This is the saddest week in horse racing, it’s Kentucky Derby week with no Kentucky Derby. No flowers in bloom, no fancy hats, grandstand is empty, no horses in the paddock, no riders up, no My Old Kentucky Home to sing. The race has turned from horses, to stop the spread of the coronavirus, the cheers for the athletes in our sport has turned into the hopes and prayers to the men and women who work as doctors, grocery stores, and restaurants. The world in our sport is crying but have no fear the roses will not wilt there will be a Kentucky Derby at some point and we will be stronger than ever before! So, weep no more my lady weep no more today for tomorrow we will be stronger! For tomorrow we might not have the Kentucky Oaks, but this week we will have the Arkansas Derby. God Bless everyone reading this and everyone out there hope your safe and excited for this weekend for what will be, and not what should have been. Let’s get cracking with Thursday Oaklawn’s article!
Race 1 6 Furlongs. MC 16000 Purse $17,200 FOR ARKANSAS BRED (WHICH QUALIFY UNDER RULES GOVERNING ARKANSAS-BREDS) MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. Three Year Olds, 118 lbs., Older, 124 lbs. Claiming Price $16,000 Post Time: 2:05/( 1:05)/12:05/11:05
2 James’s Moonshine 7-2 made a middle move last time and now picks up leading rider Ricardo Santana. Was 5-2 last time and should have ran better than what he did, and got beaten by the 7 who was 35-1 and I think ran a better race than what he is capable today. I just think the 2 needs to maybe sit up closer and Santana is very capable of doing this.
10 Grahamstan 6-1 I don’t know if this is the best horse in the race but he always seems to run his race breaks slow or goes really wide and closes fast and runs decent. If you are looking for a consistency and if maybe this horse gets a good set up I could see this horse finally getting the job done.
12 Explosive Shoes 5-1 the speed of the race unless a first time starter shows speed, has to clear and the have enough to hold off maybe 2 charges from the horses mentioned above. Also, an old trick a New Yorker taught me, I do not like when a horse switches jockeys because it either means the trainer just keeps blaming the jockey or the jockey doesn’t want to ride that horse again. 4 races and 4 different jockeys doesn’t seem right especially off the last race where that was the horses’ best race.
Selections 2-10-12
Bets $3 win and place 2($6)
Race 2 6 Furlongs. Clm 10000n2L Purse $17,200 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. Three Year Olds, 118 lbs., Older, 124 lbs. Claiming Price $10,000, if for $8,000, allowed 2 lbs Post Time: 2:35/( 1:35)/12:35/11:35
6 Campaign Spy 6-1 off the claim from the Catalano barn to a barn lesser barn which is worrying, but the good thing is he hasn’t touched the horse after claiming him (no work or equipment change) and Joe Talamo gets on the horse which is a good sign. Ran an average race for 8,000 but improved speed figure so it seems he is just getting better after breaking the maiden 2 races ago.
10 Tiz McNamara 5-1 was bought off Brad Cox in November for 17,000 and did nothing since running for allowance and claiming 50,000. Now they drop him down to 10,000 looking to get rid of the horse
and
take the purse money and since they aren’t in deep on this horse they can still do well on money. Used to be a fantastic horse, I don’t know what happened but fell off the wagon after running 3rd on turf at Churchill Downs against a salty group.
7 My Boy Lollipop 2-1 there are just some trainers I trust when they drop down, example Maker Diodor
and Broberg, but for as good as a trainer Brad Cox is, I do not like him when he drops in class massively. Was in for 30,000 and 40,000 where he ran good races, but for as good as they were 1 what is he doing in for 10,000 and 2 the speed figures are the same as the 6 horse so they are even. Also, I don’t like the price, over bet because of everything I have mentioned and the morning line, this horse is a must use in multi’s but I don’t like the horse as a selection or bet.
Selections 6-10-7
Bets $3 win $10 show 6($13)
Race 3 6 Furlongs. Clm 8000 Purse $17,500 FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. Weight, 124 lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Since February 26, 2020 Allowed 2 lbs. A Race Since January 26, 2020 Allowed 4 lbs. Claiming Price $8,000 Post Time: 3:05/( 2:05)/ 1:05/12:05
3 Doc Curlin 12-1 I think there is value here as he was beaten favorite last time out after breaking slow and off the claim from Diodoro again to a lesser barn. Was beaten favorite last time and was taken out of his element where he likes to stalk. Gets weight off from Kelsi Harr and if she puts the ride she put on that she did for the 2 horse where she was “beaten” I think she can win here.
