Not a good card from my perspective, today, at Oaklawn. I expect Monday to be very good though, which is to be expected on a stake’s day. Enjoy race day at Oaklawn, and as always, let’s box a few and bet them!
I always love talking horses and handicapping. If I see anything during the race day follow me on Twitter @ BoxEmandBetEm and I’ll add up to minute info at Oaklawn Park.
Good luck and good racing!
Race 1) 2-4-Entry
25K claimer to get the show started. Let’s get the day started with the Asmussen barn. Should have plenty of pace to chase and this one, off the layoff, got off to a bad start from the gate. Broberg, deadly off the claim, will be second out of the layoff, as well, and figures on the wind end, just think this one will get caught up with the pace. Round out the tip three choices with the Puhl entry.
Race 2) 6-4-2
Not one of the strongest MSW races carded at Oaklawn. Sycamore Run, will cut back here, and drops out of the G3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds. Gets back to a sprint distance and should be rolling early. I’m going to single this one in the early sequence. Stock Deal, #4, is a second start colt for the Coach. I expect improvement here and is working well off the debut. #2, Connection, lost all chance at the start, last out, and rises from straight maidens. Nothing real fancy here.
Race 3) 7-4-10
This race is a Fillies and Mares race for three years old and upward. As most know, I don’t like picking three-year old’s on top this time of the year. Lots to digest, here, and many can win, spread and hope for a price. There is a ton of pace, on paper, I’m hoping my top choice takes back a little and sits just off, he didn’t care for the poly, last out, though he didn’t run bad. O’Neill drops the hood and Garcia should be sitting mid-pack. I’m hoping the shades off will improve this one. Third choice, is a three-year-old, but gets a nice post position and should stalk the pace setters.
Race 4) 1A-10-3
Unless the Diodoro entrant, #5, Wenyen, is ready to roll, and his entrant doesn’t exactly ooze confidence, this is another race where many can win. This is another spread race for me. I settled on the Catman part of the entry. This colt has a few races to draw from as I look back to the two back turf race and there is nothing but next out winners littered there, albeit, on the turf, but this one’s last, on his lone dirt try, was decent. I look to the place horse, on the October 6th try, to hit hard in the Risen Star this weekend. The outside colt, #10, Siete Leguas, is a firster for Sharp. Monitor the board early for this one. Don’t leave Diodoro or the rail horse off your tickets if spreading.
Race 5) 5-4-1
Interesting MSW race here. Lots of expensive purchases by sires that don’t command a ton in the breeding shed. Top choice, goes out for well meant connections, and the bullet, four back, tells me this one is well meant. Cohen gets the call as well. #4, Onaway, is by Carpe Diem who has thrown first out runners, Cox trains, and this one figures ready to win at first asking as well. Let’s dive down to the rail horse, adding the hood, for O’Neill, a 21% angle for the barn. #7 figures to improve in the second start. Use the tote to help you get clues here.
Race 6) 7-8-2
I wrote there isn’t a ton of pace in here. With that, if the #7 gets out, and he could, he might take this bunch on a roller coaster ride. Lightly raced, as well, second out of the layoff, and may not have cared for the mud last out. Second choice, #8, Devil’s Drama, was parking lot wide in what I thought a good race won by the winner, Mailman Money, who I fully expect to acquit himself very well in the Risen Star tomorrow, in the second race of the split. I just don’t know if there is enough pace for this one to roll into. Something Natural, #2, hopefully will get back to fast, as this one caught an off track in his last two.
Race 7) 4-7-3
I simply cannot get by the red hot Diodoro barn here. This filly was purchased for sixteen times the stud fee, that tells me this one should be a runner. I’m going to trust this one is ready at first out. #7, Wicked Smart, could catch a flyer and be gone. Is the speed of the speed and brings a nice bullet with him from the Fairgrounds. Collude, for Asmussen, comes in off a freshening.
Race 8) 7-5-3
Nero, has enough class and figures to butt heads with my second choice here in this decent Allowance race. I like the post of the #7, to sit just off and will be much tighter second off the extended layoff. I’m going to single this one in the late pick 4. #5, is the class of the race, but I’m not a fan of the jock and this one likes to nibble and isn’t exactly a win machine.
Race 9) 1-2-3
Short field for the, Dixie Belle, a 6-furlong dash, where it appears the inside three have speed to burn. I’ll use all three in the multi’s.
Race 10) 6-10-3
This is a stable horse for me. Maybe it was the slop, but I was very impressed with this one last out. Cowboy Larry can train a filly and this one on the stretch-out looks to possibly take another step to an Oaks trail race next out. The #10 adds blinks and it appears this one had the hood on by the work two back. The Cox barn, obviously has some strong fillies this year, could this this one be the next to step up with the addition of the hood? Follow-up with the Asmussen entrant to get out of the late pick 4.