Welcome to Opening Day at Oaklawn Park. I’m extremely happy to be able to give you my selections through The Daily Gallop for a very exciting meet!!! Today, the challenge continues as yesterday Dan Helder took me down and $25 but today… fourth time is the charm for me!!! I can feel it!!! I’ll be going head to head against Christopher Todd (@your_pillpusher on Twitter). I feel bad for the guy because there’s no chance I can lose 4 in a row. There just isn’t a way. Lets go ahead and dive right on in to the card on Opening Day from OP!!!!
Race 1
Top Selection: #4 Macha’s Reward 8/1
Alternate Selection: #1A Long Gray Line 5/2
Our top selection here as had all kinds of troubles of recent. To the point of you can literally through out the last 3 efforts completely. Last race bumped 1st turn and was left, two back ran against closing biased at KEE against better, three back at SAR was just a level above his head. I believe a run back to the effort 4 or 5 back (where the runner showed early speed), this gelding for Ron Moquett is really tough in this spot. Cabrera has won 1 race in 2 tries for Moquett over the last 60 days and to top it all off… this runner broke his maiden at the 40k level over this track in March. Pick.
Race 2
Top Selection: #10 Souixper Charger 7/2
Alternate Selection: #12 Vans Flying Cowboy 12/1
Always handicapping the maiden races, I like to see horses who have fun before and either have an excuse for not breaking maiden or just didn’t show up. This runner for Al Cates was a billion to one in debut at KEE at the MSW67k level and now drops to the State Bred level here although running for a greater purse. I really believe the single debut against much better will show today as this one will exude class going gate to wire. Notice the works in the AM… 3f :36, 4f :52.2, 5f 1:02.4, 4f :47… ALL of which over this surface. Although chalky, this is the pick for us!
Race 3
Top Selection: #7 Chip Van Winkle 10/1
Alternate Selection: #11 Istillgotit 4/1
First time for the connections last out was more then just an underwhelming performance, it was out of character for a horse that is a regular at the claim box and consistently ITM over the last dozen races or so. Some could be afraid of the layoff but Villafranco is 18% over 125 runners when having this type of layoff, trainer is also 22% with shippers, 29% 2nd off the claim and got Ramon Vazquez to jump on who has won a race in two tries for Villafranco in the last 60 days. There is a lot of front end speed and I want that horse who can loop and score and that’s what we have with this one. The average winning speed figure for this type of event is 88 and that has been matched or bettered by this runner 4 out of the last 10 times he’s hit the track. 6-1-2-1 at OP, 17-7-3-1 at the distance. Those 7 wins at the distance are 4 more then any other horse in here.
Race 4
Top Selection: #9 Gun Club 9/2
Alternate Selection: #7 Shaharazad 3/1
I really had a difficult time separating these two runners. I ended up on the runner who showed speed in debut and nearly held on while running :21.4 and :46.2 splits. Was only beaten by 2 1/2 lengths that day and now second time on the track, maintains Santana in the irons (who’s a regular in the winner circle here), will absolutely improve 2nd time on the track. I’m not concerned whatsoever with the move to the main track with Trappe Shot (Tapit) as your blood lines. Expect Santana to motor this one to the front and lets see if this 480k purchase from Winchell can break maiden today. Pick.
Race 5
Top Selection: #11 Archie 3/1
Alternate Selection: #5 Reflector 10/1
In such deep and what seems to be wide open fields you hate to take the chalk but I really think this one could be a home run! A regular at the claim box, you see that this one was claimed from Asmussen on Nov1 and now look, one of his owners (Clark Brewster) buys it right back next out for 10k and is well spotted here against a fairly weak field. Drawn outside is perfect for this one as he’ll do most of his running later on. Santana jumps on which is another huge plus. I think he’ll be able to get this one over fairly easily, settle him in and make a wide run down the lane and score at a short price!
Race 6
Top Selection: #7 Lovely Flash 6/1
Alternate Selection: #3 Sky Freak 20/1
I really love this spot for our top selection. The Cox runner will take all the money and rightfully so. If she doesn’t, it’ll definitely be the Asmussen first time starter who will be ridden by none other then Ricardo Santana. Thus, you are left with a bunch of “other runners”. Sure there is a lot to like with those runners but Larry Jones always seems to have something special in these kinds of races. He has a runner that was fairly impressive in debut if you watch that race back. Has to change paths 3 or 4 times (matter of opinion) and still was running on although gave way really late being beaten by 3 1/2 lengths. I think there is a lot to like and an improve is imminent. Jones sends her here after that race, got two works out of her over this course which included a 4f drill on 1/11 :48.2 which was very impressive in my opinion. She will sitting right dead behind the speed and should get the perfect trip to score!!!
