There's nary a graded race to be found Jan. 15, but an interesting variety of stakes action is on tap nevertheless that includes restricted stakes at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park.
Racing Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack has been canceled due to a forecast of extreme cold.
There are no such worries at Gulfstream, where the Sunshine Classic Stakes and Sunshine Sprint Stakes for Florida-breds share top billing. In between those races is a noteworthy allowance/optional claiming route featuring a clash between two runners exiting stakes at Aqueduct, as Vindictive comes off a third-place finish in the Discovery stakes and Olympiad stretches out after running fourth in the Cigar Mile Presented By NYRA Bets (G1).
Saturday is Cal Cup Day at Santa Anita, and four of five stakes for Golden State Series-eligible California-breds or California-sired runners are part of a must-pay Rainbow 6. The carryover totaled $391,924 into the Jan. 14 program.
Unquestionably the saltiest spot Saturday is the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn Park, in which 2021 San Vicente Stakes (G2) and Rebel Stakes (G2) winner Concert Tour takes on several older millionaires first out since finishing off the board in the 2021 Preakness Stakes (G1).
At Tampa Bay Downs there are a pair of $125,000 sprints for sophomores, the Pasco Stakes and the Gasparilla Stakes, as well as the Wayward Lass Stakes for older fillies and mares going two turns.
Turfway Park wraps up the day with the $100,000 Likely Exchange for fillies and mares under the lights.
Let's focus on situations with potentially vulnerable morning-line favorites, all times ET.
Sunshine Classic (GP, race 6, 2:31): Grade 2-placed Shamrocket (3) is absolutely the class of the field in a race that goes once around the main track. The problem is that the 5-year-old son of Tonalist has made all 21 of his previous starts on turf, and what's more, most of his races last year were long-distance events in which he was far back early. He may have trouble staying in striking distance. Shamrocket is out of a Storm Cat mare Zehoorr, who has produced a handful of dirt winners. Be that as it may, this horse has some hurdles to overcome for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher as the 6-5 choice.
The best alternatives look like Sir Ollie (1), who won big first time back from a layoff and first out for leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.; and Big Venezuela (2), a Maryland shipper who has been in the money in his past nine dirt races and is the field's only winner at 1 1/8 miles.
A - 1, 2
B - 3
Wayward Lass (Tam, race 9, 4:25): Allworthy (7) looked good beating maidens and first-level allowance/optional opponents in mid-2021, but has since lost four in a row and seems a bit shaky as the 9-5 choice. She had front wraps on when returned from a layoff in the Dec. 18 Rampart Stakes at 8-5 and was outfinished for second by the hard-knocking Don't Get Khozy (5), who won or placed 11 times from 14 starts last year.
Meanwhile, I'm having a hard time believing All Good Times (2) will be anything like her 20-1 morning line. I'll happily back her as the probable third choice, as she stretches out for new trainer Darien Rodriguez, who, you should know, is winning at better than 40% first off the claim. All Good Times trailed far back early before improving to wind up fifth in this race a year ago, but showed better tactical speed through the second half of the season and comes off a useful sprint tune-up.
A - 2
B - 5, 7
Fifth Season (OP, race 8, 4:46): Lightly raced Concert Tour came out of the Preakness with an ankle chip, and takes on battle-hardened older warriors as the 5-2 choice. The Street Sense colt is a free-running type who may not be able to outsprint Thomas Shelby (1) for the early lead, and in all likelihood, this will be his initial try on a wet track because the forecast is for periods of rain and snow during the day.
Steve Asmussen sends out the accomplished duo of Snapper Sinclair (3) and Silver Prospector (8), either of which is capable of posting a mild upset. Snapper Sinclair was a close second in the 2020 edition of this race and was also second in back-to-back editions of the Essex in 2019-20. Silver Prospector, winner of the 2020 Southwest Stakes (G3) locally, has been away since last May, but won first time back from a similar absence in 2020.
Necker Island (4) and Mucho (9) were heads apart when first and second in the Nov. 6 Bet On Sunshine at Churchill Downs, and both ran well in follow-up starts. Mucho won a high-end allowance on a muddy Oaklawn strip. Necker Island was fourth in the Thanksgiving Classic, which has developed into a key race producing three next-out winners including Just Might, who won seven stakes in 2021.
A - 3, 8
B - 4, 9
