A snapshot of the graded stakes action coming up this weekend:
G3 - Col. ER Bradley Hcp., Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 miles, 4up (3:43 ET / 12:43 PT)
G3 - Holy Bull Stakes, Gulfstream Park, 1m, 3yo (5:08 ET / 2:07 PT)
G3 - Lecomte Stakes, Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 miles, 3yo (5:43 ET / 2:43 PT)
G2 - Palos Verdes Handicap, Santa Anita, 6f, 4up (7:07 ET / 4:07 PT)
All races can be seen HRTV...if your cable or satellite company actually carries it (most don't).
The standout events this weekend are the two early Kentucky Derby prep races: the G3-Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds and the G3-Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream. Both races will be previewed in a post later on today. The Holy Bull is expected to feature Jackson Bend, a horse that has taken a decent amount of action in the Vegas future wagers.
In addition to the Lecomte, the Fair Grounds has an absolutely fabulous card in store for players on Saturday. Thirteen races, two graded stakes, several turf events (including a five and a half furlong free-for-all), the return of last year's Kentucky Derby favorite to New Orleans (Friesen Fire), and much more.
Out west, Santa Anita will attempt to run the G2-Palos Verdes Hcp...assuming that it doesn't continue to rain. I've got nothing against synthetic surfaces (in fact my ROI at Keeneland finally went in the right direction the day they got rid of their old surface and installed Polytrack) but something is awfully wrong if you have to cancel a card (actually several cards) in California because of rain. We race in rain all the time up here in the Pacific Northwest, but the Tapeta surface at Santa Anita can't handle a day of rain. Absurd.