The Dirt on Saturday's Top Stakes Races

Threats of rain in Southern California and South Florida have put a damper on the Feb. 2 turf stakes schedule. With heavy downpours expected at Santa Anita Park Saturday, the San Marcos (G2T) was postponed until next week; and at Gulfstream Park, a forecast for scattered thunderstorms prompted officials to reschedule the Sweetest Chant (G3) and Dania Beach to Sunday, Feb. 3. 

There's more than enough action on dirt to keep horseplayers busy at those Stronach Group tracks, however. Santa Anita has the Robert B. Lewis (G3) and San Pasqual (G2); and Gulfstream's tripleheader consists of the Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull (G2), Swale (G3) and Forward Gal (G3).

Like the R.B. Lewis and Holy Bull, the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack offers 17 qualifying points (10-4-2-1) for the Kentucky Derby Presented By Woodford Reserve (G1).

Meanwhile, the Forward Gal and Martha Washington (Oaklawn Park) are 17-point qualifiers for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).

The first of four "Fox Sports Saturday At the Races" telecasts airs on FS2 from 4-6:30 p.m. ET, with coverage of the Derby qualifiers and the Martha Washington. As well, the first of four "Cross Country" pick fives linking Aqueduct and Oaklawn races in February is on the wagering menu; it starts with the Withers as Leg 1 and concludes with the Martha Washington as Leg 5.

Some quick thoughts follow on Saturday's stakes races, listed in chronological order (all times Eastern).

Forward Gal (GP, race 9, 4:07): Feedback (4) makes her first appearance since a jaw-dropping debut win at Saratoga Race Course for Chad Brown. She is already fastest of these based on that effort as a mid-summer juvenile and will go postward at odds-on. The main threats are Fashion Faux Pas (3) and Bye Bye J (7), who exit front-running wins in minor stakes at the end of 2018.

A - 4

B - 4, 7

Withers (Aqu, race 9, 4:30): You can make some kind of case for all seven entrants. The pace projects to be fairly brisk: Tax (1) was forwardly placed throughout his third-place finish in the Remsen (G2), just a few weeks after being plucked by Danny Gargan out of a $50,000 maiden-claiming win; Lucky Lee (5) and Not That Brady (7) each closed out 2018 with back-to-back wins on or near the early lead; and Our Braintrust (6), who was forwardly placed from the get-go when second in the Jerome, has since been purchased and turned over to Mark Casse.

Things may set up well for Moretti (3), a $900,000 son of Medaglia d'Oro  and a half-brother to 2017 Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Battle of Midway, who runs a little while later in the San Pasqual.

Moretti was a solid second first out behind Bourbon War (an allowance winner at Gulfstream two weeks ago), and graduated second out despite wandering around a bit greenly late. He added blinkers for his most recent workout Jan. 27, and the equipment addition ought to sharpen his focus this time.

A - 1, 3

B - 5, 6, 7

Swale (GP, race 10, 4:40): The contention runs deep in this seven-furlong tilt. If you're trying to get a line on Holy Bull hopeful Federal Case, keep tabs on Frosted Grace (1), who gave that one all he wanted in a Dec. 23 optional claimer.

Call Paul (5) took the Saratoga Special (G2) and Pennsylvania Nursery at 2 for Jason Servis, who has been on a remarkable roll here this winter. He is the only winner at the distance other than Frosted Grace.

Also in the mix are High Crime (4), a flashy maiden winner three weeks ago; Seismic Jolt (8), an $800,000 son of Kantharos  who has taken both of his dirt starts in promising style; the unbeaten Zenden (9); and Country Singer (11), who closed out 2018 with two romping wins.

Topper T (3) is back sprinting, after being purchased in early autumn and thrown to the wolves in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), where he drew outside posts both times and found two turns out of his range after setting or prompting the pace.

A - 4, 5, 8

B - 1, 9 , 11

C - 3

Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull (GP race 11, 5:13): Maximus Mischief (8) swept his three starts last fall by a combined 17 lengths, and will be somewhere around even money to remain undefeated as he picks up Jose Ortiz.

Maximus Mischief is a smooth mover who rated kindly in his formative races, so it will be interesting to see if he can settle behind a plethora of rivals who possess high early speed. He can't afford to drop too far back, because the 1 1/16-mile races at Gulfstream end at the first finish line and there is less real estate to work with in the stretch.

The primary stretch threat is Mihos (6), who closed relentlessly to get up in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man four weeks ago. He was five wide throughout that race—a tough go on this surface.

The aforementioned Federal Case (2) is a backup, as is Epic Dreamer (3), who finished in front of Mihos when they were unveiled at Belmont Park early last fall.

A - 6, 8

B - 2, 3

Martha Washington (OP, race 8, 5:38): Sunset Wish (4) comes off three straight wins on turf and dirt. The versatile daughter of Malibu Moon  should be set up nicely if a contested pace develops among Marathon Queen (2), Sheza Handful (3) and Taylor's Spirit (5).

A - 4

B - 2, 5

Robert B. Lewis (SA, 5:53): Only six entered, with Hall of Famers Bob Baffert and Jerry Hollendorfer respectively saddling Mucho Gusto (5) and Gunmetal Gray (4).

Those two figure to vie for favoritism, but Mucho Gusto should control the pace or be sitting just off Magnificent McCool (2), so it seems unlikely Gunmetal Gray will get as favorable setup as he did in winning the Sham (G3).

A - 5

B - 4

San Pasqual (SA, race 9, 7:23): It's Baffert against Hollendorfer again, as the former sends out heavy favorite McKinzie (7) and Dabster (3), and the latter counters with the duo of second choice Battle of Midway (8) and outsider Shivermetimbers (4).

McKinzie rebounded from a pratfall in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) to win a 14-horse edition of the Malibu (G1) from post 13 opening day at Santa Anita. He bypassed last week's Pegasus World Cup Invitational in favor of this spot, and his performance will determine where he goes next, most likely either the Santa Anita Handicap Presented By San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino (G1) Mar. 9, or the Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airlines (G1) three weeks after that.

Dabster should keep Dalmore (2) and Battle of Midway occupied early, enabling McKinzie to work out a stalk-and-pounce trip under Mike Smith.

A - 7

B - 3, 8