Handicapping: Blue Grass, SA Derby, Wood Memorial

March madness spills right into April in terms of stepping-stones to the Kentucky Derby Presented By Woodford Reserve (G1) and Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). All told, there are seven 170-point qualifiers (100-40-20-10) to be decided Saturday, April 2, at four venues:

Aqueduct Racetrack runs the Wood Memorial Presented By Resorts World Casino (G2) and Gazelle Stakes (G3), which are preceded by three other stakes, including the Carter Handicap (G1).

Keeneland is back for its first spring meet in two years with six stakes topped by the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1), not to mention the Madison Stakes (G1).

At Oaklawn Park seven fillies will line up in the $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3).

Out at The Great Race Place, the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Santa Anita Oaks (G2) are featured on a card bolstered by the Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T) and three other stakes, as well as a forceout Rainbow 6 with a carryover of $505,627 into Friday's racing.

NBCSN will have coverage from 5:30-7:30 p.m. ET.

Here are some opinions in chronological order for what shapes up as a Handicapper's Happy Hour to remember. All times Eastern.

Ashland (Kee, race 9, 5:30): The most accomplished fillies, Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) winner Simply Ravishing  (3) and Demoiselle Stakes (G2) winner Malathaat  (5), haven't been out since last fall and figure to vie for favoritism.

A logical alternative is Will's Secret  (6), who has tactical options breaking outside and is going to be third choice. The homebred daughter of Will Take Charge   has shown pace versatility through three straight wins around two turns and has never taken a backward step by the numbers—in fact, she appears to be sitting on a breakthrough performance based on her figure development to this point.

A - 6

B - 3, 5

Wood Memorial (Aqu, race 10, 5:58): Chad Brown sends out two solid contenders for Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables, Crowded Trade  (2), and Risk Taking  (4).

Crowded Trade's inexperience was likely the deciding factor when he was beaten a nose by 46-1 Weyburn  (8) in the Gotham Stakes (G3). The one-mile Gotham was only the second start for Crowded Trade and represented an improvement of several lengths from his debut victory at six furlongs. It feels as though he will take this distance progression in stride.

There's no mystery about Risk Taking's ability to get the nine-furlong trip, as the Medaglia d'Oro   colt comes off back-to-back wins at the distance capped by an off-the-pace score in the Withers Stakes (G3). Those wins coincided with the addition of blinkers, and, like Crowded Trade, his figures are headed in the right direction.

Likely to be overbet is Prevalence  (6), who is tabbed as 3-1 second choice after starting off with wins in maiden and allowance company at Gulfstream Park. The Godolphin homebred missed some time after wowing observers on Pegasus World Cup day, and was urged past the wire of his March 11 return for an additional furlong or so. He has to improve to match up with the main contenders here, and while he has every right to do so, the odds will not be commensurate with the risk.

Brooklyn Strong  (6) is a tough read first time out since taking a sloppy edition of the Remsen Stakes (G2) over the track and trip four months ago. It's worth noting, however, that his time was significantly faster than what Malathaat recorded in the Demoiselle that day, and that trainer Danny Velazquez has strong stats with layoff runners.

A - 2, 4

B - 1, 6, 8

Madison (Kee, race 10, 6:02): With respect to the first three choices, Bell's the One  (4), Kimari  (5), and Sconsin  (6), the overriding factor in this seven-furlong race is pace or the lack thereof.

The only entrant with early speed is Mundaye Call  (3), and while she hasn't been out since fading to fourth at odds-on in the Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) six months ago, she has won previously when fresh and notched a lifetime-best number when loose on the lead in the Audubon Oaks at this distance. She's loose again here and is assumed ready to fire after three progressively faster workouts at five furlongs for Brad Cox. We'll hope for something near the 8-1 morning line, but that's doubtful.

A - 3

B - 4, 5, 6

Toyota Blue Grass (Kee, race 11, 6:35): All eyes will be on Essential Quality  (4), who cemented an Eclipse Award with two grade 1 wins at Keeneland and remained unbeaten with a decisive comeback victory in the Southwest Stakes (G3). Godolphin's homebred son of Tapit   picked up right where he left off figure-wise and looms a stand-alone for many players in multi-race wagers.

The lone backup for us is another Klaravich-Brown colt, Highly Motivated  (3), who ran a hole in the wind taking the Nyquist Stakes to kick off Breeders' Cup Saturday and returned with a useful effort finishing third in the Gotham. Ignore a son of Into Mischief   stretching out at your own peril.

A - 4

B - 3

Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (SA, race 8, 7:15): Were it not for the sidelined sensation Life Is Good , we'd all be taking about his stablemate Medina Spirit  (7), who in different circumstances might have been unbeaten from four starts for Bob Baffert.

Baffert shoots for a 10th win in this race, and Medina Spirit needs only replicate his recent form to make that happen. Indeed, he may improve after a minor procedure to correct a slightly entrapped epiglottis following a second to Life Is Good in the San Felipe Stakes (G2). Two back, his win in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) over Roman Centurion (1) was a seriously game effort.

Roman Centurion "bounced" off that race to wind up a well-beaten fourth in the San Felipe, and may rebound at a price.

Rock Your World  (4) is an intriguing turf-to-dirt prospect for John Sadler. Sired by Candy Ride   and out of the Empire Maker  mare Charm the Maker  (grade 1 placed on dirt), this colt is bred to handle the surface switch. He has shown a good measure of tactical speed winning his first two starts, including the Pasadena Stakes, and may trip out favorably on or near the early lead.

A - 7

B - 1, 3

Royal Heroine (SA, race 9, 7:46): We close out a busy day with a little price play in Dogtag  (1), while looking for 8-5 favorite Charmaine's Mia  (3) to regress off a pair of big numbers winning the Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T) and Buena Vista Stakes (G2T).

Dogtag was put away after failing to fire on dirt in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) last summer, and returns to the Santa Anita turf, where she is 2-1-0 from three starts, including a win in the Possibly Perfect Stakes last June. She has run well previously off workouts and a recent bullet six furlongs in 1:11.80 served notice Dick Mandella has her primed. She likes to rate and finish, and should be set up nicely with Raymundos Secret  (5) and Laura's Light  (6) likely to hook up early.

A contested pace would also help Warren's Showtime  (4), a four-time winner over the course and a five-time winner at a mile.

A - 1, 3

B - 4