ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 4, MAJOR KONG

FIRST RACE

The card Friday features a highly competitive optional claiming allowance that drew noted Indiana-bred Strong Tide. In the opener, LADY LUTE makes her first start of the year and note she is one who ran a big race in her career debut, putting up her best Beyer Figure. SCAT FOR THE CAUSE is another launching her season and she is cutting back to one turn, where she has run well in the past. KOWGIRL KIRBY is a May foal who might be better-served with a fast track after catching a wet surface in her debut.

SECOND RACE

DATA STORM ran a credible fourth in his career debut, showing speed throughout. As a 4-yearold, he has an age edge on some of these. SLIGHTLY CRAFTY brings a good deal of racing experience to the table and has reason to move forward here, in his second out since August. ROLLING FORK is appealing as a son of Midshipman.

THIRD RACE

SHARECROPPER was a dominant winner at this distance in his most recent start and the Beyer Figure of 80 that he earned is the best last-race number in the field. He also appears to have more natural speed than a number of these. CARTE BLANCHE might be better served with a fast track after catching a wet surface. He’s back in an N3L spot. ROAR OF THE LION is a consistent sort who draws what might prove to be a useful kind of post.

FOURTH RACE

MAJOR KONG was just edged at this distance and for this price in his most recent start and the Beyer Figure of 65 that he earned is the best last-race number in this field. This marks his third start since November. SHE LOVE ME has run a number of races that put him right in the mix against these. GEORGIA DEPUTY was fourth last out in same race as top choice. This one draws a useful kind of post. The race ASTROLOGER exits has produced three next-out winners.

FIFTH RACE

MIGHTY MISCHIEF came out running in his career debut, when he set the pace from his rail post and was just edged while earning a strong Beyer Figure of 81. It’s the best last-race number in thia field. MIGHTY MISCHIEF is a son of the top class stallion Into Mischief. SUPER CONSTITUTION brings good racing experience to the table with six career starts, his latest his first out since September. He removes blinkers here, which is a high percentage move for Robertson, according to statistics from Daily Racing Form. On a pedigree point, SUPER CONSTITUTION is from the millionaire racemare Superior Storm. LONG TERM THINKING is an ultraconsistent runner making the third start of his form cycle.

SIXTH RACE

CANDY CORNELL gives up recency to these as he last started in September, but what he lacks there he makes up for in class as one who has seen steeper. He also is appealing for his speed and the outside draw, which might give Cohen options. CRYPTO CASH cuts back to one turn here and looking for him to be strong through the stretch. CYRIL’S BOY exits a quick race and has reason to move forward in his second out since August. Another of interest is ENERGIZER.

SEVENTH RACE

FIRST RATE was third last out to a dominant winner who was to run back earlier on the Friday card at Oaklawn. FIRST RATE was making his first start since October. WILD UNION moves back to two turns off the sprint comeback race, which marked his first out since June. PERFECT SENSE is back at a mile and a sixteenth, site of his maiden win.

EIGHTH RACE

There are a host of options in a stacked feature race Friday. WARRIOR’S MAP seems like an up and coming sort. He can make a real impact with a

repeat of his effort from two back at Oaklawn. As for the race WARRIOR’S MAP exits, the conditions were demanding and the company was strong as the one-two finishers are stakes winners. CARIBBEAN was second last out to a multiple Grade 3 winner who last weekend returned to run second in the Essex at Oaklawn. PROVERB is a winner at this mile trip at Oaklawn and he’s also stakes-placed in Hot Springs. This marks his first start since October. STRONG TIDE is a three-time stakes winner, while Grade 2 winner GREEN LIGHT GO ran in the aforementioned Essex. Entries for this race were taken before the stakes was run last Saturday.

NINTH RACE

NAVY SEAL moves into the Arkansas-bred ranks and is appealing as a half-brother to Weast Hill, a top Arkansas-bred runner who has won three stakes and earned $494K. This one is a son of Midshipman. GOODNIGHT ARCHIE was third against similar last out and is a logical choice back. His dam was a seven-time winner who also placed in five stakes for earnings of $193K. IMA BLING CAT owns a strong collection of Beyer Figures. In his debut at Remington Park he hooked eventual