Blog

1st: 9-6-11
Ri Ri French Fry showed consistent early speed last summer in tough fields at Louisiana Downs (several key races).  Trainer Al Cates does well in Arkansas-bred maiden races.

Suspicious Eyes was a factor in the Rainbow last year while still a maiden, and has never faced Arkansas-bred maidens before.

Hesluck has some decent workouts and is a half-brother to a two-year-old winner so there is some reason to expect him to be ready early.

2nd: no opinion — note this race had been listed at both 6 furlongs and one mile.  I believe it will be run at 6 furlongs.

3rd: 7-2-9

Call Me Richard has shown sharp early speed.  The horse he dueled with through fast fractions at Churchill last time won his next race easily.  Most of the other horses in this race are infrequent winners.
Queen of Summer is from the hot McKnight barn but is a filly facing males.

R H Smoakem fits with these but benefited from slow fractions in his Turf Paradise win.

4th: no opinion

5th: 1-3-8

Curiousncuriouser beat better horses in New York and fits the Starter Allowance conditions well.

Sweet Tatum has won at Oaklawn and will try to steal it.

Supercede is a winning machine, 6 for 8 last year, and could be an attractive price today relative to her stellar record.

6th: 7-1-9

Wood Not Mind could benefit from a projected hot pace.  Unusual but strong to see a stone-cold closer like her with more lifetime wins than places and shows (55: 13-12-10).  All of her claiming races on the page were versus open company rather than restricted.

Cuddle Kitten faced better at Remington and is an obvious contender albeit a low price.

Stina is in form and like the top choice has a strong lifetime box (39: 10-6-2).

7th: 2-3-7

First-time starter Vercruysse is named after the good handicapper Aaron.  I suspect they are not going to name a slow horse after a good handicapper.
Summer Delivery ran well at Churchill Downs last time and is logical at a low price.

Lady Apple’s last race was a dud but she is New York stakes placed and figures to contend versus maidens for hot trainer Asmussen.

8th: no opinion

9th: 11-6-4

Fetch’s Mon’s last two races are better than they appear on paper.  The outside post hurt on March 15 and Three Chords ran away with the race last time.  Three Chords won last week at Oaklawn to boot.

Dutch Treat has a class edge on the field, losing by just a neck to Alabama winner Eskimo Kisses, but might prefer longer.

Luna Magic has won six races, which stands out in a race where most of the others have only a maiden win to show.  She has  underperformed at Oaklawn, however