6 Broadway Ice 8-1 another heavy closer because I think a closer wins this race because I think there is a lot of speed signed on for this race and it could be a major scramble for the lead. So just if the 3 doesn’t fire I think the 6 is then the horse.
1 Lewys Vaporizer 3-1 dropping way in class after being claimed 2 races ago this used to be a monster and then the signs of a horse having problems when the horse doesn’t have the speed he once showed which don’t get me wrong the times were fast last time in 21.4 and 44.6 but he used to eat fast fractions for breakfast, and now not on the lead concerns me pair with a huge dro
Race 4 1 1/16th Mile. Mdn 60k Purse $60,000 FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. Three Year Olds, 118 lbs., Older, 124 lbs Post Time: 3:35/( 2:35)/ 1:35/12:35
1 Cherokee Maiden 3-1 first of all what a name for this horse as the 8 time maiden after the last 3 races should be a maiden no more. They paid 410,000 for her but she was never bet until the last 2 races. Either she is just a wet track horse or she has figured it out as a race horse. I hope after today the new name of this horse is Cherokee Non Winners Of Two Life Time.
7 Honorable Memory 6-1 I don’t see this as an Asmussen horse and I think it is for barn space and will go back to Mark Hubley. Finished well at Turfway and did okay early as a young 2 year old last May at Churchill Downs. If she runs back to those type of races she could be right there at the end.
10 Shazzy B 7-2 consistent, runs over the par speed figure every time and now transfers from a trainer I don’t like to bet on to a trainer I like. I just don’t like that every race was state bred races and she should have won one of those races in my opinion.
Selections 1-7-10
Bets $1 exacta box 1,7,10($6)
Race 5 1 1/16th Mile. Clm 20000 Purse $25,000 FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. Weight, 124 lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Since February 26, 2020 Allowed 2 lbs. Claiming Price $20,000, if for $16,000, allowed 2 lbs Post Time: 4:06/( 3:06)/ 2:06/ 1:06
3 Frost Or Frippery 3-1 just got beat by a horse I like in the last race Saturday at Oaklawn in Carlos Sixes maybe Chris Hartman doesn’t want to ship this horse up, or doesn’t have a condition for him anymore. But ran a 2nd last for allowance optional and hasn’t been worse than 2nd place since September at Chruchill.
2 Parade Field 7-2 maybe Jason Barkley claimed the horse got the money wanted to see how good he was and he wasn’t as good as he thought and doesn’t wan
to ship this horse back up with him or isn’t as good as he thought and that’s just it. They have made money with him since they claimed for 30,000 and won for 40,000 tried starter allowance and failed now in for 20,000.
5 Eights and Aces 20-1 fits on speed figures got claimed from a good trainer to a horrible trainer who is 28-0-1-1 but he has ran good races with bad trainers and they haven’t touched him since claiming him. If I was gambling, I would risk it with him but it’s a tough field and you need a little luck and hope not impossible and I think can run a good race.
Selection 3-2-5
Bets $5 win and place 3($10) $1 exacta 2,3-2,3,4,5,9,11,13($12)
Race 6 6 Furlongs. Clm 40000b Purse $28,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON THREE RACES OR WHICH HAVE NOT WON A RACE SINCE APRIL 30, 2019. Three Year Olds, 118 lbs., Older, 124 lbs. Claiming Price $40,000, if for $35,000, allowed 2 lbs Post Time: 4:36/( 3:36)/ 2:36/ 1:36
1 Aggressivity 4-1 I very rarely like the other Asmussen when Santana is
g a different Asmussen. I just really like the last race and think the horse has improved so much the last 3 races even though one of those 3 wasn’t as good as what you would expect, but had traffic in the slop. Just give this horse room and I think he powers through.
