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Prior to Saturday’s main event at Gulfstream Park, a full field of 12 fillies will grace the track for the 2020 Gulfstream Oaks. This is a premier prep race for the Kentucky Oaks, which typically takes place the day before the Kentucky Derby in May, but has also been pushed back to September due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Twelve horses and two alternates have been cleared for the race, which is slated for a 4:49 p.m. ET post time in Race 11. The Florida Derby will be at 6:36 p.m. ET and you can read about that one in our preview of the 14th and final race of Saturday.

Like the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Road to the Kentucky Oaks has been interrupted by COVID-19. The Sunland Park Oaks was cancelled as the last race of the first leg of the series. Next week’s Ashland Stakes and Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland have already been cancelled and so has the Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct. We’ll see if the Santa Anita Oaks stays on the calendar for April 4.

It is great to see a full-field event here after only six horses participated in Champagne Anyone’s win last year.

Here are the post positions, horses, trainers, jockeys, and morning line odds for the 2020 Gulfstream Park Oaks:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="62">Post</td>
<td width="160">Horse</td>
<td width="160">Trainer</td>
<td width="160">Jockey</td>
<td width="48">Odds</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="62">1</td>
<td width="160">Inveterate</td>
<td width="160">D. Magner</td>
<td width="160">M. Franco</td>
<td width="48">20/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="62">2</td>
<td width="160">Bajan Girl</td>
<td width="160">R. Crichton</td>
<td width="160">M. Vasquez</td>
<td width="48">20/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="62">3</td>
<td width="160">Spartanka</td>
<td width="160">M. Maker</td>
<td width="160">D. Davis</td>
<td width="48">20/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="62">4</td>
<td width="160">Lake Avenue</td>
<td width="160">W. Mott</td>
<td width="160">J. Rosario</td>
<td width="48">9/2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="62">5</td>
<td width="160">Spice Is Nice</td>
<td width="160">T. Pletcher</td>
<td width="160">TBD</td>
<td width="48">3/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="62">6</td>
<td width="160">Swiss Skydiver</td>
<td width="160">K. McPeek</td>
<td width="160">P. Lopez</td>
<td width="48">10/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="62">7</td>
<td width="160">Lucrezia</td>
<td width="160">A. Delacour</td>
<td width="160">J. Leparoux</td>
<td width="48">8/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="62">8</td>
<td width="160">Dream Marie</td>
<td width="160">M. Williams</td>
<td width="160">R. Mitchell</td>
<td width="48">15/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="62">9</td>
<td width="160">Tonalist’s Shape</td>
<td width="160">S. Joseph Jr.</td>
<td width="160">T. Gaffalione</td>
<td width="48">5/2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="62">10</td>
<td width="160">Mrs. S</td>
<td width="160">T. Pletcher</td>
<td width="160">J. Velazquez</td>
<td width="48">15/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="62">11</td>
<td width="160">Addilyn</td>
<td width="160">A. Sano</td>
<td width="160">E. Zayas</td>
<td width="48">30/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="62">12</td>
<td width="160">Sunset Promise</td>
<td width="160">M. Maker</td>
<td width="160">F. Geroux</td>
<td width="48">20/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="62">13(AE)</td>
<td width="160">Four Grands</td>
<td width="160">D. Romans</td>
<td width="160">L. Saez</td>
<td width="48">10/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="62">14(AE)</td>
<td width="160">Marialuisa</td>
<td width="160">J. Rodriguez</td>
<td width="160">S. Gonzalez</td>
<td width="48">30/1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Second favorite Spice Is Nice, who had a duel to the finish with Tonalist’s Shape in the Davona Dale Stakes last month, will have a new rider in the mount. Originally, Javier Castellano was supposed to ride her, but he is under quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus.

Interestingly, it was John Velazquez in the mount on Spice Is Nice for that race. Will Pletcher pull a switcheroo and put Velazquez back on Spice Is Nice now and find a new rider for 15/1 shot Mrs. S? That sure seems like a possibility.

Let’s roll through the 12 contenders and two alternates and put together a card for Saturday’s 11th race:

<strong>1. Inveterate (20/1) – </strong>The daughter of Palace Malice is running in her first stakes race. She was a winner in her last maiden special weight at Aqueduct with a one-mile time of 1:41.93 on the dirt. It was a return to dirt after a stop on the turf at Belmont for a one-mile trip. She, like so many other fillies, is just outgunned in this field.

<strong>2. Bajan Girl (20/1) – </strong>Another stakes debutant here with Bajan Girl, the daughter of Speightstown. The Kentucky-bred bay filly is coming off of her maiden win, but it came on the turf at Gulfstream. This looks like another horse outgunned in the field.

