The Woodhaven Stakes – Race 4 at Aqueduct – Post Time 2:40 PM Eastern
Top Win Contender(s): Blinging It Back, Teddy’s Rocket
Blinging It Back had a race on March 28, rallied from fifth to finish third, missing by a neck and a head in the similar Cutler Bay Stakes one month ago, and earned an Equibase Speed Figure of 92, the best among the other horses this year. He put in a sensational workout on April 13, 45.6 for four furlongs (third of 39). Davis was aboard in his last race and rides him again. Also, there are two or three “early pace horses” in this race to help Bringing It Back get up to win.
Teddy’s Rocket is coming off a seven-month layoff. In his debut, he won his career debut last August at one mile. He then ran in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes in September and was beaten by one and a half lengths. He earned a 93 figure in that race. Since he won his debut, he can rebound to win his second race.
Handicapper Picks
Win bets: Blinging It Back at 9 to 5 or higher.
Teddy’s Rocket at 2 to 1 or higher.
Sophomore Sprint Stakes – Race 7 at Gulfstream Park – Post Time 4:04 PM Eastern
Top Win Contender(s): My Boy Star
My Boy Star won his last race on March 29, leading early and winning by five lengths. He gets the three post. The two horses inside him lack early speed, so he should take the lead and control the race as he did in his last race. He earned the fastest Equibase Speed Figure, an 89, which he should repeat.
Handicapper Picks
Win bets: My Boy Star at 3 to 2 or higher.
FHBPA Turf Stakes – Race 8 at Gulfstream Park – Post Time 4:36 PM Eastern
Top Win Contender(s): Adios Cole
Adios Cole just missed a neck in the similar Turf Classic Stakes on March 29. Junior Alvarado rode him the first time and rides again. Adios Cole also finished second on February 22, an “open” race as opposed to a state-bred race like today. He earned a 100 figure in one race and then an 86 figure, the best figure of any other horse on turf.
Handicapper Picks
Win bets: Adios Cole at odds of 5 to 2 or higher.
FHBPA Sophomore Fillies Sprint Stakes – Race 9 at Gulfstream Park – Post Time 5:07 PM Eastern
Top Win Contender(s): Mythical
Mythical has won six of eight races; her two losses came in graded stakes. She just won the Any Limit Stakes, a “listed” race, and in this, an even easier (state-bred) race, she should win again.
Handicapper Picks
Win bets: Mythical at odds of 6 to 5 or higher.
FHBPA Sprint Stakes – Race 10 at Gulfstream Park – Post Time 5:38 PM Eastern
Top Win Contender(s): Damon’s Mount
Damon’s Mount won a similar stakes in March at Tampa. He also won in January. His second-place finish between the two races was in the Gulfstream Park Sprint. He is back at state-bred stakes, so he should win again.
Handicapper Picks
Win bets: Damon’s Mount at odds of 1 to 1 (even odds) or higher.
FHBPA Fillies and Mare Turf Stakes – Race 11 at Gulfstream Park – Post Time 6:09 PM Eastern
Top Win Contender(s): Lets Go Koko, Souper Zonda
Lets Go Koko led from the start in the Distaff Turf Stakes on March 29, and battled to the wire, finishing a half-length behind. That was her second race off a five-month layoff, earning a career-best Equibase Speed Figure of 101. She won the Powder Break Stakes last May at this distance at Gulfstream Park. She should run better in her third start off the layoff and could rebound over Souper Zonda, who beat her last month.
Souper Zonda is also a tough competitor, having won the Distaff Turf Stakes and the Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf Stakes, similar to the Sunshine Turf, in January. She will be second early behind Lets Go Koko, who can’t lead from the start to the finish. Souper Zonda can win again.
Handicapper Picks
Win bets: Lets Go Koko and Souper Zonda at odds of 9 to 5 or higher.
Royal Heroine Stakes – Race 9 at Santa Anita Park – Post Time 8 PM Eastern
Top Win Contender(s): Rosie Jeeks, Tirupati
For exactas: Take A Breath, Grand Slam Smile
Rosie Jeeks ran a mile turf race in her last start, where she battled head-and-head down the stretch and missed by a neck. She has won three of six other races and should improve. Last June, Rosie Jeeks won the Goldwood Stakes, earning a 95 Equibase Speed Figure. She was then off for seven months. Her comeback came in a sprint in January; she didn’t do well, but after two months, on March 21, she ran so well that she earned a career-best 98 figure. She should run well, as she did last year in her second race off the layoff.
Tirupati ran in a six-and-a-half-furlong prep race on April 4, after being off for 11 months. The reason it was just a prep was because of the layoff and because she had never raced on turf sprint in her 15 previous races. Her last race before the prep was the 2025 Royal Heroine, where she didn’t put in a kick and finished fifth of six. Before that, she won the Wilshire Stakes, earning a 100 figure. She led in the stretch and was beaten by a head in the Buena Vista Stakes, the same distance as this race. Since her prep, she put in a scintillating workout last week, finishing second of 85 going four furlongs in 46.6. Rosie Jeeks appears to be back in form and can win as she did in March 2025.
Take A Breath earned a 103 figure by winning the Santa Ana Stakes last month, but that was a 10-furlong race, and it was her first win in her sixth try in a U.S. race. I think she has a chance at second because she will be far back early.
Grand Slam Smile won 11 of 19 races, but she is a horse that can only win when leading from the start. She gets the outside post. Two others (A Thousand Miles and May Day Ready) may contest the pace. All her stakes wins have come in state-bred stakes. She finished third in her last two “open” company races.
Handicapper Picks
Win bets: Rosie Jeeks, Tirupati at odds of 9 to 5 or higher.
Exacta: Box Rosie Jeeks, Tirupati over Rosie Jeeks, Tirupati, Take A Breath, Grand Slam Smile