ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 8, OAKTON

FIRST RACE

HONDURAS benefited from an inside bias when a much-improved third vs. $25K maidens Dec. 2. The son of Munnings shouldn’t mind the stretchout from six to seven furlongs in this $32K seller. TAHANA is exiting a fade job in a quick five-furlong maiden special for OS stock. His trainer, who has solid numbers second-time off the claim, is taking the blinkers off for the drop. BEARS MAFIA broke awkwardly before checking in a distant fourth behind two runners who both came back to run big in his $32K opener.

SECOND RACE

CHESTERMERE shook loose up front and set fast splits before tiring late over a track that was kind to speed Nov. 17. The cutback from seven to six furlongs should be ideal for the steady Stu Simon charge. WALL STREET WOLF placed in both of his recent races at this $10K NW2 class, including in a fivefurlong dash a week ago. He’s a must-use underneath in the gimmicks, with the hot bug Kimura taking over. GATOR SPY ran against the bias when eighth in his second race off the sidelines Nov. 17. The addition of blinkers could help turn his form around.

THIRD RACE

BRASS COMPASS prevailed over the hard-knocking Marten Lake at this optional starter level two back, while putting up a career high 94 Beyer. He’s coming off a respectable fifth in the G2 Kennedy Road under regular rider Wilson. CLASSIC COTTON polished off $25K opposition with an 89 Beyer last time under Da Silva, who’s sticking with him. The other McKnight entrant, ABBAA, is eligible to fire one of his better shots in his second race off the bench. The winner of his comeback, in an open allowance, went on the capture the Kennedy Road.

FOURTH RACE

HANDSOME LIKE ME drew the outside post in this large field, but the in-form gelding should be dangerous on the drop from $10K to the NW2 class at which he ran second Nov. 4. The third horse from his last race came back to score in a route at this level. STREET

CAT SAM has improved a little with each subsequent outing since returning from a late summer break. He could be construed as a live longshot. HIDDEN ARTIFACT rallied for second when adding Lasix to his arsenal while getting some class relief in his latest. Use SEVEN COMING OUT in the exotics.

FIFTH RACE

DANCING HORIZON is dropping from a difficult OS maiden special to this much easier $20K maiden sprint in her fourth trip postward. She was softened up in a speed duel when third the time before, and her early foot might come in handy here with Contreras aboard. VERRADASSAH is going on Lasix off a lapped-on second at this price behind Shamruckus, who subsequently finished a tired sixth for $40K. SHANGHAI COLLECT is dropping off a belated fourth in her debut vs. $32K maidens, and could better this projected placing. Put CANDY MOUNTAIN on the bottom of tri and super wagers.

SIXTH RACE

WORLDS YOUR OYSTER got a lovely ground-saving ride from Wilson when she came from off the pace to beat NW2 rivals Nov. 25. This shorter six-furlong distance is in her wheelhouse, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see her double up in this NW3 tilt. SILENT RESPECT earned a good 71 Beyer when beating NW2 opposition after stalking a slow pace under leading rider Da Silva Nov. 11. CRUMLIN SPIRIT has been freshened since another dull effort Oct. 19. She can acquit herself well after a break. STORMY SUMMER is adding blinkers for the turnback to the distance over which she graduated.

SEVENTH RACE

STAY DETERMINED has been saddled with the outside post in this five-furlong dash, but could benefit from the cutback from three-quarters, a distance over which he’s been coming up a bit short. TOO MANY EGBERT’S rallied for third after getting away slowly last time in a rapidly-run $5K claimer that came up tough. He got hung out wide on the turn in a speed duel before tiring the start before, and should make an impact if he fires one of his better shots. GUATEMALA CITY finished seventh among three next-out winners the last time he saw action at a notch higher Aug. 5. YALL HAVE A NICE DAY is also in with a shot.

EIGHTH RACE

OAKTON is looking to end a long drought in this $6.25K contest, and is eligible to improve by leaps and bounds off the $8K McKnight claim. A hot Kimura has the mount on the classy gray/roan. Stretch-runner MIND MAGIC, another win-shy type, placed in three consecutive races prior to a wide sixth most recently for $10K. DUPES won an identical event after closing from off a lively pace Nov. 14. Use him in the lower rungs of the exotics, along with THUNDER POINT and BEALE STREET DANCER.