ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 4, FORSAKEN

FIRST RACE

The card Thursday is scheduled to be the first at Oaklawn since an extended winter storm system shut down racing Feb. 12. In the opener, MR. PETERKIN gets the nod in part for the recency he has on some of these with a start Feb. 4. He also got a work in Feb. 11 - notable in that the track had to close for training from Feb. 12-Feb. 22. MR. PETERKIN gets in quite light in this mile and a sixteenth race, under apprentice Morales. TIZ THE JOURNEY last raced Feb. 4, too, and brings a nice amount of two-turn experience to the table. He also has an age edge on top choice as he is 4. CONQUISTADOR SHOW has been a consistent sort as a rule. This marks his first out since December.

SECOND RACE

YOUNG BULL is a class play as one who has seen steeper. He also has reason to move forward in his second start since August. SMELLIN CANDY exits same race as top choice. LAST PAYCHECK moves into the Arkansas-bred ranks for the first time this year with the meet now on at Oaklawn.

THIRD RACE

RAHWAY ran a strong race off an extended layoff last out, setting the pace to the later stages and finishing third to SEEDS OF TIME. The former is making her second start since June. On a pedigree point, RAHWAY is from a Grade 3-winning mare who ran out $332K and who has produced a stakes winner in Brookys Star ($105K). SEEDS OF TIME popped a career-high Beyer Speed Figure last out and it’s also the best last-race number in this field. She’s from a mare who won eight races. HELLO DARLING is a stakes winner who ran a big race off the bench at Remington.

FOURTH RACE

FORSAKEN invades from Fair Grounds and that alone might give him an edge on the Oaklawnbased runners in this spot as horses have been unable to train over the local track from Feb. 12 through at least Monday. This one is further appealing for the big race he ran against open company in his debut last out, earning what ranks as this field’s best career Beyer Speed Figure. MO BETTA ran a credible fifth in his debut last out and has reason to move forward for the experience of an out. The start came in a full field of 12. INTO ORBIT is on the also-eligible list, but would be a leading contender were he to draw into the body of the race. He brings good experience to the table, and exits a race against open company that has produced two next-out winners.

FIFTH RACE

HARDLY A SECRET moves back to two turns here and his last two wins on form came at the configuration, one here at Oaklawn. He’s further appealing from a class standpoint. KRISTO was a sharp winner over starter rivals last out and now returns to the claiming ranks. DEALIN’ STELEN ran a credible fourth off the bench last out at Oaklawn and owns a series of competitive Beyer Figures. He’s also a winner in Hot Springs.

SIXTH RACE

STONE SECRET ran a big race off the bench last time, when he was part of a quick pace in the mud and finished fourth. The out was his first since November 2019. He’s since worked back a sharp half-mile. TORIN split the field on the cutback in distance last out and could be sharper here, in his second straight start at one turn. CASCADE KING is a consistent sort who seems due to graduate soon. More than capable.

SEVENTH RACE

LULLABY BLING came rolling through the lane last out and was just edged and for the effort earned what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. CABOT exits same race as top choice and had a less-than-ideal trip in what was his first out since November. SOMETHING SUPER also comes out of the same race as top choice, and this one was cutting back from two turns. He could be closer to the pace this time around. Another

leading contender is LONELY PRIVATE.

EIGHTH RACE

FASTLY can be closer to the pace than he found himself last time, when he broke last of all, trailed and closed for second. It was a big run in the mud from promising sort who had wired his rivals in a maiden allowance at Churchill Downs one start prior. THOMAS SHELBY has experience on top choice as a three-time winner. He also shakes a sharp Jalen Journey, who is part of a quality field of sprinters here Friday. KADRI won his maiden last fall with a strong Beyer Figure of 85.

NINTH RACE

MARION FRANCIS makes the move to two turns here and given the fractions she attended last time looks like a candidate to take these gate to wire. SMARMY made the move to two turns last out and finished a strong second to a quality kind of winner. CLASS REUNION makes the move to two turns and gets pedigree support for the task at hand. STILLCHARGINGMARIA brings a big pedigree to the table.