ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 9, WYATT’S TOWN

FIRST RACE

The card Saturday includes the $125K Dixie Bellle, which drew the undefeated stakes winner Amy’s Challenge and the promising Mia Mischief. In the opener, CIRCLE UNBROKEN is appealing on class as he has seen steeper. He also has tactical speed and goes for barn that has gotten off to a fast start at Oaklawn. VALIANT FLAME won six races last year. He makes a rare start on dirt and he has had a chance to work at Oaklawn. HILLBILLY ROYALTY is back on dirt and back at Oaklawn and he has had success in the past in Hot Springs. PREACHER TIME cuts back to one turn after showing speed around two, which can be an effective move with a horse.

SECOND RACE

LUV BANDIT gets much respect from this corner as a 14-time winner. He was second against steeper last out and for the effort earned what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Figure. He also is a winner at Oaklawn. DYNABEAVER returns to the straight claiming ranks. He hooked a win machine last out in Whiskey Tree. TIZNOW R J has some back class to call upon and owns a win at Oaklawn.

THIRD RACE

BAJAN CASH has been a consistent sort as a rule and has had a chance to work over the local strip in advance of his Oaklawn debut. DUPREE has the speed to hold his position from the rail and has a chance to steal away in this spot, depending on how things go at the break. His last win came off a layoff of similar length. MUD LIGHT owns a series of competitive Beyer Figures.

FOURTH RACE

NORTHERN CONNECT has class appeal as one whose last win came against steeper. A drawback is that she needs pace to fuel her run. KARLA WITH A K is another class play as she, too, has been lining up against higher-priced foes. She can be closer to pace than top choice, which might give her a tactical advantage. DO IT is a consistent sort who ran well against some useful horses this past meet at Remington.

FIFTH RACE

SON OF A SAINT makes the move back to dirt following a pair of races on the grass and his maiden win came on the main track. He shows a sharp series of local works for his Oaklawn debut, including a bullet half-mile in 48.40 seconds that was the fastest of 238 moves at the distance that morning in Hot Springs. BEE JERSEY is established class as a Group 3-placed runner. He should be sharp for the move back to two turns off the seven-eighths start at Churchill. He also has recency on top choice. BRONZE AGE shows some nice local works for his Oaklawn debut. He can make a real impact with a flashback to a win last February, which came over West Coast.

SIXTH RACE

MATROOH has class appeal as a Grade 1-placed runner who has been facing steeper. He also is back at two turns, site of his best recent finish. BOLD CONQUEST returns to the overnight ranks after a stakes start in which the winner wired the field. He would seem well served with a contested pace up front, fueling his late run. SNICKERBOXER hooked a fellow win machine last out at Remington and is now back at Oaklawn, where he is 3-for-6.

SEVENTH RACE

GUNS LOADED is moving back into the overnight ranks following a series of stakes starts and that makes him appealing on class. He also is back on dirt and note he is 2-for-7 on the main track at Oaklawn. MR. N exits a quick allowance and before that placed in a pair of statebred stakes at Remington. He’s a versatile sort, as one who has been effective from both on and off the pace. ROCKING THE BOAT and GOT EVEN, who are both on the also-eligible list, can make a real impact if either draws into the body of the field.

EIGHTH RACE

The Dixie Belle has drawn a nice assortment of 3-year-old fillies. AMY’S CHALLENGE is running in

a race restricted to fillies for the first time after defeating males in both of her starts, including in the Shakopee Juvenile at Canterbury. She owns the field’s best last-race and career Beyer Speed Figure and draws a post that might give Loveberry options. MIA MISCHIEF also has shown significant talent in her young career, and like top choice she won a maiden special weight by more than 16 lengths. MIA MISCHIEF has recency on that one, having dominated at a demanding kind of distance in November at Churchill. MINIT TO STARDOM might get an ideal trip off top two choices, while another of interest is VISION OF JUSTICE. SECRET PASSION was a stakes winner in July at Prairie Meadows.

NINTH RACE

WYATT’S TOWN is a January foal who was just edged last out in a maiden allowance at Saratoga. RIPE has recency on top choice and for this trip will add blinkers, a high percentage move for Sims. RICKHOUSE turned a bullet five eighths over the local strip.