Top Horse Racing Picks for Friday, February 25, 2022

I backed a couple of the morning-line favorites at Fair Grounds Race Course—but I also discovered a tasty 8/1 sleeper there, as well. My horseracing picks at Golden Gate Field were from the top three in each race, but Oaklawn served us a surprise 8/1 sleeper among the faves.

So, as the great philosopher Charlie Sheen noted: Winning!

Be that as it may, you can find the entire race-cards for all three tracks at our best horseracing wagering sites.

Good luck!

We’ll start on the turf course with race four, a 1-1/16 miles claiming run for four-year-olds and upward that have never won two races or three-year-olds. Looks like I’ll be kicking off my picks with an 8/1 sleeper: Cartier Cat, ridden by veteran jockey Jareth Loveberry.

The statistical leader in an otherwise unimpressive eight-horse field, this four-year-old gelding finished in the money for three of his four career starts, winning one.

Carlos H. Silva trains Cartier Cat for owner William Granger. Silva put Loveberry in the irons for Cartier Cat’s latest two races, including his maiden victory.

We move to the dirt track for race five, a one-mile allowance run for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares three years old and upward that have never won two races. I like the 3/1 morning-line favorite for this race: Dreaming of Neany, with Marcelino Pedroza, Jr. in the irons.

This three-year-old filly moneyed three of her four career starts, winning her initial maiden attempt.

Sam B. David, Jr. trains Dreaming of Neany for owners-breeders Keith Hernandez, Earl Hernandez, Steve Landry, and John Duvieilh.

Race nine is a 1-1/16 miles allowance optional claiming run on the dirt track for four-year-olds and upward.  If the morning-line is to be believed, this race belongs to one horse—and I’m inclined to agree: I’m betting my two dollars on the 9/5 favorite, Proxy, with Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. aboard.

You may recall that last year, Proxy was a solid contender on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, finishing second in both the Lecomte Stakes (Grade III) and the Risen Star Stakes (Grade II). He also picked up R2TKD leaderboard points running fourth in both the Louisiana Derby (Grade II) and the Lexington Stakes (Grade III).

Two other horses in this race have competed with Proxy at the stakes level—and Proxy outperformed them both.

For the record, Proxy moneyed five of his seven career starts, winning two. Michael Stidham trains Proxy for Godolphin, LLC.

We’re on the all-weather track for race four, a 5-1/2 furlong claiming race for three-year-olds. I’d call this a no-brainer, but I think the 1/1 favorite, Sauls Call, is going to see some real competition from the third-favored Manaalaboutdamoney.

That said, I’m still backing Sauls Call, piloted by Armando Ayuso, for the win.

This gelding finished seven of his nine career starts in the money, winning four. Versus the rest of this short field of five, he’ll do.

Steven Miyadi trains Sauls Call for owners Saul Carrillo, Victor M. Flores, Jeff Ganje, and Eugene Zondlo.

Race seven is a one-mile starter allowance race on the all-weather track for three-year-olds that have never won two races (one win for $20,000 or less will not be considered when determining eligibility). My money’s on the second-favored (at 9/5) Will Is Chill, ridden by Evin A. Roman.

This gelding moneyed four of his five career starts, winning two—both this year—which gives him the statistical edge in this six-horse field.

Ranked among the top 100 for wins, earnings or both for the past six years, Jonathan Wong trains Will Is Chill for Lucas Downs, Ltd.

Race eight is a six-furlong claiming race on the all-weather track for three-year-olds. Looks like the morning line was right—I’m betting my two dollars on the 2/1 favorite, Chumly, piloted by Pedro M. Terrero.

This gelding finished in the money four of his six career starts, winning one.

Blaine D. Wright trains Chumly for owner-breeder Chappell Alpine Farms LLC.

Let’s start out on the dirt track with race four, a grueling one-and-one-half mile allowance race for four-year-olds and upward. I’m calling this one for the 2/1 morning-line favorite, Strong Tide, ridden by veteran jockey Geovanni Franco.

This five-year-old finished in the money 14 of his 29 career starts, winning eight.

Strong Tide notably finished third in the To Much Coffee Stakes (Black Type) at Horseshoe Indianapolis in October and the John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (Grade III) at Sam Houston Race Park last month.

Michael E. Lauer trains Strong Tide for owner Penny S. Lauer.

Race eight is a one-mile allowance run on the dirt track for three-year-olds that have never won three races. My money’s on the 8/1 sleeper, Dr Jack, with Geovanni Franco aboard.

This four-year-old colt moneyed four of his eight career starts, winning two—his initial maiden attempt last April and an allowance race the following month.

Steven M. Asmussen trains Dr Jack for Harrell Ventures, LLC.

Race nine is a six-furlong allowance optional claiming race on the dirt track for Arkansas-bred three-year-olds and upward. I’m not as impressed with the favorite as the morning line appears to be, so I’m betting my two dollars son the third-favored (at 4/1) One Ten Stadium, ridden by Ricardo Santana, Jr.

This three-year-old gelding finished both of his career starts in the money, finishing second in his initial maiden attempt in October at Remington Park, then graduating on his second attempt in December here at Oaklawn.

Breeders’ Cup veteran Ron Moquett trains One Ten Stadium for owner-breeder William S. Sparks.

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