Oaklawn Park, Sunday, February 17th 1st Post 1:30 CST
Last Sunday both my best bet and longshot plays were scratched. Another competitive card for this pre- Southwest Day and track will be fast. I say don’t save your bankroll for Monday, build it!
Best Bet: Race 5, #5, Moonlight Train
Longshot: Race 4, #5, Rusty Cage
Race 1: Last Bad Habit was a very close 4th 2 back on the BC Day opener, bumped at the break in his last at FG at odds on to run 2nd, believe he will atone and win this with Jon Court up for the first time. 1st time in 11 starts Arrival will be in for a tag and of course always respect Casse runners. Long Gray Line ran some races last fall in NY that could get it done here. Selections R1: 5-2-3
Race 2: Miss Placed Plan finished much the best of 3 others that were all participants in the Feb 3rd race here at OP and she was 6 wide doing it. Serious I Candy has good early speed but has been losing ground in the stretch lately, needs to hold on. My Mystery needed her last and should also be involved in the early stages. Selections R2: 3-7-9
Race 3: Karma Delight won vs similar 2 back at CD and will appreciate the return to claiming ranks and gets in light. Istillgotit will need to gun from the rail. Flashy Indian is 1st time Broberg and that angle is batting around .290 for the win and .580 in the money. Selections R3: 7-1-5
Race 4: Arky bred maidens for today’s 4th race and Crow Mountain ran well in his debut breaking from the 1 post which is never easy for a first timer, Louis Q back on and looking to get his first win of the meet. Destinedtobeastar has been has hit the board in 2 open company affairs at Delta and gets 1st time Lasix. I’m gonna break my Rusty Cage and run! Horse with the name of an iconic song by the heaviest band ever, Soundgarden, also has some decent works for his debut, namely the Jan 27th breeze. Selections R4: 8-3-5
Race 5: Only 6 entrants in this one and it appears Moonlight Train has the recent form to handle the other 5. Run Bella Run is lightly races and therefore has room to improve for Boyd Caster. Silvera shoots often and grabbed a lot of paychecks last year in Illinois. Selections R5: 5-2-4
Race 6: Going to forgive the effort at GP in the Claiming Crown that She’s So Fine put forth. The Diodoro trained mare won a similar race 2 back at Belmont in easy fashion and look for her to rebound back to that effort today. Glamorized comes off a 3rd place effort at Kee where she showed good speed. California Breeze should appreciate the class relief afforded here. Selections R6: 4-8-1
Race 7: Good Move has good success here at OP last year, needs to step it back up to get it done. Heidi’s Wish has good tactical speed, throw out that last race on Poly and has been working well and gets Canchari. M&M Racing’s coupled duo will be tough. Selections R7: 6-2-1/1A
Race 8: Love to see a horse like Ulele break their maiden then follow it up with a great work. 47.4 is a quick move on a fast track at OP but this was in the mud. I’m sure Asmussen would have preferred this race be at a mile so Bella Alicita could try and hold on to the abbreviated finish line. Off Topic ships in with Pletcher’s other stakes horses that are running tomorrow. Selections R8: 1-9-4
Race 9: Snapper Sinclair has been banging heads with stakes types most of his career, including a 2nd in last year’s G2 Risen Star at FG (War of Will won yesterday’s rendition and he looks like the real deal). Local Hero comes in from GP with a 2nd place finish vs similar and a bullet over the track since, gets Jose Ortiz to ride. Rocky Tough saves ground in the first turn and will need to work out a trip. Selections R9: 7-2-1