This could be a chalky day. Pick your spots. I have and hope to take advantage of them. A very average card for an Oaklawn Saturday. Enjoy race day at Oaklawn, and as always, let’s box them 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) 4-7-3
Kind of the theme for the day, as this card is loaded with MSW races. And as is usually the case, top choice goes to the second start filly for Asmussen, True Friend. Ships in from the Fair Grounds and should enjoy a trip near the pace. I’ll land on the “other” Asmussen, which will be a theme on this card, in the second slot. This one has fired a couple of bullets and when this barn does that, I always pay attention as that is not the norm for the trainer. Edgeway, on the rail, will fill out the tri and has been training nicely coming into this, but the Sadler barn is ice cold at the meet.
Race 2) 6-11-1
This is the spread race in the early pick four. Use as many as you can afford as I don’t trust any of these. The 6 has worked, twice, since that debacle, last out, and if is healthy should be tough to beat, but I simply can’t trust. Again, spread here, and catch a price.
Race 3) 5-8-1
I’ll say this, the #7 is an absolute money burner. Villafranco, off the claim, should sit a nice trip here. These connections are due to start heating up. Cowboy Larry Jones has the far outside charge and ran well, last out. Rocco retains the mount. The rail horse, Mr. Ankeny, is the speed of the race and could take this bunch on a merry go round if ready off the pine.
Race 4) 3-8-4
Nice string of works, for the Cox firster, #3 Shacks Way. Good trainer/jock combo and this one, by Shackleford should enjoy the one-mile trip. #8, just missed, last out, and doesn’t have to be much better to beat this what appears to be a weak MSW race at Oaklawn. Let’s see if the blinks can wake up #3, Special Day, as this one ran against some decent colts previously.
Race 5) 4-6
Hollendorfer could have a good day, as Sunny Dale, looks to be too good here. Too much to like, in this spot, and if breaks could be long gone, but doesn’t need the lead. Garcia has options. #6, for Diodoro, who only has two horses entered on the card, looks to be next best. These two should get you out of the mutli’s.
Race 6) 2-6
This is a single for me in the pick three ending with this race and also a single in the cross- country pick five. I liked this one, on top, in the American Beauty, but was a bit short in her return off the layoff. Gets class relief, here, and should roll. #6, for Von Hemel, will be flying late.
Race 7) 9-6-10
Another MSW race, here, as mentioned earlier, which is the theme for the day. I don’t know what to expect out of the two Asmussen entrants entered. They both break from the inside posts and the #1 will face much better here and #2 is off the barn switch, from Baffert, but Santana is in the saddle. With that, I’m going to try to beat them here. Exchange West, should be up or on the pace, as the work, last out indicates. Second off the layoff, this one should have no excuse not to run well. Let’s rock with, Golden Command, as the second choice. This is a second start colt, that will improve second out. Let’s see if we can’t squeeze the #10 in underneath while keeping the inside horse out of the exacta and trifecta.
Race 8) 7-6-5
Marvin, is second off the layoff, and Cohen sees fit to retain the mount. Acquitted himself quite well, missing second by a neck off the freshening. Will be dead tight, off that, and will enjoy the stretch-out as Robertson hits at an astronomical 31% with that angle. Let’s look to the class dropper, Shared Sense, for the Cox barn. This one drops out of the Smarty Jones, and figures to hit hard with the class relief. Let’s round out the top three with the #5.
Race 9) 3-4-6
Break Even, headlines The Spring Fever. This Cox charge is flat out fast. Was entered in a turf event, at the Fair Grounds, on Tuesday and scratched to land here. This is a serious filly that is 6/7 lifetime and has a win over the oval. Is off a long layoff, but is simply the one to catch. Amy’s Challenge doesn’t appear to be the same horse to me, but likes Oaklawn and will sit just off the speed to her inside. If things get hot, up front, What a Fox could pick up the pieces.
Race 10) 5-7-4
Second start horse in the finale. Ran well, first out, should have no excuse in this spot. Asmussen barn does well with second start MSW horses as he hits at 23%. Let’s go with the “other” Asmussen, in the place spot, adds the blinks and is also a second start colt, should improve as well. Let’s round out the trifecta with a stretch-out colt off the claim, for Holthus, as he immediately enters this from open maidens to MSW ranks.