Betting Guide Horse Racing - April 14, 2012

With the Kentucky Derby (G1) three weeks from today (May 5th), the final two major preps leading up to the "Run for the Roses" will take place this afternoon.

First up will be the $750K Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland, and later this afternoon the $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby (G1) will be contested at Oaklawn Park. We have both races as part of today's East Coast racing newsletter.

Just to give you a "heads up," the first of the five stakes races on today's sheet isn't until 4:55pm Eastern.

We also feature five races from Santa Anita today. Get all of today's premium raacing picks here.

East Coast Results: Tampa Bay Downs Race #8 Top Pick #5 (Grand Cash) $5.80.

West Coast Results: Santa Anita Race #1 Exacta (3-1) $62.00.

Today's Picks:

AQUEDUCT Race #9 (THE DISTAFF HANDICAP (G2)) at 4:55 PM Eastern

Top pick: #7 (IT'S TRICKY) - Lightly raced, talented, and she went (8-4-3-0) last year winning just over $1M in earnings. Daughter of "Mineshaft" won her seasonal debut here on March 3rd in the (G2) Top Flight Hdcp. and is working extremely fast for this as she cuts back in distance. 4-year-old had a bullet half-mile breeze at Belmont on March 30th, the best of 100 runners at that distance that AM. Gets a alight edge over Nicole H.

2nd pick: #3 (Nicole H) - Outstanding sprinting mare is in great shape and comes into this off a second-place finish at Laurel on Feb. 18 in the Barbara Fritchie S.(G2) when she tired in the final 100yds. Mare by "Mr. Greeley" won this stakes last year and is the likely winner if "Tricky" is sub-par.

3rd pick: #6 (Her Smile) - Strong finisher runs third off a 3 1/2 month break and was competitive at Gulfstream in a pair of stakes after returning in Feb. She woul love a fast/and or contested pace to develop.

4th pick: #4 (White Merlot) - Tampa shipper is working very fast there since defeating a freaky quick and talented filly (It's Me Mom) on Feb. 25. This is a big step up for her and also the first time she's raced out of her home state of Florida.

Horse Racing Picks Resources:

Check out the last five Horse Racing Picks Newsletters:

Horse-Racing-Picks-April-13-2012
AQUEDUCT Race #3 at 1:50 PM EasternTop pick: #7 (DA VINCI) - Lightly-raced colt has won two of his four starts and races first off a Steve Asmussen claim. Son of "A.P. Indy" cost a cool $600,000 as a ...

Horse-Racing-Picks-April-13-2012
SANTA ANITA Race #1 at 1:00 PM PacificTop pick: #1 (JAREDELLA) - The probable favorite, daughter of "Tapit" has finished second in 5-straight starts and last out missed on this surface by a neck going...

Horse-Racing-Picks-April-12-2012
AQUEDUCT Race #5 at 2:50 PM EasternTop pick: #7 (RUNWAYEIGHTYFOUR) - Speedy colt by "Mineshaft" ships here from Gulfstream and races off a trainer change to Dom Galluscio and a two-month layoff. He's ...

Horse-Racing-Picks-April-12-2012
SANTA ANITA Race #1 at 1:00 PM PacificTop pick: #2 (ROYAL MERIDIAN) - Nice debut saw him track a fast pace, make a bid at the 1/8th pole, and check-in third of 10, beaten 1 1/2 lengths racing here at ...

Horse-Racing-Picks-April-11-2012
OAKLAWN PARK Race #5 at 1:20 PM PacificTop pick: #5 (MOON DANCING) - He won his debut racing here Feb 23rd for $15K, then tired while racing wide in an allowance-optional $65K claimer March 16th in hi...