RICK LEE’S

selections, analysis for today’s card.

LEE’S LOCK Emboldened in the ninth BEST BET Town Champ in the second LONG SHOT Feathered Indian in the sixth FRIDAY’S RESULTS 1-9 (11.1%)

**** confident choice

***plenty to like

**things to like

*educated guess

1 Purse $30,000, 6 furlongs, 4-yearolds and up, starter allowance NO FUNNY BIZ** was compromised by a wide trip in a deceptively good second-place finish at Churchill, and he is reunited with veteran rider Jon Court. EARNEDNEVERGIVEN finished two positions behind the top selection at Churchill, but he has worked smartly since arriving at Oaklawn. He won from the rail last winter over this track. ENDER won two of his last three races at Remington, including his last at a slightly higher class level.

2 Purse $30,000, 6 furlongs, 3-yearolds and up, maiden claiming $25,000 TOWN CHAMP*** finished second at Churchill in his return from a long layoff, and his subsequent works are sharp. The Steve Asmussen trainee is the one to catch. AGGRESSIVITY was beaten only a neck at Del Mar, and the beaten oddson favorite is a big danger for winning trainer John Sadler. REELFOOT finished third in a similar spot at Churchill, and he has recorded two bullet works since arriving in Hot Springs.

3 Purse $36,000, 6 furlongs, 4-yearolds and up, claiming $20,000 LEROY*** defeated stronger $32,000 sprinters at Santa Anita, and he is back sprinting after a competitive two-turn

FIRST POST — 1:05 P.M. finish at Del Mar. FUTILE was a game winner at this price in March at Oaklawn, and he is dropping to win after three swift local breezes. DRENA’S STAR is dropping to the lowest price of his career for top connections. He is exceptionally quick and may lead past every pole.

4 Purse $31,000, 6 furlongs, 4-yearolds and up who have never won two races, claiming $25,000 BULLION** faded after pressing a rapid pace when making his return from a layoff at Fair Grounds. He was a 9-length maiden winner last spring at Santa Anita and may show marked improvement with a kinder rating. VICTORY ELEMENT exits a fast maiden-claiming victory at Churchill, and he is a repeat candidate if able to hold form for new trainer Steve Hobby. NOLA WIN followed a clear maiden win at Churchill with a competitive fourth-place finish, and horses claimed by trainer Broberg typically improve.

3 Miracle Hill Talamo Moquett 12-1 1 Goose Drank WineLara Matthews 20-1 5 Cat’s American PieQuinonez Gladd 15-1 14 Jimmy At Last FDe La Cruz Divito 6-1 12 Sonic Jet Thompson Ashauer 20-1 8 Belmont Hills Eramia Robideaux 20-1

6 Purse $85,000, 6 furlongs, 3-yearolds, maiden special weight FEATHERED INDIAN** is an unraced gelding with several fast works for a stable that wins with first-timers, and he is bred to be a fast horse. TWILIGHT FANTASY set an exceptionally fast pace before tiring in a deceptive debut at Fair Grounds, and the winner of the race (Digital) came back and finished second in a fast allowance race. KOWALSKI has not raced since finishing fourth in an unusually strong maiden race at Saratoga, and he has been working like a colt ready to contend.

9 Purse $88,000, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, allowance optional claiming EMBOLDENED **** has not raced since May, but he has raced competitively in graded stake races. Trainer Brad Cox typically brings his runners back fit and ready. CREATIVE INSTINCT is unbeaten in three races at this standard sprint distance, and the Peter Miller trainee appears to be the controlling speed. RUBY TRUST exits a competitive third-place turf-sprint stake finish at Fair Grounds, and a case can be made she is more effective on dirt.