<strong>3. Spartanka (20/1) – </strong>This filly was heavily raced as a two-year-old, but really didn’t have much to show for it. Now the Godolphin-bred filly and daughter of Street Sense has a win and a second at Gulfstream Park thus far in 2020. All of the sudden, Spartanka is showing some decent speed for Dylan Davis and Michael Maker. She is stepping up in class and distance to run at 1 1/16 miles here, but she may be something of a popular filly for exotics on Saturday.

<strong>4. Lake Avenue</strong><strong> (9/2) – </strong>The daughter of Tapit certainly has the connections and the bloodline to be a threat with legendary trainer Bill Mott and Hall of Fame rider Joel Rosario. This Godolphin-owned filly had a horrible run in the Busher Invitational at Aqueduct back on March 7. She’s coming back quickly here, which is kind of interesting given the difficulty she seemed to have over the second half of that race. But, maybe it was the long layoff of over five months that hurt her in the Busher.

Lake Avenue has actually run at 1 1/8 miles and it was in the Demoiselle Stakes, a Grade 2 race in December. She pulled away in the final 1/8 mile in that race. So what happened in the Busher? She just stopped running and stopped responding to Junior Alvarado. Can Joel Rosario get the most out of her here?

<strong>5. Spice Is Nice (3/1) – </strong>Spice Is Nice adds a little bit of distance here to what was a fairly disappointing ending to the Davona Dale Stakes. She didn’t have nearly enough to compete with Tonalist’s Shape, but John Velazquez seemed to know that and didn’t attempt to go to the well for more out of her in her first big step up in class. Now she is in her second career stakes race and is looking for revenge.

Perhaps the daughter of Curlin needs some more distance and a second turn. We’ll see if Velazquez draws the mount now that Javier Castellano is out of commission for the Gulfstream Oaks.

<em>Author update: With no scratches, Four Grands is not in the race and Luis Saez now has the mount with Spice Is Nice.</em>

<strong>6. Swiss Skydiver (10/1) – </strong>Swiss Skydiver narrowly held off Tempers Rising for third place in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds last month, but it was a game effort for the Kenneth McPeek filly. Swiss Skydiver got stuck behind the sliding leader His Glory and had to move to path 2 and even path 3 in order to get out into some open racing just to narrowly hold on and finish third in that 1 1/16 mile race.

It was actually a pretty good run, all things considered for Brian Hernandez Jr. Paco Lopez now draws the mount in a venue he is very comfortable with. It is tough to know whether or not Swiss Skydiver has the speed to get up to the front, as Finite and British Idiom were clearly better in the Rachel Alexandra, but she is a persistent horse that didn’t mind the increase in distance. She’s a clear candidate for exotics and could spoil the party to hit the board.

<strong>7. Lucrezia (8/1) – </strong>This wasn’t the target race for Lucrezia, as Arnaud Delacour seemed to want to take a shot in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland, but the daughter of Into Mischief now winds up in the Gulfstream Oaks. This will be a distance test for her and Julien Leparoux, who is a great rider that got a firsthand look when he finished second on Turtle Trax to Lucrezia in the Suncoast Stakes.

Lucrezia had a pretty easy trip staying on the rail out of the gate until the half mile when Daniel Centeno took her out wide and she used her speed to get to the front and stay there. There was no traffic. She didn’t have to navigate a pack or go anywhere until Centeno decided he had the best speed in the race. It won’t be that easy of a trip this time in a stronger field, but she didn’t mind going from six furlongs to one mile and 40. Maybe she won’t mind another jump in distance.

<strong>8. Dream Marie (15/1) – </strong>Dream Marie finished a solid third to Tonalist’s Shape and Spice Is Nice in the Davona Dale last month right here at Gulfstream. Richard Mitchell gets to stay on the mount here for the 15/1 shot. It was a good run at 28/1 and a race that got her on the map, but she really feels like a long shot to be a factor here. With extra distance and stronger speed horses out there, she just doesn’t look to have enough. Her Davona Dale performance looks like an outlier, though there is a small chance she can sustain it.

She has had great workouts lately, which is why so many are enamored with her chances.

<strong>9. Tonalist’s Shape (5/2) – </strong>The favorite for the Gulfstream Oaks is the filly that bested Spice Is Nice in the Davona Dale and that is Tonalist’s Shape. The daughter of, you guessed it, Tonalist, is undefeated in her career for Saffie Joseph and she’ll have Tyler Gaffalione up in the mount once again. This is the best horse in the field, even though some do believe that Spice Is Nice will get revenge. This will be a bump in distance for Tonalist’s Shape, who has an excellent bloodline with Tapit and Tonalist in the pedigree. Tonalist was the 2014 Belmont Stakes winner.

