Join now & win money today! Get Started

Top turf horses Bolo, Bal a Bali and Om headline a field of seven older horses in Saturday’s Grade I, $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (turf) at Santa Anita.  Named for the late Frank E. (Jimmy) Kilroe, Santa Anita’s innovative, longtime Director of Racing, the Kilroe will be run for the 57^th time on Saturday.

BOLO:  Idle since July 4, trainer Carla Gaines’ star student on turf unfurled a career-best effort in winning the Grade II, one mile turf Arcadia Stakes Feb. 13.  Although favored Obviously shook loose around the far turn and the Arcadia appeared a fait accompli, Bolo kept to his task under Flavien Prat to win going away.  A 4-year-old colt by the Dynaformer stallion, Temple City, Bolo, who was third in last year’s Grade I Santa Anita Derby, is a perfect three for three over the Santa Anita turf.  Owned by Golden Pegasus Racing and Earle I, Mack, LLC, he has four wins from nine overall starts and is likely being pointed to the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Mile here at Santa Anita in November.  With Prat committed to ride Bal a Bali, Mike Smith, who guided him to a pair of wins as a 2-year-old, will take over on Saturday.

BAL A BALI:  Trained by Richard Mandella, this 6-year-old Brazilian-bred horse cuts back a furlong in distance off of a sharp third in the Grade II, 1 1/8 miles turf San Gabriel Stakes Jan 2.  Best suited at the Kilroe distance, he’s six for nine at one mile on grass.  A multiple Group I winner in Brazil, Bal a Bali, who was ridden by Flavien Prat, was an impressive winner of his U.S. debut in the Grade III, one mile turf American Stakes here on May 9, 2015.  Owned by Fox Hill Farms, Inc. and Siena Farms, LLC, Bal a Bali has 13 wins from 18 overall starts.

OM:  Trained by Dan Hendricks and owned by the Sareen Family Trust, Om was an impressive winner over the course of the Grade II Mathis Brothers Mile...

We knew our IdaBet.com players would want to know that Keith Desormeaux’s Exaggerator and Bob Baffert’s Mor Spirit headline a talented group of seven three-year-olds in Saturday’s Grade II, $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at     1 1/16 miles.  In addition to the top two, unbeaten California-bred Smokey Image and rapidly improving sophomores Uncle Lino and Danzing Candy all rate big chances with a total of 85 Kentucky Derby qualifying points at stake.

EXAGGERATOR:  A big second to undefeated Eclipse Champion Nyquist in Santa Anita’s Grade II, seven furlong San Vicente Stakes Feb. 15, this Kentucky-bred colt by Curlin figures to improve with the added distance and a recent race under his belt.  Owned by Big Chief Racing, LLC, Head of Plains, LLC, Rocker O Ranch LLC and Keith Desormeaux, he’s proven to be a versatile sort who can press the pace or stalk.  With a pair of graded stakes wins to his credit, he has three overall wins and two seconds from seven starts, good for career earnings of $1,023,120.  He’ll again be ridden by Desormeaux’s Hall of Fame brother, Kent.

MOR SPIRIT:  A better-than-looked 1 ½ length winner of the Grade III, 1 1/16 miles Robert B. Lewis Stakes here Feb. 6, he took the Grade I Los Alamitos Futurity at the same distance on Dec. 19.  Although he’s proven a bit reluctant on occasion in the mornings, the Pennsylvania-bred ridgling by Eskendereya is progressing nicely for Baffert who won last year’s San Felipe with Dortmund, who provided him with his record fifth San Felipe win.  Owned by Michael L. Petersen, Mor Spirit has been ridden to all three of his career wins by Gary Stevens, who’s back aboard on Saturday.

SMOKEY IMAGE:  Much like California Chrome in 2014, undefeated California-bred Smokey Image will be trying graded stakes completion for the first time following a massive 8 ½ length win...

We wanted our IdaBet.com players to know that Trainer Jimmy Jerkens’ talented Effinex, along with sharp local contenders Imperative and Donworth, head a field of nine older horses set to go a mile and a quarter in Saturday’s 79^th running of the Grade I, $1 million Santa Anita Handicap.

America’s longest continually run “hundred grander,” the Big ’Cap was first run in 1935, and it was won by Azucar, with legendary George “The Iceman” Woolf aboard.  Last year’s renewal was won by Jerry Hollendorfer’s Shared Belief.

