Opening Saturday at Oaklawn! Enjoy the 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) 6-8-1-1A
Wide open event here and I honestly don’t have a good feel for this race at all. With that, let’s roll with #6 No Funny Biz, of which Court rode well in last. I expect this one to be close to the pace with every chance to hit the wire on the win end. Vazquez fits #8 Always like a glove and has a nice post in which to roll late. The M & M entrant, of which one of will scratch doesn’t beat the drum in my hit parade, but have to respect the connections.
Race 2) 8-9-6
Claimed by the Amussen barn and take a slight class hike for this straight maiden race run at 6 furlongs. Nice outside stalking post, #8 Town Champ, looks to be in a nice spot to graduate today. #9 Not Fade Away, drops out of MSW ranks and goes from turf to dirt for the Brad Cox barn. Van Ber sends out, #6 Trashtalkinyakee, and owns speed figs to hit hard and cuts back slightly as well.
Race 3) 2-4-5
Top choice, #2 Drena’s Star, is the speed of the race and takes the drop for Amoss, who hits at 20% at today’s layoff angle. On the class drop, Talamo should be on the engine and take this bunch wire to wire. #4 Senior John, has been gelded and comes in with a bullet work in hand. When I see the Asmussen barn fire a bullet, I always pay attention because that is not usually his training style. #5 Futile drops to the lowest level in a while and will sit just off the speed. Should find the drop to his liking.
Race 4) 9-11-2
Broberg, off the claim, with top choice #9 Nola Win, is an angle that is obvious to all horseplayers. He spots his stock well and I’m going to land here. Is tactical enough to get a nice stalking position at an advantageous post. Bullion, #11, goes second off the layoff for strong connections, while taking a class drop on the barn switch. Another that should enjoy a nice trip from the outside.
Race 5) 3-4-7
The first half of the split division of the 5th Season. There isn’t a lot of speed signed on for this edition. #3 Snapper Sinclair, is the class of the race, finds class relief dropping out of the G1 Clark, where this one will find the waters a bit easier to navigate. Santana should have him closer to the pace as well. #4 Remembering Rita, second choice, will take the blinks off and will enjoy a trip on the front end. With the blinks off Rita should sit just off the outside charge of Zito. #7 Night Ops comes in off the freshening for the Cox barn that hits hard at 24% off this layoff angle.
Race 6) 12-11-6
Second start, this Sharp charge ran well in debut, while running against a colt that didn’t embarrass himself in an allowance race run on the Lecomte undercard at the Fair Grounds last Saturday. Drops the blinks for this tilt as well. The colt to his inside # 11 Feathered Indian is firing bullet for a solid trainer and should be on the engine. #6 We’re Still Here intrigues off the claim to run well at a price.
Race 7) 9-4-11
The Pippin, at one mile, goes through the Cox barn. I settled on #9 Gold Standard as top choice. Second off the layoff and the fact that Geroux sits in the irons give this one the slight nod over the uncoupled barn mate #4 Irish Mischief. Gold Standard also is a perfect 2/2 at the mile distance. #11 Whoa Nellie intrigues, at a price going from synthetic to dirt, while stretching out to the mile distance.
Race 8) 6-2-5
Of the overnight stakes, on today’s card, I found this one the most-wide open. I’m going to spread on my late pick 4 ticket in this race. I settled #6 Pioneer Spirit in this spot. Speed was good, yesterday, and this Diodoro charge is the speed of the speed. Likes an off going, but can handle a fast surface as well. #2 Mocito Rojo loves the distance and gets major class relief here dropping out of the Grade One Clark. Will knock hard as well. Lukas and Bravazo can get a piece of this.
Race 9) 1-9-10
#1 Emboldened, off the barn switch and the class of the race has no excuse off the layoff, but isn’t a lock given the inside post. Class dropper and dropping out of an overnight stakes race, cutting back and given a good post #9 Heavens Whisper intrigues with strong connections.