Ultimately, this probably ends up a two-horse race, much like the Davona Dale. Tonalist’s Shape had a stronger trip over the last few furlongs for Gaffalione than Spice Is Nice had for Velazquez with a wide final turn. Tonalist’s Shape also has to come from the outside and that could cost her some important early energy.

<strong>10. Mrs. S (15/1) – </strong>Again, we’ll be watching for a jockey change here in the event that Pletcher opts to go with John Velazquez on Spice Is Nice and somebody else on the longer shot Mrs. S. The Pletcher/Velazquez team is a formidable one and especially in this race. But, as good as the driver is, you have to have the car. To her credit, Mrs. S has gone distances in maiden special weight races, including a 1 1/8-mile win here at Gulfstream last month.

This is just a major step up in class, as we know. Her return to dirt went well last time out. While many are looking at Dream Marie as the long shot sleeper, Mrs. S is on my radar.

<strong>11. Addilyn (30/1) – </strong>Addilyn ran fifth in the Davona Dale and hasn’t won in her last six races. She ran second to Dream Marie in an allowance race back in January over one mile. She went 1 1/16 in the Pocahontas back in September at Churchill Downs and finished a disappointing eighth. She looks to be a non-factor here.

<strong>12. Sunset Promise (20/1) – </strong>Sunset Promise returns to dirt for the first time since May. Trainer Michael Maker seems to just want to get her some work in a stakes race and hope something crazy happens and she can hit the board. She hasn’t hit the board in 2020 after finishing second to Cheermeister in the Wait a While Stakes back in November. She looks like a non-factor here as well, though the distance shouldn’t be an issue for her, having run some length on turf previously.

<strong>13AE. Four Grands (10/1) – </strong>This is a horse that could hit the board if given the chance. Dale Romans and Luis Saez team up here for the daughter of Honor Code. She won her maiden by over six lengths as an 8/5 favorite earlier this month at six furlongs. The distance would be a big difference for her here, but she has a strong pedigree and profiles well with distance.

If Four Grands gets a chance because of a scratch, don’t be surprised if she gets some love on the betting board. She’ll have to come from the far outside post, but she has a bright future after being unraced as a two-year-old. If she can’t get in this one, maybe Romans takes a shot with a summer prep in hopes of getting into some part of the Triple Tiara.

<strong>14AE. Marialuisa (30/1) – </strong>The other also-eligible, Marialuisa, has no shot if she gets in the field. Another daughter of Tonalist, Marialuisa was eighth in her maiden all the way back in November.

&nbsp;

<strong>Picks</strong>

You know a horse has a lot of promise when Godolphin holds onto it and that is why Lake Avenue is very much on my radar here. Does she have enough to run with Tonalist’s Shape and Spice Is Nice? I think so. Whether or not she has enough to win is another story, but I’d put her up there with those two in exactas or trifectas, as I will here.

<strong>Exacta Box: 4/5/9</strong>

Of the horses guaranteed to be in the field, Swiss Skydiver intrigues me more than Dream Marie in the 10/1 range. If you like exotics, I’m considering a trifecta that includes Swiss Skydiver along with the aforementioned three horses.

The issue here is that she doesn’t have the top-end speed, but Paco Lopez is a Gulfstream Park fixture, so he knows the lines and knows every step of the track. It would take a perfect trip, but Lopez could have that in him and Swiss Skydiver is a consistent competitor. She’s had some good speed figures in her last two races.

<strong>Trifecta Box: 4/5/6/9</strong>

If Four Grands makes her way into the field, I really think there’s a chance that she could make some noise. It would require a big ride from Saez and enough of a stalking pace to give it a go on the second turn, but she’s got a fine bloodline and good barn with Romans at the helm. I may put something on her if she gets in.

Post time is 4:49 p.m. ET on Saturday March 28.

<a href="http://bangthebook.com/florida-derby-odds-picks-predictions-tiz-the-law-deserving-favorite/691521/"><strong>For my thoughts on the Florida Derby, the main event of the evening, take a look through my race preview</strong></a>.