7 C Z Rocket 6-1 I don’t know how this horse is so high on the ML.I know he has been running poorly recently but that was at the 100k Allowance level now he is dropping to 40K claimers which is a lot
easier if this horse runs his races that were high 90s he can jog and win, but can he that’s the question also it doesn’t help that Oaklawn’s not his best track.
6 Gordy Florida 5-1 Last year this horse ran a hard trying 3rd against Breeders Cup Sprint winner, Mitole, the fastest horse I have ever seen in my time watching horse racing. He is the speed of the race, now having some stamina and since they are cutting him back in distance from 1 mile to 6 furlongs and always seems to quit but might hold on here.
Selections 1-7-6
Bets $3 win and place 1($6)
Race 7 6 Furlongs. Clm 40000n2L Purse $27,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. Three Year Olds, 118 lbs., Older, 124 lbs. Claiming Price $40,000, if for $35,000, allowed 2 lbs Post Time: 5:06/( 4:06)/ 3:06/ 2:06
7 The Big Bluff 8-1 in each of his 3 races he has improved quite a bit, and he still needs to improve if he wins this race but with the right set up, I think he can run a good race.
8 Sacred Oath 4-1 in his 3 starts his only win came at this distance of 6 furlongs where he won that race by a length and a quarter. The drop down in class will help and 4-1 is a nice price on this son of Quality Road.
1 Flash of Silver 5-1 Back to back claims which is rare for this level. Very consistent horse, has never been worse than 3rd in his life and just broke his maiden by 6 lengths, but 6 furlongs might be too short.
Race 8 1 Mile. OC 75000b Purse $62,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON $15,000 THREE TIMES OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, STARTER, OR STATE BRED OR WHICH HAVE NOT WON $40,000 OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, STARTER, OR STATE BRED SINCE NOVEMBER 30, 2019 OR CLAIMING PRICE $75,000. Weight, 124 lbs. Non-winners Of $45,000 Other Than Maiden Or Claiming Since February 29, 2020 Allowed 3 lbs. $35,000 Other Than Maiden Or Claiming Since October 30, 2019 Allowed 6 lbs. Claiming Price $75,000 Post Time: 5:38/( 4:38)/ 3:38/ 2:38
1 Vault 7-2 This horse has been dominating in his last 3 starts has won them by a combined 19 lengths and won a stake race too. Hasn’t ran since November but Brad Cox gets this horse and I think if he runs his race he will be a challenge to beat.
2 Vexatious 9-2 Calumet and Jack Sisterson tried this horse against the top horse last year in the female division but she just wasn’t good enough, but she is getting a huge class relief and going to an allowance field she should run pretty well.
7 Fighting Mad 3-1 Bob Baffert aka unbeatable recently (unless you count Eight Rings), this horse should be way lower than 3-1 she hasn’t run since last summer. This could be just a prep race.
Race 9 6 Furlongs. Alw 61000n1x Purse $61,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON $15,000 OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, STARTER, OR STATE BRED ALLOWANCE OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. Three Year Olds, 118 lbs., Older, 124 lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Since February 26, 2020 Allowed 2 lbs Post Time: 6:09/( 5:09)/ 4:09/ 3:09
13 Benintendi 7-2 is Winstar Bred and Madaket owned has ran every race at Laurel and has never been worse than 2nd in four career starts. Normally I don’t love Laurel shippers (unless grass horses(and I picked one last race I know, I know))but he fits on speed figs and running style so I think if he draws in off the also eligible list then the rest of the field might be in trouble.
11 Marvin 7-2 this horse isn’t bred the greatest out of Cross Traffic and Bernstein but has ran some good races and deserves to be at the 7-2 odds. After his consistent finishes in every race, if this horse runs his A game like normal someone else needs to run better than their B games.
3 Hollywood Star 30-1 I think this horse has a good chance of hitting the board if things collapse and just gets lucky at those odds. Class level he can’t handle it but if he runs his best race he can hit the board I think, and another reason why I think he is peaking because his speed figure numbers are slowly going up over his last 3 races, and either they are peaking or have just peaked and still could be level. And if that is the case then 93 isn’t impossible for him but I can see him running an 90 and that puts him close enough at 30-1.
Selection 13-11-3
Bets $5 win and place 13 if scratched then 11($10)