We’re edging closer to a big day on Saturday, with three big prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. This is the biggest day for racing before the Kentucky Derby in May. Hot Rod Charlie is currently leading the leaderboard with 110 points. He’s a lock and will be running in the Kentucky Derby, barring an injury.
Pay attention to what Essential Quality does in the Blue Grass at Keeneland on Saturday. I’m high on Essential Quality for the Kentucky Derby and interested in seeing how well he runs on the prep circuit. If you like Essential Quality now, I’d lay a future wager on him to win the Kentucky Derby now. A strong performance would yield a drop in value on Essential Quality.
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Hollywood Casino in West Virginia has another night card at Charles Town on Thursday night. It was a successful and profitable evening at Charles Town yesterday. As well as Charles Town, TheSportsGeek is looking at Sam Houston Race Park with three horses. Charles Town has eight events worth a total of $157,500 in prize money tonight. Head below for our free Charles Town picks for April 1, 2021.
Race 1
Post Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Distance:4 ½ Furlongs
Purse:$11,000
In the first event at Charles Town, we have a short sprint of 4 ¼ furlongs for a $11,000 purse in Race 1. Genesis G G and Rocket Sound must be taken into consideration for this event. Genesis G G is winless in 13 attempts, but could find this a bit easier. In three outings in 2021, Genesis G G has gone 4th, 3rd, 7th.
He showed 3rd on February 6 in a $17,000 event for the best effort through that stretch. That wasn’t bad at all, and another attempt like that would put Genesis G G firmly in top contention. However, his response to that outing didn’t go too well. In his most recent race, he finished 7th on March 3 in another $17,000 event. The drop in class should help.
Rocket Sound is a one-time winner on August 8. He defeated Officer Unbridled by 3 lengths in a $27,000 race. That was some nice giddy up from Rocket Sound, but he’s gone winless in five races since the victory. Rocket Sound most recently finished 7th in a February 13 event for a $28,000 purse. He’s going to take a huge drop in class to a $11,000 race on Thursday. It is win or bust for Rocket Sound. He should be able to get this assignment done.
Race 2
Post Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
Distance:6 ½ Furlongs
Purse:$13,000
We will head right over to the next race at Charles Town for Race 2. Seven horses are scheduled to participate, with Catch My Caboose and Laser Loop on my shortlist to win. Catch My Caboose is 9 for 30 in his career, so he’s been able to find the winner’s circle multiple times before. In his most recent win, Catch My Caboose beat Cayenne Creek by a neck for a $24,500 purse.
Since that win, Catch My Caboose has gone 5th in three straight performances. In his most recent outing, he finished 5th for a $15,000 purse. That was incredibly disappointing. It was on December 11 that Catch My Caboose was enjoying a $24,500 win, and now he’s struggling to finish in the money in a $13,000 event.
Down to a $13,000 race on Thursday, you have to believe that his odds of winning goes up today. At the least, Catch my Caboose should be able to run into the top-3. For a win, he will likely have to outduel Laser Loop in the stretch. Laser Loop is 5 for 30 in his career and is coming off a win on March 6.
He beat Stormy Leo by a head for a $8,000 purse to end an eight-race losing streak. Laser Loop finished 6th in a $19,000 and 5th in a $21,000 race. The class drop helped him out nicely. This looks like a winning opportunity for Laser Loop tonight.
Race 6
Post Time: 9:21 p.m. EST
Distance:4 ½ Furlongs
Purse:$28,000
One more pick at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town on Thursday night. Six horses are slated to take a mad dash of 4 ½ furlongs in Race 6. Miss Wave and Eternal Heart should have a chance at the top prize in this event. Miss Wave is a one-time winner through 12 events in her career. Since the win on October 16, Miss Wave has gone 3rd, 4th, 6th, 3rd, 3rd in five attempts.
She showed 3rd in her last two entries on February 17 in a $28,000 and March 13 in the same class for a $28,000 prize. The horse that finished ahead of Miss Wave in that race was Eternal Heart. Eternal Heart finished ¾ lengths ahead of Miss Wave and 1 ¼ lengths behind Talent Expected. Eternal Heart has gone 1st, 2nd, 5th, 2nd in her career.
Eternal Heart won as a first-time runner on July 16 in a $27,000 event by ¾ lengths. That was a nice run from her, and set the tone for the rest of her career. However, Eternal Heart hasn’t made it back into the winner’s circle in three races. The competition is going to be slightly easier on Thursday night, though. She has already proven to be a better horse than Miss Wave, who she recently beat on March 13. I would go with Eternal Heart to score the win here.