Tonalist's Shape and Spice Is Nice Hope for Rematch in Gulfstream Oaks

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<p>Betting on today's Buccaneers and 49ers game? Catch the action at Halton Arena in Charlotte, NC, as the 49ers hosts this showdown at 2:00 ET on ESPN+. The odds for this non-conference game currently have Charlotte as the -3.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 140.5 points.</p><h3>EAST TENNESSEE STATE BUCCANEERS VS CHARLOTTE 49ERS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Charlotte 49ers -3.5</p><p>This game will be played at Halton Arena at 2:00 ET on Wednesday, November 27th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE CHARLOTTE 49ERS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-68 in favor of the 49ers.</li><li>Not only will Charlotte pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -3.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 140.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.</li></ul><h3>Can The Buccaneers Secure a Win at Charlotte?</h3><h3>East Tennessee State Buccaneers Recent Game/Games</h3> <p>East Tennessee State picked up an 82-67 win over Queens (NC) on Sunday, November 24th. The Buccaneers were -8.5 favorites at home and covered the spread with the victory.</p> <p>ETSU led 37-35 at halftime and pulled away in the 2nd half, outscoring Queens 45-32. The game’s total points of 149 fell short of the 154.5 O/U line.</p><p>East Tennessee State put up 82 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field. They connected on 59.1% of their two-point attempts, while hitting just 31.8% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 54.5%.</p> <p>The Buccaneers grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and dished out 16 assists. Quimari Peterson led the way with 22 points, hitting 4 of 7 threes. Karon Boyd and Leo Colimerio each added 20 points, with Colimerio shooting 66.7% from the field.</p><p>East Tennessee State's defense gave up 67 points, with the opposing team shooting 50% from the field. They allowed 33 made field goals on 66 attempts.</p> <p>Inside the arc, East Tennessee State's defense allowed 26 two-point baskets on 44 attempts, a 59% shooting rate. From three-point range, they gave up 7 made threes on 22 attempts, a 31% shooting percentage. The opposing team also shot 60% from the free-throw line, making 9 of 15 attempts.</p><h3>Can the 49ers Live Up to the Hype at Home?</h3><h3>Charlotte 49ers Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>Charlotte suffered a 79-76 home loss to LIU on Saturday, November 23rd. The 49ers, who were -14 favorites, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread.</p> 

<p>After trailing 45-35 at halftime, Charlotte outscored LIU 41-34 in the second half but couldn’t complete the comeback. The game’s total points of 155 exceeded the over/under line of 138.5.</p><p>In their last game, the 49ers managed to score 76 points despite shooting just 34% from the field, with an effective field goal percentage of 37.7%. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 3 of 16 attempts for 18.8%, and connected on 40.5% of their two-point shots.</p> <p>Charlotte's free-throw shooting was a major factor, as they made 37 of 53 attempts, shooting 69.8% from the line. They also grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and dished out 10 assists. Malachi Davis led the way with 31 points, shooting 50% overall and from three-point range.</p><p>Despite holding their opponent to 34% shooting, the Charlotte 49ers gave up 79 points in their last game, largely due to sending them to the free-throw line 53 times. Their opponent converted 37 of those attempts, shooting 69% from the stripe.</p> <p>Charlotte's defense limited their opponent to just 3 made threes on 16 attempts, an 18% success rate. Inside the arc, they allowed 15 made field goals on 37 attempts, a 40% shooting percentage. The 49ers also gave up 16 offensive rebounds.</p>

East Tennessee State Buccaneers vs Charlotte 49ers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/27/24

<p>At 7:05 PM ET, the Royals and Yankees face off in an AL matchup. This one is taking place at Yankee Stadium in New York, and the Yankees are the favorites on the money line, with their line sitting at -143 compared to the Royals at +122. The over/under line is currently at 8 runs.</p>

<p>Kansas City will be starting Cole Ragans, and they are 80-66 this season, which has them in 2nd place in the AL Central. The Yankees are 1st in the AL East with a record of 83-62. BSKC will be televising this one.</p><h3>NEW YORK YANKEES VS KANSAS CITY ROYALS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: New York Yankees Moneyline -143</p><p>This game will be played at Yankee Stadium at 7:05 ET on Wednesday, September 11th.</p><h3>HOW TO BET THE ROYALS VS YANKEES:</h3><ul><li>We have the Yankees winning by a score of 6 to 5</li><li>However, if you're looking for a run line pick, we like the Royals to cover</li><li>As for an over/under pick, we have this game finishing with 11 runs and like the over</li></ul><p>Thanks to a good outing from Seth Lugo, the Royals picked up a 5-0 win over the Yankees in the most recent game of this series. Heading into the game, the Royals were at +122 on the money line.</p>

<p>Lugo went seven innings for the Royals, giving up just three hits and striking out 10. He picked up a win in the game, while Marcus Stroman took the loss for the Yankees, going just 5 1/3 innings and giving up three earned runs.</p>

