have a bright future.

#3 Dance Caller makes his first start since a dull eighth at Keeneland in his first start against winners. He broke his maiden two back at Arlington in gate to wire fashion. The colt has only seen poly in his career and this will be his first trip on the real stuff. He appears to be handling it in the mornings with a pair of bullet works over the surface.