ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, THORNISH

FIRST RACE

The card Friday features some of the best Arkansas-breds in training in an allowance sprint that could produce starters for the Nodouble Stakes here March 27. In the opener, FACTUAL gets the nod off a runner-up finish at this level. For this trip, she will be first Lasix. SOLEMN OATH cuts back to one turn after showing speed around two, and that can be an effective move with horse. PLAYFULMISSSAMURAI gets off the fence in a draw that might give Wales options Friday.

SECOND RACE

ELITCH draws an improved post over his last start, when he was a troubled second to a quality kind of winner. WAGON BOSS can be closer to the pace than a number of these and that might give him a tactical advantage. He could sit just off IKE, who has a good chance to control the pace. IKE is stakes-placed over the local track and is looking for his third straight win.

THIRD RACE

THORNISH has been knocking on the door against maiden rivals and his consistent efforts have come against both open and statebred foes. He cuts back to one turn here and looking for him to be strong through the stretch on account of the distance move. THORNISH also owns the field’s best collection of Beyer Speed Figures. ROLL DINERO ROLL is a February foal who faced steeper in his debut. For this trip, he adds blinkers. JESSE JONES is launching his season and like that he ran a competitive race last out, when making his career debut at Oaklawn in 2020.

FOURTH RACE

TEN TWELVE FOURTEEN was third against starter foes last out and now returns to the straight claiming ranks. HIDDEN RULER has speed and a post that might give Bowen options. ALL SHACKED UP is back at six furlongs, site of his best recent race. He’s also back in the claiming ranks after facing starter foes in both of his starts at the meet.

FIFTH RACE

AREEMAA is back on dirt following the synthetictrack starts at Turfway and note she put up her best Beyer Speed Figure on dirt at Keeneland. The drawback here is the widest post. OMI TEN ran a credible third off the bench last out and has reason to move forward in her second start since November. MISS ALPHA BELLA is a consistent performer who makes good sense in this spot, while the same can be said for LYRICIST, who is moving back to the distance over which she earned her best career Beyer Speed Figure.

SIXTH RACE

MISS ANTIOCH ran a big third in her stakes debut last out and in the process finished in front of a handful of these. She has more natural speed than most in here, and that could give her a tactical advantage. MISS ANTIOCH also was a winner at this distance in January. SEKANI exits the same stakes as top choice, the Downthedustyroad, and split the large field. She could be sitting on a peak race here, in her third start since last April. EURO ME was second to top choice two starts back and as a three-time winner has an experience edge on some of these.

SEVENTH RACE

SHASTALOO comes off a third-place finish in a quick race and for the effort earned what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. She moves back to two turns here, and her closest career finish to date came at the configuration in December. MAKING PROGRESS is well-versed at the two-turn trip and is making the third start of her form cycle. JLOHR JAN was well-regarded last

time in her first start on dirt. Another of interest is LOFTHOUSE.

EIGHTH RACE

LIL MISS HOT MESS has tactical speed and might get an ideal trip behind a few of these. She also has worked a near-bullet half-mile since her seasonal debut. This marks her second start since November. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE defeated some of these last out, when winning at this level and distance. It was the 17th win of her career in a record that gets much respect from this corner. Racehorse. Excuse me, that’s Miss Racehorse. JETS A GINNIN is another real runner with a 10-for-16 record. She went 6-for-7 last year and has won her last three starts. JETS A GINNIN faces other speed in this spot, but is an excellent gate horse. This will be her first start at Oaklawn.

NINTH RACE

A collection of some of the top Arkansas-breds in training have landed here, in an allowance sprint that could produce starters for the Nodouble. There are three past winners of the Nodouble in this field, the most recent K J’S NOBILITY. He’s moving back into the Arkansas-bred ranks following a close-up fourth against open allowance foes at Oaklawn. Also like that last year in a Churchill Downs allowance he was third to C Z Rocket, who would go on to win a pair of Grade 2 races in Southern California and run second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint won by eventual champion Whitmore. Whitmore’s stablemate, MAN IN THE CAN, is cutting back to one turn and last year he won the Rainbow Stakes at this six furlong distance at Oaklawn. He also captured the Arkansas Breeders Championship around two turns and won a Churchill allowance over Dean Martini, who came back in his next start to win the Grade 3 Ohio Derby. BANDIT POINT is a consistent performer who was second in last year’s Nodouble. He faced open allowance foes last out, like top choice, and was second. Both horses earned strong Beyer Figures. The other past Nodouble winners in the field are J. E.’S HANDMEDOWN and HOONANI ROAD.

TENTH RACE

KITCHEN FIRE seems best judged on his effort from Feb. 6. He is moving back into the straight claiming ranks after the starter allowance appearance Feb. 27, and note the race was his first on a wet track. As for the the Feb. 6 out, it was run on a fast strip and he set the pace. His speed is an asset that figures to serve him well at this five and a half furlong trip. JERRYS PRIDENJOY is a consistent sort as a rule and is making his second start since October. WILLS DEFENCE is shortening up to the distance of his best recent Beyer Speed Figure.