EFFINEX:  Owned by Tri-Bone Stables, this 5-year-old horse by Mineshaft was second to Triple Crown Champion American Pharoah two starts back in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Oct. 31, and has been idle since winning the Grade I, 1 1/8 miles Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs Nov. 27.  A winner of Belmont Park’s Grade II, 1 ¼ miles Suburban Handicap from well off the pace last July, Effinex has two wins, a second and a third in five tries at a mile and a quarter.  Based at Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida, Effinex had what was termed a “maintenance” half mile work here on Tuesday in 47.80.  With seven wins from 20 overall starts, he’ll be making his first-ever start at Santa Anita.  A winner of the past three runnings, Mike Smith will seek an unprecedented fourth consecutive win in the Big ’Cap on Saturday.

IMPERATIVE:  In one of his best-ever races, KM Racing Enterprise, Incorporated’s stable star was second, beaten a nose, in the Grade II, 1 1/8 miles San Antonio Stakes on Feb. 6 and rates a big chance in his sixth start for trainer Richard Baltas.  Second to Hoppertunity in the San Antonio, Imperative, a 6-year-old gelding by Bernardini, was a sharp second two starts back to California Chrome in the Grade II, 1 1/16 miles San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 9.  Ridden by Mike Smith in the San Antonio,...

Good afternoon IdaBet.com players.  Northfield Track Announcer Ayers Ratliff’s free handicapping tips are provided exclusively for online IdaBet.com customers.  Please remember due to the draw schedule, picks are made in advance and do not account for scratches or late driver changes. Thanks for playing tonight on this 15 card race and don’t forget to play on IdaBet.com Wednesdays for our IdaMatch promotion and earn up to an additional $500 on select tracks.  Details here.

Good luck on this Tuesday evening and thanks for choosing IdaBet.com!

Northfield Park Selections for March 9, 2016

Race 1: 7- TA’s Avance – Draws into a race where several could win; this one gets the slight call over the others in tonight’s opener. 9- Wallstreet Bailout – Should get a good trip from the second tier. 3- Sure Thing – Looks to be rounding into better form. 4- Zorgwijk Mercedes – Should not be overlooked as a potential competitor in here.

Race 2: 3- Wolf Creek Pegasus – Was a winner last time out and could strike again tonight. 8- Bupa Brusier – Looks to do well in here despite starting from the far outside. 7- Nothinglikeadame – Another “outsider” that could make this ticket. 9- Tawa Road – Looks to be tough in here if he minds his manners.

Race 3: 6- Fort Commander – Was the beaten favorite last time out but could prevail for his backers this time around. 5- Screamin Dreamin – Drops in class and looks to be tough in here. 9- Neely Spring – Should get a good trip from the second tier.

Race 4: 7- Communicator – Drops in class and looks to be successful at this level of competition. 3- Bonner’s Creek – Lanny hands the lines to Aaron and looks for some results. 5- Major Speed – One of several in here that could make the ticket. 9- Dusty Dunes – Has as good of a shot as any in here to complete the...

Happy Hump Day IdaBet.com players.  Play Pompano tonight; this 9 card race is shaping up nicely and our man John Berry has been working late to compile his Berry Pickin’s report for your wagering consideration. Remember, when you play Pompano on Wednesdays in March, you can earn up to $50 and $450 more on select tracks with our IdaMatch Wednesday Promotion!

Please note that, because of possible late changes, numbers shown here may NOT correspond with program numbers. When wagering, always use the horse’s number listed in your official track program.

Have a great week everyone and thanks for choosing IdaBet.com!

Pompano – Wednesday, March 9th

RACE ONE EARLY DOUBLE- 3-1, 3-5, 5-1, 5-5 PICK-5 – 3,5 w 1,5 w 2,3,6 w 6 w 3 3-COLUMBIA LION…recent have been solid in same class. Pulled on backside into quick panel. Patience pays off this time. 5-BERKSHIRE…post did hinder a bit in last but still trotted middle half in :59 grinding away. Needs live cover & fast pace. 1-LG’S PRIDE…takes a bit of a class dip, has the rail and great gate speed to keep cozily close throughout. Dangerous here.

RACE TWO 1-SUE’S YOUR BUDDY…never did see the inside part of the racetrack in last and hung in there gamely late. Class dip, too. 5-KEYSTONE KRISTA…left looking in last but no-go & had to gulp air all the way. Improved post here & could be on engine. 6-MIGHTY NICE…gave mighty nice hint in last showing strong pace final 3/8s. Dangerous off live cover and quick panels.

RACE THREE 6-SARASOTA NATIVE…lightly raced five year-old seems to be developing some talent. In a very appetizing situation here. 2-KDMAKEWAY…fought hard every step of the mile in last and nailed right at the wire. Probably on the engine & yielding. 3-NOUDIDNT BLUE CHIP…thought he might turn out to be a bit tougher than he has shown but, still, in amiable...