Rick Lee’s Oaklawn Park selections and analysis

1 Purse $25,000, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, Arkansas-bred, claiming $16,000

**BLUSHING BELLA has won three of her four sprint races since an addition of blinkers June 8. She possesses early speed and keeps her regular rider. ACUMEN has led for 6 furlongs or farther in four consecutive route races, and she was a clear sprint winner in restricted company last winter at Oaklawn. OUR ADDI BELLE was a three-time winner in 2017, including a maiden victory at Oaklawn, and her three recent workouts are encouraging. 2 Purse $40,000, 6 furlongs, 3-year-old fillies, starter allowance

**** SWORN SILENCE finished fast in a clear career debut victory at Churchill, and subsequent breezes at Fair Grounds appear sharp. She seems to have drawn into a soft starter allowance field. BIG AXE does have a conditioned-claiming victory at Keeneland on her resume, and the Turfway shipper is adding blinkers, which is a high percentage move for this stable. ALMAFUERTE broke her maiden at first asking via disqualification at Churchill. She was claimed by a winning barn and is likely to improve with the experience. 3 Purse $23,500, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds and up, maiden claiming $20,000

**BANGO BOX was beaten only a head at this level in a 7-furlong test at Remington. He has proven two-turn ability and drew an inside post. CAPTIVATED earned the field’s fastest Beyer figure when beaten a diminishing neck two races back at Churchill, and is back in the claiming game after tiring late in a maiden allowance route. DREAMRIDER is a three-time beaten post-time favorite who is dropping into a maiden-claimer for the first time, but he appears much better on turf and figures to be overbet. 4 Purse $20,000, 1 mile, 4-year-olds and up which have never won two races, claiming $8,000 *HARD WORK is dropping to the lowest price of his career following several competitive races at Indiana, and he recorded a decisive maiden win following a similar layoff in July. K L S FORTY THREE finished with energy in a 2-length defeat on turf at Fair Grounds, and the consistent finisher has been effective on the main track. ADMIRAL SHEPARD finished second at Remington in an entry-level allowance route, and the class dropper will be difficult to beat with his best effort. 5 Purse $20,000, 6 furlongs, 3-year-olds and up, maiden claiming $10,000 ***SNOOSE SASA has finished in-the-money in three of seven races while competing at a higher maiden classification and should avoid traffic from his extreme outside post. TIZ FUNNY has shown good early speed in a seven-race career. He is another dropping to the lowest price of his career, and recent workouts have been swift. ELCABALLODELMANANA raced outside in a third-place debut performance at Remington, and horses often show marked improvement in a second start. 6 Purse $76,000, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, allowance ***PRIZED BOURBON has been caught inside the final furlong in consecutive allowance races at Woodbine, and the speedy mare is cutting back to an improved distance. Local works suggest she may prefer dirt over synthetic. WHAT A STAR has not raced since June, but she raced well in her career debut last winter at Oaklawn, and finished her three-year-old campaign with a determined maiden victory at Churchill. Also, notice the presence of Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens. FIVE STAR FACTOR finished a competitive third in the 2017 Dixie Belle at Oaklawn, and the inconsistent filly has the 7 Purse $20,000, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, claiming $6,250 ***CASH TIZ WONDERFUL had a modest two-race winning streak snapped when overmatched in an “open” $16,000 claiming race at Churchill, but she is taking a precipitous drop in class for winning connections and is the one to catch and beat. ORO BIRD has won three consecutive dirt races while competing in Oklahoma, and she did break her maiden around two turns last winter at Oaklawn. CHEYENNE BLUES had a three-race winning streak at the recently concluded Remington Park meeting, and she has top connections but a poor career record at Oaklawn. 8 Purse $76,000, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, allowance ***TREBLE outran a good maiden field in her career debut last January at Oaklawn, and narrowly missed an allowance victory two starts later. She returns after an eight-month break but should prevail if brought back fit by winning connections. TAP OF WAR has the benefit of recent competitive allowance races in Kentucky, and trainer Kelly Von Hemel has his “go-to” rider in the irons. BELLA VERDE set the pace in an encouraging third-place return to the races at Churchill, and veteran trainer Jinks Fires has won with three of his first four starters at the meeting. 9 Purse $77,000, 1 mile, fillies and mares, 4-yearolds and up, allowance optional claiming **TORRENT was compromised by a wide trip when finishing a close third in the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland, which easily earned the field’s fastest lastrace Beyer figure, but she is competing against her elders for the first time. RACHEL’S TEMPER is the leading money earner in the field, and is spotted to contend after an even try in the Grade 2 Fall City Handicap at Churchill. DREAMCALL made a determined rally to be second best in a $100,000 stakes at Remington, and she did break her maiden last season at Oaklawn Park.