Thursday 4/16/26 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2026, 11:03 AM

Jeremy Plonk: Woodbine Opening Day Saturday Pick 5 Hit & Spli

April 16, 2026 | By Jeremy Plonk

Woodbine welcomes Thoroughbred racing back for opening day of the 2026 season on Saturday. To celebrate, the 20-cent base bet early pick 5 boasts a $1,000 Hit & Split promotion when you bet with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. First post will be 1:20 pm ET and note the initial 3 weeks of the season schedule feature Saturday-Sunday weekend racing.

Let’s get to work.

Race 1: claiming

#5 Haley’s Honor broke her maiden immediately following the winter break a year ago and has trained in sharp times for a Steven Chircop barn that won 32% off 160-day or more layoffs at Woodbine in April / May over the last 5 years. #2 Rarified ran a good second off the layoff to open 2025 and closed the campaign with a dominant win when last seen in late November. She gets Rafael Hernandez to ride and note he won 24% locally over the last 5 years in dash races 5 furlongs or shorter. I’ll use that pair but deeper tickets consider #3 Saucy Name and #4 Rocket Riley, who both won their ’25 seasonal returns off the bench.

Race 2: claiming

#7 Mi Tormenta (5 wins) and #5 Summer Snow (6 wins) were blanked from the winner’s circle last year but catch a race condition favorable to them in that they’re facing essentially a group of non-winners of 3 lifetime races. Summer Snow has excellent gate speed to apply over the 4-1/2 furlong dash trip. Mi Tormenta ran a strong third vs. a much tougher claiming condition to open her ’25 season off a similar break. Her trainer Ross Armata is 7: 3-1-1 with limited April starters at Woodbine in recent years.

Race 3: allowance/optional claiming

#1 Minimum Forty looked like the goods in her November 22 debut when the Bobby Tiller trainee drew off to score by more than 5 lengths. That barn is a strong 19: 4-2-1 in April starts at Woodbine the last 5 years and the Tiller-Fukumoto combo wins 28% with a $3.29 ROI for every $1 bet. I’ll single while considering #2 Barbara Joan and #5 Lady Virago the primary challengers.

Race 4: claiming

This looks like the best potential spread race in the sequence as #5 Dedos figures to be well-backed off 6-5 and 4-5 play at Turfway for Wesley Ward. Her modest maiden breaker Feb. 27 saw the runner-up take 3 more starts to break his maiden and have to venture to Mountaineer to do so. I’m not sure she has any decided edge though Ward is 12: 3-4-0 at Woodbine in April the last 5 years and might have caught the right field. I’ll toss the #2 and #3 who are 2-for-37 collectively and both broke their maidens at the basement $9,500 level. Use the other 5 runners in this 7-horse affair.

Race 5: maiden special weight

Mark Casse’s pair of #2 Will Win and #1 Smokin Empire wintered in Florida and have some training fitness edge on the locals. #4 Justine exits the Wesley Ward barn and joined Dale Desruisseaux in March. Her local works and Churchill fall form give her a massive shot even against the boys as a 4-year-old vs. inexperienced 3-year-olds. Deeper tickets may consider #6 Delta Force, but with only 2 works on the tab, he may be short of his best and I’ll stick with using the leading trio.

The Ticket:

2,5 with 7,5 with 1 with 1,4,5,6,7 with 2,1,4 = $12 for each $.20 play

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2026, 11:03 AM

Scott Shapiro: Santa Anita Opening Day Spot Plays

April 16, 2026 | By Scott Shapiro

After a week off at Santa Anita Park, it is time for Opening Day of the springtime Hollywood meet at “The Great Race Place.” The 9-race slate kicks off at 4PM eastern/1PM local time and includes five races over the grass. Here are a few horses I plan to build my Opening Day around in Arcadia on Friday afternoon.

Race 2:
My first play of the meet comes in this state-bred MSW event at one mile over the main track where I like second-time starter #2 Blame It On Jack. The Peter Miller trainee stretches out to two turns after breaking slowly from his inside draw on debut going 6-furlongs versus similar on April 2. The Blame gelding was no match for the two betting favorites who were far more prominent early than he was two weeks ago, but he did run on to finish a well-beaten third. The softer field, added ground, and experience gained from his first start should all lead to an improved run as jockey Juan Hernandez jumps aboard this time around.

Play: #2 Blame It On Jack (9-5 ML)

Race 3:
#1 Cyprus Moon is listed as the 7-5-ML favorite in this non-winners of three claimer at 6-furlongs over the grass, but she has had very fair chances at this level in back-to-back starts and been unable to seal the deal. The Malibu Moon mare will likely be on the lead again, but I prefer the other likely speed #4 How Lovely. The Steve Knapp trainee drops out of a conditional starter allowance into this claiming spot and should have a tactical advantage on the chalk drawing to her outside. She has not necessarily proven she can settle just off and finish with energy, but her last couple of races have come against faster horses than she meets on Friday afternoon. I like her chances to gut this out under veteran Edwin Maldonado.

