ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 4, GLAMOUR GIRL

FIRST RACE

Oaklawn closes out its raceweek by putting fillies and mares who route in the spotlight, in the featured eighth race. In the opener, EPIC ADVENTURE gets the nod after being just edged at this distance. The race was his first attempt at two turns. SMACK ATTACK owns the field’s best lastrace Beyer Figure. He moves back to two turns and figures to be prominent. The top two have an age edge on MR. PETERKIN, who has moved forward with both of his starts at the meet. His latest came at this mile and a sixteenth trip.

SECOND RACE

STRATE REMARK cuts back to one turn after showing speed around two, and that can be an effective move with a horse. This one’s last two wins on form have come at one turn. RIVERBOAT GAMBLER exits a quick race against steeper. He’s also appealing as one who has been a popular claim among stables. SPLASH FOR GOLD would seem better-served with a fast track this time around - even though he’s named ‘Splash’ and owned by Muddy Waters.

THIRD RACE

PRESTO BENCH invades from Southern California and has had a chance to log some works over the local oval at Oaklawn. He has picked up checks in each of his starts and will be second Lasix. MEGA CHARLIE ran a credible third in his career debut and would seem to have reason to move forward for the experience of a race. He owns the field’s best career Beyer Figure. FIRECRACKER STAND brings good speed to the table, while another of interest is GALILEE.

FOURTH RACE

GLAMOUR GIRL moves back to a mile and a sixteenth and she won her maiden at the trip at Churchill Downs and also put up her best Beyer Figure at the distance two back at Oaklawn. She could get a nice stalking trip. MALIBU MARLEE has moved forward with each of her starts at the meet, and those races have come at this mile and a sixteenth distance. MISS MOON PIE has speed and on the move from a mile to a mile and a sixteenth could show the way against these. She also draws a much improved post over her last start.

FIFTH RACE

ENGLANDER, who started his career in Southern California, was just edged last out in his Oaklawn debut. He appears to have more natural speed than most of these and the consistent sort is due to graduate soon. AZTEC EMPIRE is a fresh face, as this marks his first out since June. He is back on dirt and he put up his two best Beyer Figures over the Oaklawn surface in 2020. TIZ THE JOURNEY has a nice foundation of two turn races and might be sitting on a peak effort in the third start of his form cycle.

SIXTH RACE

WAR DETONATOR exits a quick race against steeper. He was favored in what was his first start against winners and first out since November. HAYDENS HAVOC broke from the rail last time over a surface that was hard hit with rain shortly before his race. He ran a respectable fourth and owns this field’s co-highest last-race Beyer Figure. HAYDENS HAVOC shares the distinction with SHANGHAI’S DREAM, who is meeting winners for the first time off the maiden score. This race marks his first out since August.

SEVENTH RACE

SMARMY ran a rock-solid race in her two-turn debut last out and her speed should serve her well at this mile configuration, with the race ending at the sixteenth pole. TRUMPET LILLY was second to a quality kind of winner last out and for the effort earned what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Figure. This one has moved forward with each of her route starts. SALIT invades from Gulfstream and like that she brings natural speed to

the table. Also like that her stakes-winning dam went 12-for-40.

EIGHTH RACE

W W FITZY is appealing as a seven-time winner facing some less-experienced foes. She also has a chance to control the pace. WW FITZY ran a big race off the bench in her most recent start and for the effort earned what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Figure. The out was her first at Oaklawn. JILTED BRIDE delivered at a short price last time, with a nice-looking win over the N1X crowd at Oaklawn. She might get another stalking trip behind a few of these. O SERAPHINA raced on a muddy surface for the first time in her career last out and seems better-judged on her December effort at FG. She is one who has fired some strong races at Oaklawn.

NINTH RACE

YOUNG BULL was favored last out and might be sitting on a peak race here, in his third start since August. EAST MOON LAKE returns to the Arkansas-bred ranks after testing open foes at Oaklawn. TEN BUDS has the speed to hold his position from the rail.