ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, RECOUNT

FIRST RACE

Oaklawn puts on a notable stakes double Saturday, with the popular Whitmore making his first start since the Breeders’ Cup in the $125K Hot Springs Stakes and Kentucky Oaks points on the line in the Grade 3, $200K Honeybee. In the opener, BURGAMEISTER gets the nod off a close fourth-place finish at this level. For the effort he earned what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Figure. DIVINE INTERVENTIO gives up recency to these as he last raced in September, but like that the start came at Saratoga. The race SEVIER exits produced a next-out winner in Blueridge Traveler, who shipped to Hou and accounted for the track’s $100K Maxxam Gold Cup with a Beyer Figure of 86. THORPE D’ORO is a full brother to Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty ($1.6M).

SECOND RACE

LOUISE’S LEGACY set the pace over a laboring kind of track last time and note the start was her first since July. She would seem to have reason to move forward and she also might be best served with a fast strip as her last three wins on form came over such a surface. ANNOY gives up recency to these but is a 10-time winner. TITFORTAT is a consistent sort making her third start since November.

THIRD RACE

RECOUNT is back in the overnight ranks after hooking Wilbo twice at the meet, most recently in the $125K King Cotton at Oaklawn. RECOUNT, a Grade 3 winner, faces other speed in this spot but draws a post that might give Canchari options. UNCONTESTED ran big on the cutback to one turn last out and could be even sharper here, in his second straight sprint start. This race also marks his third out since October. IMMA BLING is on top of his game as he seeks to win his fourth straight race. RIVERS RUN DEEP is a top Ohio-bred and a winner of 14 stakes races. ST. JOE BAY is a Grade 2 winner, while ROCKSHAW and UNCONTESTED are both stakes winners over the local strip at Oaklawn.

FOURTH RACE

GRANDPA’S DREAM owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Figure. STRONG YEN faced steeper last out, while HEAVY ROLLER is back in the claiming ranks after facing starter foes.

FIFTH RACE

WILD ABOUT YOU was second against steeper last time and as such is a logical choice. He is looking for career win No. 11. PAGANOL dominated in the slop last time. He is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Miss Temple City ($1.6M). GET THAT BOX was a winner at this mile and threesixteenths trip last out at Oaklawn.

SIXTH RACE

WHITMORE is back at Oaklawn and last year he launched a significant campaign in Arkansas. He won this race, the Hot Springs, as well as the Grade 3 Count Fleet, then went on to account for the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint and the Grade 2 Phoenix. WHITMORE is the most accomplished member of the field for his record in graded stakes and his earnings of $1.2 million. He’s also a fresh horse as this marks his first start since the Breeders’ Cup and as such he might sit a little closer to the pace, perhaps tracking WYNN TIME and IVAN FALLUNOVALOT. IVAN FALLUNOVALOT can go over $1 million in earnings this afternoon, as he enters the Hot Springs with a bankroll of $986K. He is an eight-time stakes winner, 5-for11 over the local oval, and might be sitting on a peak race here, in his third out since September. A very special runner for Matthews and Howard. WILBO has risen to the fore as a sprinter of note this meet, defeating IVAN FALLUNOVALOT in both an allowance and the $125K King Cotton. WILBO is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Kodiak Kowboy ($1.6M).

SEVENTH RACE

DRY LEVEE was third last out in a quick race and note the start came against older rivals. He gets an opportunity with straight 3-year-olds in this spot, and looks like the one to catch. YANKTON owns

designates graduate of Keeneland Sale the field’s best last-race and career Beyer Figure.

FREAKIN JOE has hooked runners in Mitole, who earned a Beyer Figure of 96 for his victory in the quick maiden race this one exits, and Transgress. LEINSTER is a half-brother to millionaire Stormy Liberal, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in November at Del Mar.

EIGHTH RACE

The Honeybee, a points race for the Kentucky Oaks, is a tough call. AMY’S CHALLENGE is an undefeated multiple stakes winner, but she is making her first start at two turns. RED RUBY, meanwhile, is proven at the distance and owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Figure. AMY’S CHALLENGE might have a tactical advantage. She brings exceptional speed to the table and on the stretch out from six furlongs looks like a candidate to take these a long way on the lead. She gets pedigree support for the added ground, too, her dam a winner at a mile and a sixteenth at Gulfstream. RED RUBY is unbeaten at two turns and after defeating some of these at a mile last out in the Martha Washington at Oaklawn will go to the second, or traditional, wire in a configuration that would seem to suit the daughter of Tiznow. RED RUBY also won at this trip in her two-turn debut in November at Churchill. She is a half-sister to Beautician, a stakes winner who earned $636K and who placed in a pair of Grade 1 races, including the BC Juvenile Fillies. RED RUBY also is a half-sister to Mo Tom, the winner of the Grade 3 Lecomte and Ohio Derby. SASSY SIENNA is appealing for her natural speed and record over the track.COSMIC BURST was flattered when STRONGER THAN EVER came back to win the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds.

NINTH RACE

SWEET TATUM was prominent over a laboring kind of track last out when second against higherpriced maidens and note the out was her first since September. DANCE LIKE KATIE exits same race as top choice, finishing fourth. KANTASTIC faces older rivals, but could be sitting on a peak race in her third out since November.