Play: #4 How Lovely (3-1 ML)

Race 5:
The pace in this $25k claimer over the grass that not only kicks off the late Pick 5, but also the $3 All Turf Pick 3 should be contentious. #1 Invincible Molly and #4 Shangrilama were prominent in their start last month at this level, but are likely to be in the second tier in this bunch given the presence of #2 Long Mayshe Reigns and #5 Ro Town. The race should really setup for a horse that can settle early and finish strong. I am hopeful that is #8 Special Flower. The 7YO mare makes her fourth start of the year after being caught very wide into the lane in the common race on March 13. She still finished with energy at nearly 9-1 to earn third. She has had all of her success over this course, draws favorably to the outside, and should relish the slight cutback to 6-panels. At 9-2 Special Flower offers fair value in a fun way to start a few of the bigger horizontals on the card.

Play: #8 Special Flower (9-2 ML)

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2026, 11:45 AM

Brian W. Spencer's Daily Picks

Keeneland - Race #3

#5 Aurora Sky	Both turf sprint trips have been pretty good, and I think a repeat of either one of them would be enough to keep her in the picture today. Wouldn't be upset to jump in at something like the 5/1 ML price.
#1 Gellhorn	She turns back with some route pace and is probably capable of something better than the Saratoga turf sprint dud from last year. In the mix.
#12 One Happy Island	She has had plenty of chances, and most of her form isn't all that compelling -- but she has occasionally shown a little bit of competitive finishing form, and I wouldn't be shocked to see her clunk along for a piece of this at a price.
Race Summary	Aurora Sky has enough tactical pace to find a good spot here, and I think there are a lot more questions than answers on paper in this bunch -- taking a relatively known commodity.

Keeneland - Race #7

#7 Faber	Wonder if he might find an OK kind of tactical trip at this marathon run in a race without a whole lot of speed. That September Woodbine stakes try might stack up OK here if he can get back to it while stretching out again.
#8 Chapman's Peak	Forward player should be able to control the tempo in a race where the rest of them want to settle and try to win a sprint to the finish. Can be tough with a dreamy trip waiting for him.
#6 Coiled	He's a pretty honest finisher and has run well in a couple of long-distance races in the last year, but I worry that he's going to give a jump to a few players who might be capable of seeing him off late with a friendly race flow waiting for them.
Race Summary	Faber can get the jump on a few of the logical finishers in here, as he ran pretty well at this trip last year and is probably capable of better here while dropping out of that Grade II.

Keeneland - Race #9

#3 Common Defense	Going to go with his reliable form here, even if I wonder if he might be a touch better at a longer kind of trip than he's going to get today. Tough.
#5 Anglophile	He has been in with some decent groups and is another who may typically do his better work going longer than this, but he might be able to finish up with some enthusiasm a this shorter trip off the layoff.
#10 Sand Pipes	Main worry is that he doesn't tend to find a whole lot in the final yards, but he might again be in a decent enough spot turning for home where another one-paced finishing effort might land a share.
Race Summary	Common Defense cuts back for this one with a couple of decent shorter runs on his page in the past, and he's probably got enough positional pace to stay in the frame early even while turning back.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2026, 11:45 AM

Frank Carulli's Daily Picks

Gulfstream Park - Race #3

#2 SING SING (4-1)	Proven turf miler returns to proper level, been keeping good company of late.
#4 SPY NOVEL (5-1)	Won four of last nine starts, gave way in turf marathon in seasonal debut.
#3 RUSE (5-2)	Reeled off seven consecutive 80-plus Beyers before latest, can top $500k in earnings.
Race Summary	It’s anybody’s race in this $35,000 claimer at one mile on the turf. SING SING returns to the lawn, where she finished 1-2-3 at Ellis Park last summer. She earned the top speed figure of her career on Gulfstream’s synthetic track last out, controlling the pace and holding second behind Junction Road (16/4-3-3, $143k), who came back to win a $50,000 optional claiming route. Bet to win and place and play a 2, 4/2, 3, 4/ALL trifecta.

Gulfstream Park - Race #5

#9 BAYOU BRIGID (9-2)	Tries to pick up where she left off in her third start as a 3-year-old.
#6 SOUPER LANDSLIDE (2-1)	Duplicate of maiden win with Lasix puts her in the winning mix again.
#7 CITY MINUTE (6-1)	Could take some catching in first start beyond 5-1/2F for Joseph.
Race Summary	BAYOU BRIGID was ‘keyed up’ while pursuing 2-to-5 winner Laigina and ‘kept on well’ to finish second in the same spot. The stakes-placed turf miler has improved with Lasix and shows a fastest-of-32 workout for her first start as a 3-year-old. Bet to win and place and play 9-6 and 9-7 exactas.

Gulfstream Park - Race #7

#1 JESTINA (7-2)	Perfectly spotted for score on the class drop from favorable post, today’s Best Bet.
#7 EILEEN’S A WARRIOR (5	Off heels early, ranged up under ‘heavy pressure,’ ran away from VA-breds.
#2 STARSHIP JULIETTE (5-1)	Claimed out of popular debut win, added ground a plus.
Race Summary	JESTINA exits allowance company and can use her speed wisely from the rail in her first long sprint attempt. She dropped back and re-rallied in her maiden victory, was no match when second to Sweet Ember two starts ago before that rival finished second in the Any Limit Stakes and couldn’t gain on the dueling favorites last out. Bet to win and place and play a 1-ALL exacta.

Thursday 4/16/26 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

Thursday 4/16/26 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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