It is a huge day of racing at both Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park on Saturday, so Xpressbet and 1/ST BET are wheeling back one of our most popular promotions!

Yes, that is right, Exacta-Thon returns on Saturday for the Fountain of Youth and Big Cap cards. $4000 total will be up for grabs for those horseplayers that can successfully connect on four $2 exactas at each track. Plus, an additional $1k will go to the player that hits the most total exactas. Remember to check out the full details and register on the promotional landing page.

Here are a pair of my Saturday Exacta-Thon Plays at each venue:

Gulfstream Park Race 9: Canadian Turf (G3)

There is very little speed signed on in this 8.5-furlong test over the Gulfstream grass. This should not only benefit likely pacesetter #5 Silent Heart, but also #4 Major Dude. The son of Bolt d’Oro makes his third start off the freshening after being caught wide most of the way in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1). There is very little chance they go as fast early in this spot, which should put the Todd Pletcher trainee in a perfect ground saving stalking position under one of the best around in Irad Ortiz Jr. The 5YO appears poised for a big run on the class drop.

I will play Major Dude with the aforementioned Silent Heart and then over top #3 Fort Washington and Irish Aces.

Plays:
$10 Exacta 4-5
$5 Exacta 5-4
$5 Exacta Wheel 5 with 1+3



Gulfstream Park Race 11: Gulfstream Park Mile (G2)

There is no doubt this year’s Gulfstream Park Mile goes through #1 Mindframe. The Constitution colt put forth two very big efforts to start his career and followed it up with near misses in the Belmont (G1) and Haskell (G1). Todd Pletcher has given him time off until now where he heads into his 4YO debut off a long series of drills at Palm Beach Downs. The $600k Keeneland September 2022 purchase is the likeliest winner based on his 3YO campaign, but this is his first start since mid-July and he draws the rail.

#3 Encino also makes his first start as a 4YO. The son of Nyquist did not dazzle in 2024 like Mindframe or compete against the best in his crop but he won 3 of 4 with his lone loss coming by just a neck on debut. His comeback race was a paid work out, but he is capable of a career best performance second off the layoff for Brad Cox. He makes sense, much like the chalk

I will not be surprised if Mindframe and/or Encino run well, but both come with question marks, so I will lean on the veteran #7 Steal Sunshine. The Bobby Dibona trainee was outrun in the Pegasus World Cup (G1), but drops in class and moves back to a configuration he has had a lot of success over throughout his 26-race career. He is the one I trust most to run his race, especially over this surface and distance.

Plays:
$5 Exacta 7-1
$3 Exacta Box 3-7
$2 Exacta Wheel 7 with 2+8+9



Santa Anita Park Race 7:

I could not get past 5-2-morning line favorite #8 Nene Diamond in this allowance event for fillies and mares. The Slugo Racing runner moves back to the lawn after a dominant front running victory over the main track on January 23. It is relatively rare to see horses run fast on both dirt and turf, but this mare appears to be an exception. She missed by a nose in her first grass start and followed it up with win over this course despite some traffic issues. The fact she draws outside the other speeds adds to her case.

I will hope to find a little value underneath Nene Diamond with #1 Shuangxi and #7 Miss Mandalay. Shuangxi drops in class after being swallowed up by her red-hot stablemate Queen Maxima last out. The class relief gives her a shot to run much better in her second try off the bench. Miss Mandalay cuts back a half furlong after a half-length defeat at double-digit odds last month. The Dandy Man filly enters this first-level allowance in the best form of her career.

Plays:
$5 Exacta 8 with 1+7


Santa Anita Race 10: Santa Anita Handicap (G1)

The Santa Anita Handicap came up strong this year in large part due to Todd Pletcher and Brad Cox each shipping out a runner from the east coast.

Locked was made the 3-2-morning line choice after his runner-up effort in the Pegasus World Cup (G1). He was no match for White Abarrio that afternoon, but did blow the break costing him several lengths. Perhaps that is why Pletcher adds the blinkers. I am rarely in love with horses making equipment changes before big races and that is the case here. Pletcher is just 2 for his last 23 with a $0.47 ROI when adding the shades for the first time in graded stakes races. Add that to the cross-country ship and lack of experience at 10-furlongs and you have a favorite worth taking a shot against despite his obvious talent.
I will do so with #3 Hit Show. The 5-2-second choice has mostly beaten second tier graded stakes fields throughout his career, but should get a great setup in the Big Cap given the plethora of early zip types signed on. The presence of Flavien Prat and the 1 1/4-mile distance both should help.

I will key box Hit Show with fellow late runner #6 Katonah, who comes off a win in the San Pasqual (G2) and #9 Tarantino, who I am hoping is taken just off the pace with the move from the rail to the far outside.

Plays:

$4 Exacta Key-Box 3 with 6+9