Southwest Stakes day as the road to Louisville continues, today, at Oaklawn. Had five top pick winners on Saturday, let’s continue staying hot today! 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) 6-3-4
I simply don’t see a lot of pace in here. I’m going to the Diodoro barn, in the opener. Should get a great trip, second out off the freshening. Simply loves Oaklawn. Second choice, hopefully gets back to a fast track and gets off the bullring at Delta Downs. Frost Or Frippery, #4, was second best to my top choice, here, last out.
Race 2) 5-8-3
State bred MSW race in the second and it’s the three years and upward angle. With that, I’m not one to pick younger versus elders in these types early in the year, you know that routine by now if you have followed. The problem I have with this race, is the elders haven’t run a step and the other two elders are firsters with very little to go on. Spread race early for me. Top choice has gate speed and has numbers to win this. Spread here, don’t leave the 2, 4 and 6 off tickets, many can win here.
Race 3) 5-9-6
I am, #5, has good speed numbers at Oaklawn, though not exactly, like many in here, isn’t exactly a win machine. Lands here, off the freshening, and will sit a good trip if he’s good enough. Going to the far outside in the second spot. Is also second off the layoff, just wish there was a different jock in the irons. Let’s round out the tri with Talamo and the #6, Destiny Way, will meet winners for the first time after I nice debut. This one can lead them a long way.
Race 4) 8-2-5
I see a ton of pace in here. Replete, #8, should have no excuse not to trip out here. Will sit off the pace and have every chance to mow them down late. This one comes in from the white hot Diodoro and also comes in fresh. The #2, Town Champ, comes in off a solid win. The show horse has come back to win next out, but my fear is this one will get cooked up front; but is the speed of the speed. Round out the trifecta with the #5, second off the layoff and ran well in last, gets a nice post, with speed drawn to his inside.
Race 5) 2-3-8
Some quality firsters in the MSW dash at six furlongs. Let’s roll with Asmussen and Ricardo on this Race Day colt which cost more than 13 times the stud fee. Brings in some nice works for an ownership group that Asmussen has had a lot of success with. The colt, right next door, has nice works coming into his unveiling, though Stewart doesn’t win first out. Maker ships the #8 in from Aqueduct and can improve on a different track.
Race 6) 1-6-2
Short field for the Bayakoa. Cox has the top pick primed for this spot. Should get a nice ground saving rail trip under JJ. Let’s go to the far outside, where this one benefitted from a few scratches to win under wraps last out. Go Google Yourself is the class of the race, but certainly doesn’t tower over these. These three should get you out of this race, if playing the pick five.
Race 7) 4-3-2
This is a paceless race on paper. With that, #4, Potomac, comes into this race, second off the layoff for the Asmussen barn and gets a major rider upgrade shipping in from Aqueduct. Should sit just off the speed of the #3, second choice here. Devito to round out the top three.
Race 8) 3-5-4
The Razorback drew a good field. There is plenty of speed in here. The 4, 5, 6 should all show pace. Bankit, #3, should fall into a favorable trip. I like the second off angle and this one was obviously pointed for this spot. Diodoro sends out Pioneer Spirit; loves the distance and brings in a three-race win streak. I’m going to try and get the #4, at a nice price under in the exacta and trifecta. Love Alvarado and the sprint to route angle adds to the intrigue, a 22% angle for Sacco.
Race 9) 9-1-5
This isn’t a great edition of the Southwest, the second stop on the Kentucky Derby trail for these colts. Note I don’t have the Smarty Jones winner in my top three. I’m not going to spend a lot of time, in the write-up, going through this race. If Gold Street wins in a canter again, then so be it, not my type of win bet. I want to try and get the 1 and 5 in my exacta bet.
Race 10) 9-3-5
Second start colt, for Maker, was bet first out, at Turfway Park and got off to a bad start. Let’s close out the card with this one in the winner’s circle. Dreamonmebaby, was off slow in debut as well. Gelded since and should improve in second start as well. Third choice is another second start horse as well; this one had a brutal trip last out.