Bob Hill
and Kat Kubik
Staff writers
Tracksideview.com

Race 6, Santa Anita – Robert B. Lewis Stakes G2 – 1 1/16 miles for three-year-olds – post time: 6:05 p.m. EST

The Robert Lewis is the first two-turn Derby prep race to be run at Santa Anita this winter and spring in the lead-up to the first Saturday in May.  All but New Mexico invader Isn’t He Clever (1) is based in California.  The Robert Lewis will be…

Rick Francis
Staff writer
Tracksideview.com

We end our work week at a place where we haven’t spent much time, Aqueduct. No it’s not the Holly Springs Stakes in the third, but the fifth on the card, an optional-claiming test for three-year-olds, and when we talk about the quality purses of these OC contests from Gulfstream and Santa Anita, you can’t overlook this one, as it’s 67k. Let’s get started.

Race 5 – Aqueduct – post time: 2:19 p.m.…

Rick Francis
Staff writer
Tracksideview.com

We’ll head back to the West Coast for our Thursday selection and try Santa Anita’s third on the card, an optional-claiming contest for three-year-old fillies running one mile on the turf. As with most of the optional-claiming affairs run here, the purse is a noteworthy one, this time 58k, so let’s get started.

Race 3 – Santa Anita Park – post time: 5:02 p.m. EST

ASSURE (1) never threatened last out in the…

Rick Francis
Staff writer
Tracksideview.com

We start the race week off this time at Gulfstream Park, where we once again tackle a pricey optional-claiming contest, this time with none in for the claim. A field of eight three-year-old fillies will travel a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the main track, and battle for their share of the 53k purse. Let’s get started.

Race 8 – Gulfstream Park – post time: 3:59 p.m. EST

OFF LIMITS (1), makes her first start of…

Check back for selected race(s) for Feb. 1.

Rick Francis
Staff writer
Tracksideview.com

Sunday’s picking winner’s selection is the Grade 2 Forward Gal for three-year-old fillies at seven furlongs, and though it doesn’t offer the purse of its male counterpart, the Grade 3 Holy Bull, this may be the toughest race on the card. Let’s break these young ladies down.

Race 9 – Gulfstream Park – post time: 4:17 p.m. EST

GOOD DEED (1), winner of three straight, the last in Stakes action, and in impressive…

Kat Kubik
and Bob Hill
Staff writers
Tracksideview.com

Race 10 – Gulfstream – Sunshine Millions Classic, 1 1/8 on Dirt for 4-year-olds and up – Florida breds – post time: 5:25 p.m. EST

The 2012 Sunshine Millions Classic has turned out to be quite a competitive race with four graded stakes winners in the field.  The best of these could be Mucho Macho Man (6), who was one of our best and most consistent three-year-olds, with the highlight…

Rick Francis
Staff writer
Tracksideview.com

We’ll end the work week where we began it, at Gulfstream Park. Friday’s fourth on the card is a 100k optional-claiming contest that features a pair of graded stakes winners, who look to continue their current winning ways. A field of six will battle for their share of a 64k purse, and do so over the one-turn one mile main track route. It should be an exciting race, so let’s get started.

Race…

Rick Francis
Staff writer
Tracksideview.com

For our Thursday selection, we’ll stay with three-year-olds in the optional-claiming ranks and once again on the turf, but this time at Santa Anita and on the famous downhill course. There’s a tempting purse of 58k on the line for this field of seven, let’s see who gets the winners share.

Race 4 – Santa Anita – post time: 5:34 p.m. EST

TENACIOUS THOMAS (1), since breaking his maiden last out over Hollywood’s…

Rick Francis
Staff writer
Tracksideview.com

Given weather issues throughout most of the country, we’ll head south to Florida for Gulfstream’s 9th and feature, an optional claiming turf contest for three-year-olds. A field of ten is scheduled to start in this one mile test, and they’ll be running for their share of a 53k purse. Let’s get started.

Race 9 – Gulfstream Park – post time: 4:33 p.m. EST

GOLD MEGILLAH (1), in a maiden start last September, he…