Horse Racing Tips - March 31, 2012

The Kentucky Derby (G1) is five weeks from today and the final major preps are taking place over the next 15 days.

Today, our East Coast racing newsletter will center on Gulfstream Park where "Union Rags" heads the field in the $1,000,000 Florida Derby (G1). The rest of the sheet is also from Florida, where the card is loaded with other stakes.

Tomorrow, the action shifts to the Fair Grounds, where the $1M Louisiana Derby (G1) will be contested on the final day of the meet in New Orleans that began way back on Thanksgiving. We'll have their "Derby" and several othe rich stakes on our Sunday newsletter.

One week from today, Aqueduct will play host to several G1 events headed by the $1,000,000 Wood Memorial. We'll have a Special Edition newsletter that day, highlighted by the "Wood" and the Carter stakes. It will be availabe for purchase late on Friday.

A reminder, that following a long tradition, Aqueduct will be "dark" tomorrow on Palm Sunday and also on Easter Sunday a week later.

From the West Caost we return to Santa Anita with four races, including the Santa Anita Oaks and the Evening Jewel Stakes.

Get on board with all of today's premium racing selections here.

Today's Picks:

GULFSTREAM PARK Race #3 (THE RAMPART STAKES (G3)) at 1:25 PM Eastern

Top pick: #5 (AWESOME MARIA) - The probable heavy favorite, she's won five in a row dating back to February of 2011 when she began her streak by winning the Sabin S.(G3). She became a G1 winner last June at Belmont when she won the Ogden Phipps S. and was sent in for an eight-month layoff at that time. Grey mare returned to take the "Sabin" again on Feb. 25 and is training fast at Palm Meadows for this event. She's a perfecy 3-for-3 on this surface and will be tough in this spot.

2nd pick: #1 (Beloveda) - Speedy mare is (7-6-1-0) since last October and is a perfect 2-for-two at this meet since joining the barn of Marty Wolfson. She's trying this 1 1/8th trip for the first time but had no trouble winning at the Fair Grounds going 8.5 furlongs on Dec. 23. One of two entered here by the trainer and the pair will race uncoupled.

3rd pick: #4 (Canadian Mistress) - The second of the Wolfson runners, she was victorious here facing weaker going a mile on Feb. 9, but was disqualified for not keeping a straight course down the stretch. Lightly raced, she has a flexible style and can grab a share with her best.

Results: 3-8

Horse Racing Picks Resources:

Check out the last five Horse Racing Picks Newsletters:

Horse-Racing-Picks-March-30-2012
AQUEDUCT Race #2 at 1:20 PM EasternTop pick: #2 (DADDY CAN) - Filly raced wide and within range before when debuting here in a 6-furlong sprint, racing for $35K. Trainer John Good drops her price by m...

Horse-Racing-Picks-March-30-2012
SANTA ANITA Race #1 at 1:00 PM PacificTop pick: #2 (TALKTOOMUCH) - Veteran mare is in shape and has a lot of back class on this group. 8-year-old daughter of "Royal Academy" has a total of 11 lifetime...

Horse-Racing-Picks-March-29-2012
AQUEDUCT Race #2 at 1:20 PM EasternTop pick: #6 (AFLEET'S ACLAIM) - Races third off a two-month layoff and he showed a big move forward in his second off a half-year's absence. Has a flexible running ...

Horse-Racing-Picks-March-29-2012
SANTA ANITA Race #2 at 1:30 PM PacificTop pick: #5 (LOTTAWAMPUM) - Daughter of "Indian Charlie" has run well in both starts and last out finished third, beaten a 1/2 length for the place by today's ri...

Horse-Racing-Picks-March-28-2012
AQUEDUCT Race #1 at 12:50 PM EasternTop pick: #4 (EMILY'S TWIST) - It's been 13 1/2 months since his first start but he took some money that day facing special weights and finished 4th of 6 despite a ...