ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, GRACELAND

FIRST RACE

The card Thursday is highlighted by a high-end optional claiming route for 3-year-old fillies that could produce starters for next month’s Grade 3, $400K Fantasy at Oaklawn. In the opener, STAY SPICY gets the nod in part because she might get a solid pace to fuel her late run. She also was favored over similar last out, when she did well to close in the slop. INDIAN TRICK has moved forward with each of her starts at the meet and could be sitting on a peak effort in her third race since November. ARCH ARCH BABY was fourth last out in a race that has become a key one. The winner returned to account for an allowance at Oaklawn with a Beyer Figure of 80 and the fifth-place finisher, Darion’s Dream, a $12.5K conditioned claimer, also at OP, with a Beyer of 63.

SECOND RACE

DIXIE KICKS has shown excellent speed in her races and has a chance to take these gate to wire. BELLE SUPREME finished right behind top choice last time and like that she has moved forward with each of her starts at the meet. EMPIRE STRIKES cuts back to one turn and figures to be strong through the stretch on account of the distance move.

THIRD RACE

GRACELAND has class appeal as one who has been facing steeper and she also seems like one who might be well-served with a fast track after catching a wet surface for the first time in her career last out. She can be closer to the pace than she found herself in that race and for this trip will add blinkers. THISONE’SFORJIMMY seems best judged on her efforts at SA, which came on dirt. She ran on a synthetic track last out and the start also was her first since last May. CARD CLUB cuts back to one turn after showing speed around two, which can be an effective move with a horse.

FOURTH RACE

PICTURE TUBE needs pace to fuel his run and he could get what he needs in this spot. He also cuts back to a mile, site of his best finish at the meet, and could be sitting on a peak effort in his third out since November. JOHN’S LEGACY must overcome the widest gate, but owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Figure. HARD WORK can be closer to pace than top two choices and note this marks his third start since last September.

FIFTH RACE

HUNTER’S STRIKE draws the widest post, but like that he is an eight-time winner facing some lessexperienced foes and that he is from a multiple stakes-winning mare who ran out $381K. A concern is whether he will get a solid pace to fuel his run as ALL ABOUT ASHLEY has a chance to give these the slip at the start. CHOCOLATE ICECREAM brings some competitive Beyer Figures into what will be his third start since October. TREASURY BILL is from a Grade 3-winning mare who ran out $215K.

SIXTH RACE

TRADING CASH ran a big race off the bench last out and the Beyer Figure of 67 that he earned is the second-best career number in the field, behind the 68 that KING’S RECKONING earned in his last start. TRADING CASH exits a productive race, as the third-place finisher came back to account for a $20K maiden claimer at OP, with a Beyer of 70, and the fourth-place finisher, Captivated, a $12.5K maiden claimer, also at OP, with a Beyer of 54. KING’S RECKONING is back at a distance over which he has run well in the past. MONEYMEISTER makes the meaningful move to the maiden claiming ranks for the first time.

SEVENTH RACE

CARA BLYTHE ran a credible race off the bench last out and would seem to have reason to move forward here in both her second start back and with the move to this level. She also is one who can be closer to the pace than she found herself

last time, when she stumbled at the start. DUSTEM

CAROLINA has run first, second or third in 36 of her 53 starts and in her most recent out she was second against steeper, taking on allowance foes. She’s a queen. BIG RED SEVEN is an eight-time winner who is appealing for her tactical post. She also owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Figure. More than capable.

EIGHTH RACE

MIZ K has reason to move forward on the stretch out to two turns. She is by Tapit and her dam, Tiz Miz Sue, won the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps as well as two runnings of the Azeri here at Oaklawn. MIZ K also might be best served if the track is fast as she won her maiden over such footing, In addition, she might get a decent setup behind a few of these. FIRST ALTERNATE has run some big races on the front end, and seems due to clear this condition soon. The winner of the race she exits is stakesbound, while this one is bred to be a good one as a half-sister to both Grade 3 winner Now I Know ($461K) and Girls Know Best, a stakes winner of $211K. TYFOSHA is yet another promising sort in a quality field. She was a sharp winner over the local strip in January and is seeking her first win at two turns. Her dam was a three-time stakes winner who banked $351K and who produced a stakes winner in Centrique ($461K).

NINTH RACE

GEORGIA’S REWARD ran a big race in her seasonal debut last out, defeating older horses in a maiden allowance for Arkansas-breds and earning a career-best Beyer Figure of 77. In addition, she’s been flattered since the start. The runner-up came back to account for another maiden allowance at OP, with a Beyer of 65, and the third-place finisher, a $20K maiden claimer, also at OP, with a Beyer of 55. In addition, the seventh-place finisher, All About Betty, came back to account for a $40K maiden claimer at OP, with a Beyer of 47. SHE’S UNDAWNTED has an age edge on top choice and also an experience edge as a two-time winner. DIXIE FLYER cuts back to one turn, site of her best race at the meet. BEAUTIFUL HONDURAS would seem to be a chief contender were she to draw into the body of the race. On a few pedigree points, OUR ADDI BELLE is a half-sister to an Arkansasbred of the Year in Weast Hill ($415K), while ALL ABOUT BETTY is from a popular mare who won six stakes and banked $311K.