ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, DELILAH

FIRST RACE

Oaklawn’s program is led by an optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds that drew Southwest alum P C Cowboy. In the opener, DELILAH gets the nod for her runner-up finish at this level last time, and for the fact that she has an age edge on some of her rivals as she is 4. AUNT KIDDO and CHEF KAREN were a respective second and third to a dominant winner at this mile and a sixteenth trip last out at Oaklawn.

SECOND RACE

MAGIC OF BELIEVING hooked a win machine last out when facing steeper - a horse who has won five straight. MAGIC OF BELIEVING could be sitting on a peak effort in his third start since November. INCITEMENT is back in the claiming ranks after holding his own against starter foes. MATUSZAK is a consistent sort invading from Fair Grounds, and note he is a winner at this distance at Oaklawn.

THIRD RACE

FREEDOM MARCH set the pace over a laboring kind of track last out in her first start since October. She would seem to have reason to move forward in both her second start back, and on the cutback to one turn as her last win came in a sprint. HEAT MY DUST meets winners for the first time off a good-looking maiden score. She has a chance to wire these. BET ON BETTYE and her entrymate GRANTASTICA have both seen steeper. Capable.

FOURTH RACE

OFFICER GRIGGS finished in front of some of these last out and for the effort earned what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. CELTA VIGO was third against similar last time and gets a hot rider in Canchari. QUIETLY CUBA seems like a nice fit with these.

FIFTH RACE

MIZZ WIZZ brings tactical speed to the table and is back in the claiming ranks after facing starter allowance rivals. KNIGHT OF DREAMS has moved forward in each of his starts at the meet and could be sitting on a peak performance in his third out since October. NIGHT PATROL is a nine-time winner who fits well with these, while another of interest is FORAFEWDOLLARSMORE.

SIXTH RACE

ZIP ‘N SIP was just edged in good time in his most recent start, and he dueled throughout in the race. This marks his third start since October. MUD LIGHT might be tough to contain were he to run back to his effort Jan. 26. STEALCASE cuts back to one turn and as a result looking for him to be making his case through the lane.

SEVENTH RACE

BLUE AZUL makes the meaningful move to the maiden claiming ranks. He hooked a tough, older winner last time, and note the runner-up from that race returned Thursday to defeat older rivals at Oaklawn. TIZFUN faced J Boys Echo two back, and note that runner was to have started in the Gotham on Saturday at Aqueduct. KING’S RECKONING brings good two-turn experience to the table. He adds blinkers, which is a high percentage move for Puhl.

EIGHTH RACE

P C COWBOY could flatter One Liner. He is moving back into the overnight ranks after running eighth to that one last out in the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest Stakes. The class move makes P C COWBOY appealing, as does the return to a mile as P C COWBOY won his maiden at the trip in January at Oaklawn. JUNKET is multiple stakesplaced, having run second in both the Victoria and Colin last year at Woodbine. SUPERSTYLE did not get the break last out and as such could be closer to the pace in this spot. Others of interest in a competitive spot for 3-year-olds include FIREUPTHEJET and ONE SOCK MAUK.