ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 7, CAVE RUN

FIRST RACE

The final card of the raceweek puts the spotlight on 3-year-old sprinters and marathon runners. In the opener, FLYING BUSINESS is a new face in from Southern California. She was third for this price last out at SA and has since had a chance to work at Oaklawn. ABRAMAX ran fourth against similar last time and has reason to move forward in her second out since November. SUMMER LOVIN exits same race as ABRAMAX. She could be sitting on a peak effort here, in the third start of her form cycle.

SECOND RACE

JAMES’S MOONSHINE makes the move back to two turns off the sprint comeback race. He was just edged last out in his first start since December and for the effort earned what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Figure. RIANTE SKY is another returning to a route distance after sprinting off the bench and he’s done his best work to date around two turns. DADDY JACK returns to the Arkansasbred ranks with the meet now on at Oaklawn. The race he exits has become a key one, with the winner coming back to take a $7,500 conditioned claimer at RP with a Beyer of 60 and the runner-up, a $7,500 maiden claimer at the same track, with a Beyer of 53.

THIRD RACE

BLINKERS returns to the claiming ranks after facing starter foes and that makes her appealing on class. This also marks her third start since July. LA ROSA DRIVE showed good speed shortening up in distance last time and is appealing for her consistent nature. PICK UP THE FONE has the speed to hold her position from the rail. This marks her second out since November. Another of interest is FLATOYA.

FOURTH RACE

LONGNTALL makes a couple of notable moves. She’s stretching out to two turns for the first time and she gets good pedigree support for the added distance demands. She’s also facing maiden claiming foes for the first time after lining up against steeper. ELLA’S MY GIRL brings good twoturn experience to the table, which should serve her well over a mile and a sixteenth. BACKGATE BELLE stepped up her game last out with the move to two turns and would seem to have reason to move forward in her second route attempt.

FIFTH RACE

JACK VAN BERG has beaten less than a length for everything last out and like the speed he showed in the race. The outside draw here could give Borel options. CHANGE DIRECTION exits same race as top choice, and was just edged after making up a good deal of ground in the stretch. SOLDIER BOY this meet has caught wet tracks for the first time in his career and might be better-suited if the strip is fast Sunday. More than capable.

SIXTH RACE

EARNER moves back to the conditioned claiming ranks after just missing against starter foes in his most recent out. He has speed and the outside draw here might give Loveberry options. DEFLATER is another exiting a starter allowance and he could be sitting on a peak race here, in his third out since August. The June race SACRED OATH exits has become a key one, with fourthplace finisher The Great Dansky coming back to take a $40K claimer at Sar with a Beyer of 81 and the sixth-place finisher, Living Vicariously, an N1X at AP, with a Beyer of 72. The race TAKE CHARGE NOW exits has seen the runner-up and third-place finisher return to win $30K starter allowances at OP, with respective Beyer Figures of 84 and 75.

SEVENTH RACE

CAVE RUN is appealing for his consistent nature and the fact that he’s been a popular claim among stables. He also owns this field’s best lats-race Beyer Speed Figure. STROLLING defeated top choice two back, when the horses ran one-two for this price in a race that went faster than par. ORO DE TEJANO cuts back to one turn and he’s run some of his best races at the configuration.

EIGHTH RACE

These go the rare offering of a mile and a half and a number of them bring marathon experience to the table. KNIGHT’S CROSS has more natural speed than most of these and that could give him a tactical advantage as he seeks to win his third straight race. He’s been flattered since his last out, with the runner-up coming back to take a $12.5K starter at OP with a Beyer of 81 and the fourthplace finisher, a $7,500 claimer at OP, with a Beyer of 80. DARREN’S FORTUNE enters off back-to-back marathon wins by a combined margin of some 38 lengths. This marks his first start since November. He owns the field’s co-highest last-race Beyer Figure with KNIGHT’S CROSS. CALIFORNIA SWING ran second at a mile and a quarter distance in December at Turfway.

NINTH RACE

BOB’S EDGE has been knocking on the door against similar and could be sitting on a peak performance here, in his third out since November. He has natural speed and could get an ideal tracking trip. SAFFA’S DAY is back in the overnight ranks after facing champion Essential Quality last out in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn. He’s already a winner at the meet. MOLTO VIVACE meets winners for the first time off a sharp maiden allowance victory in February. The Beyer Figure of 80 that he earned is the best last-race number in this field Sunday.

TENTH RACE

SPURWINK LANE was second over some of these last time and that makes her a logical choice back. She also has an age edge on some of these as she is 4, and this marks her third start since May. HILLARY G moves into the Arkansas-bred ranks for the first time and owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Figure. She’s a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Sister Ginger ($336K). HOT SPRINGS BLING exits same race as top choice and had a less-than-ideal trip, per trouble line. CHOCTAW CHARLIE was stakes-placed over the local strip last meet and can make a real impact with a repeat of some of her races from 2020.