<p>Kansas City got on the board with two runs in the 3rd inning and added three more in the 5th. As for the Yankees, they had their best chance to score in the 6th, loading the bases with no outs, but Lugo got out of the jam without giving up a run.</p><h3>Royals Records & Stats</h3><p>Kansas City is 80-66 overall and 2nd in the AL Central, 3.5 games behind the Guardians for the division lead. So far, they have been great against other teams in the AL Central, putting together a record of 33-16. The Royals are 45-30 at home but just one game below .500 at 35-36 on the road.</p>

<p>As the favorite, the Royals have gone 46-26 this year and 34-40 as the underdog. Their overall series record is 21-23-2 heading into today's game vs. the Yankees. Kansas City is 5-5 across their last 10 games and are looking to take the series lead today vs. the Yankees.</p><p>When the Royals win, they do so by an average of four runs per game, leading to a run line record of 43-32 at home and 38-33 on the road. As the underdog, they have been a strong bet vs. the run line at 43-31.</p><p>The Kansas City Royals have an over/under record of 65-76 this season, and their games have averaged 8.8 runs per game. When the over/under line is set at 8 runs, they have a record of 14-13-3. Overall, 62.3% of their games have had over/under lines set at more than 8 runs.</p><p>Cole Ragans is looking to build off his last outing, where he faced the Twins and picked up the win. In that September 6th outing, he went 6 innings and didn't give up a run. Looking at his overall numbers, Ragans has made 29 starts, has a record of 11-9, and his ERA is 3.33. Opponents have hit .211 off the left-hander this season. Ragans has turned in 18 quality starts and is averaging 10.97 strikeouts per nine innings. Overall, he has 204 strikeouts, which ranks fourth in the league. For the year, he has allowed 14 homers and is averaging 3.07 walks per nine innings.</p><p>Salvador Perez and Bobby Witt Jr. have been two of the Royals' top hitters this season, with Perez batting .277 and Witt Jr. hitting .334. Perez has 26 homers (14th in the league) and is 5th in the MLB with 100 RBIs. Witt Jr. has 30 homers, which is 11th in the league, and his 99 RBIs is 6th best in the league. Perez is also on a three-game hitting streak, while Witt Jr. has a four-game streak going.</p>

<p>As a team, the Royals are averaging 4.7 runs per game and are one of the best hitting teams in the league, with a collective batting average of .254. They are also one of the best teams in terms of avoiding strikeouts. Kansas City is 3rd in home runs and have been even better at home, where they are averaging 5 runs per game.</p><h3>Yankees Records & Stats</h3><p>The Yankees are 83-62 overall and lead the AL East by a half-game over the Orioles. New York is just 22-23 against other teams in the AL East. The Yankees are at home today, where they are 38-32 this year. On the road, the Yankees have gone 45-30.</p>

<p>So far, the Yankees have been the favorite in 120 of their games, going 65-55 in those matchups. As the underdog, New York is 18-7 this year. The Yankees' overall series record is 26-16-4, and they are 1-1 in their current series vs. the Royals. Heading into today's game, the Yankees are 4-6 over their last 10 games.</p><p>When betting the run line on the Yankees this season, it's been more profitable to take them on the road, where they have gone 44-31. They have a +1.2 run differential on the road compared to +0.5 at home. They have been an underdog in just 25 games, going 21-4 against the run line in those contests.</p><p>The Yankees have been involved in a high-scoring affair this season, with their games averaging 9.2 runs per game. Their over/under record is 79-62, and the average over/under line in their games is 9 runs. When the line is set at 8 runs, the over/under record is 10-15-2. Overall, 69.7% of their games have had over/under lines set higher than 8 runs.</p><p>Luis Gil gets the start for the Yankees today and has a record of 13-6 with a 3.24 ERA. Looking back at his last outing, Gil pitched well, going six innings and picking up the win. In that outing, he didn't give up a run and only allowed one hit. One of his 10 quality starts came in this outing. Gil's ERA at home is 6.18 compared to 3.77 on the road. So far, he has given up 12 homers and is averaging 4.68 walks per nine innings.</p><p>Heading into today's game, the Yankees offense is averaging 5 runs per game, which is the 2nd best mark in the league. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.2 runs per contest. Overall, they are the top home run hitting team in the league and have the 2nd best team on-base percentage in the MLB. As a team, the Yankees are batting .250, which is 7th best in the league.</p>

<p>Over his last 10 games, Gleyber Torres has been on fire for the Yankees, batting .381 with six runs scored and five RBIs. Giancarlo Stanton has struggled in his last nine games, going just 5/30 with two homers. For the season, Stanton is batting .320 with a league-leading 126 RBIs.</p>

Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees Betting Pick & Prediction 9/11/24

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