Race 7
Top Selection: #11 Istan Council 6/1
Alternate Selection: #7 Peruvian Appeal 9/2
We will be looking for the ice cold double for Larry Jones and Terry Thompson as they team up with our top choice in here as well. Maybe part of the reason why I love this runner is because I’ve been “invested” in her in nearly every career start. I bet her in debut at CD where she ran fantastically only to fall 3 lengths short as she gave way late down the lane. I followed back up with a big bet on her next time out at KEE where she got the job done crushing a really nice field that day. The last two runs people will question but I’ll give you my opinion on them… 2 back, the off track just isn’t something she likes… AT ALL!!!! She was rank in post parade, a little sweaty and wasn’t having it whatsoever. Last out could be a culmination of a couple things… first time vs stakes company and she just didn’t show BUT she also didn’t break that day either which is a vital part to her success. I think if you throw those two races out, there’s not a runner that she doesn’t match up with here. Larry giving her the classic 21-28 day off routine that he is so known for. Pick.
Race 8
Top Selection: #7 Bankit 7/2
Alternate Selection: #8 Gray Attempt 5/2
Chalk for me here in the Smarty Jones Stakes 150k. There is so much to love here with Bankit. First and foremost, the race in which this one race off the layoff against a very solid field in the Springboard Mile was nothing short of fantastic. Now second off the layoff we should see more then just an improve here, we should see a lifetime best or at least similar to the 98 speed figure this one had at SAR in maiden score. You will notice that since Asmussen stretched this one out to 1m, he comes from off the pace now, which in this race is going to be perhaps the most important attribute this one has. There is so much front end speed here so the pace should be very very quick. He won’t be running into :24, :48 segments, more like :23 and high :47’s and the fact this one came from 8 1/4 back in the Springboard to barely miss… I can’t say enough about this runner and how much I love him in this spot.
Race 9
Top Selection: #10 Passion Play 4/1
Alternate Selection: #7 Proud Nation 2/1
From start one to start two, the improve was obvious and the extra distance was a big part of it. Now, Dallas Stewart stretches her him out once again, now routing for the first time in career. I love the set of works off the layoff over this track and all signs are pointing in the right direction with this one. You’ll notice that the horses who are coming out of races will mostly be sprints and those who have shown speed in those races will make this journey of 1m 1/16 quite quick. This colt will be well off the pace and Corey Lanerie will have to loop the field as they come for home to score over the heavy favorite in here (which is my second choice). CD followers know that Dallas puts Corey on serious contenders. He’s not giving him rides to just ride, he wants to win and I believe he has the thought that he can win here.
I wish everybody the best of lucky playing Opening Day of Oaklawn Park. Make sure to follow me on Twitter @DaVilleKY32 as I’ll be continuously posting tickets, updated selections if scratches were to play in and suggested plays both for multi race and single race sequences. Lets cash some tickets!!!!
Hi Everyone,Thanks for running this contest. My picks are coming in a little bit early as I am in South Florida for a little long weekend action with a stop a Gulfstream Park tomorrow. Hopefully, I can make a little cheddar at Oaklawn today. Without further ado-Â
Race 1
top pick – Derecho Warrior – 2nd time lowest level and 2nd off the lay-off
back up – entry – I prefer the 1 to the 1a, it looks like coming out of 1 turn races the 1 should sit a perfect trip
Race 2
top pick – Leo Del Reo – Mason Ingrid starts out hot and the horse i like ended up being the ML fav
back up –
| souixper charger | j&j TB and al cates won the mdswt statebred race on opening day of the card in 2018 |
Race 3top pick –
| i still got it | exits 2T races while getting bet, now cuts back from the outside w/ some EP , bravo should let him relax from the break, take stock of the field then let him loose at the 1/4 pole |
back up – Chip Van Winkle
Race 4top pick –
| gun club | asmussen lethal w 2nd time starters , makes the surface switch and was a $480k purchase for Winchell and Horton |
back up –
| she’s a truckin | al cates & cj teamed up to win opening day last year. 2nd time starter has been on the shelf since halloween, bet decently at Kee fall meet. is out of a sprint stakes winning dam w 5 winning sibs |
Race 5top pick –
| reflector | broberg + end zone athletics teamed up to win opening day here a clm12.5 event last year |
back up –
| one son of a chief | where cabrera rides, whose who rode for end zone/broberg last year when they won |
Race 6top pick –
| motion emotion | mark dedomenico teamed up w t van berg / birzer last year to win the AOC on the opening day card, this one totally missed the break last out |
back up – Lovely Flash
Race 7
top pick – Beautiful Tale – the Servis transplant to Sharp should take a boatload of cash and anything off Servis should be held with radioactive protective gloves. this one will be a big price and may have a good trip. we’ll see if he’s good enough.
back up – Furiously Fast – live oak + Casse
Race 8
top pick – Forloveofcountry – Divito has been running this one on the big time circuits which must mean business for a successful trainer at the lesser circuits.
back up – Bankit – talented horse for Asmussen but may not want 2 turns.
Race 9
top pick – Gigging – Hartman stretching out this 2nd time starter that was bought for way more than the stud fee
back up – Proud Nation – the Wests last chance of the day to get their picture taken show up w a runner that looks pedigree wise to appreciate longer races