Rick Lee’s Oaklawn Park selections and analysis
1 Purse $25,000, 1 mile, 3-year-olds and up, maiden claiming $20,000 SPORTS REPORTER*** has earned the field’s fastest Beyer figure while competing at a higher maiden classification, and he is wearing blinkers for the first time. TIZATALKER is a steadily improving 3-year-old who came out on the losing end of a photo finish March 16. He has early speed and drew inside. REYDELL was one-paced in his sprint debut at Fair Grounds. He is dropping into a maiden-claimer and is bred to improve at this distance. 2 Purse $23,000, 1 1/16 miles, 4-year-olds and up, claiming $5,000
CARLOS DANGEROUS** tired after setting a fast pace in his first route race at the meeting. He is dropping to the bottom of the local claiming ranks and switches from an apprentice to a leading rider. CRUSH has won two of his past three races while competing in conditioned-claiming races. He has earned Beyer figures that make him a contender. STRATOCRUISER was very sharp in a late-running victory against $7,500 rivals, but he usually struggles to put together top efforts in succession. 3 Purse $23,000, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, maiden claiming $12,500 ABBOCCATO** has had to overcome a pair of poor starts in two in-the-money finishes at Fair Grounds. She picks up a leading rider and has a license to show big improvement if he breaks with the field. MY MYSTERY faltered in the stretch
after contesting the pace in her return from a long layoff. She showed ability as a juvenile and figures to be tough on the lead at this lower level. MESSY MARIE has earned competitive Beyer figures while competing at Woodbine. She has moved into a winning stable and may prefer conventional dirt surfaces. 4 Purse $25,000, 6 furlongs, 4-yearolds and up, claiming $10,000 SENOR GRITS*** dominated $7,500 claimers in his first start after being claimed by trainer Steve Asmussen, and he has the back class to handle a small jump in price. QUICK SAND was narrowly defeated at this claiming price just two races back, and he is dropping in class after a competitive fifth-place finish. ROYALLY DIVINE was consistently good last season when under the care of trainer Chris Hartman, and he is back in the Hartman barn after races in Houston and New Orleans. 5 Purse $25,000, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, claiming $15,000
ATLANTIC SLEW*** is moving up a claiming condition after a 2-length victory. She was claimed by a high-percentage stable and figures on or near the lead throughout. ICE GODDESS is another moving up a condition after a front-running 2-length victory. She is rapidly
improving and was claimed by a stable that runs them back where they can win. THAT’S EXCITING broke his maiden last winter at Oaklawn, and the class dropper is a good finisher in a field with plenty of early speed. 6 Purse $80,000, 6 furlongs, fillies, 3-year-olds, maiden special weight
MO’S M V P** showed late punch in a pair of sprint races against better as a juvenile, despite struggling to switch leads in the stretch. She has encouraging works up to her 3-year-old debut and should be improved. SCIENCE FICTION has finished in-the-money in five consecutive races, and she owns the fastest Beyer figure in the field. NATALIE’S MISCHIEF was restricted stake-placed last fall at Remington, and she is a consistent sprinter showing good works up to her seasonal debut at Will Rogers. 7 Purse $25,000, 6 furlongs, 3-yearolds and up, claiming $15,000 DAFTAR** overcame traffic trouble winning a key conditioned-claiming sprint just two races back, and he is back sprinting after finishing fourth in a talented field of two-turn runners. POLITICAL JUSTICE is a 13-race winner who was beaten a neck in a $25,000 claiming race only two starts back. He is a logical front-running contender at this lower price. RIPPIN RIDE is the speed drawn closest to the rail, and he is at the top of his game and switches from an apprentice to a top rider. 8 The Arkansas Breeders’, purse $100,000, 1 1/16 miles, 3-yearolds and up, Arkansas-bred WEAST HILL **** has won seven of his eight races at Oaklawn Park, and he used sprint-to-route tactics when winning this same stake by 4 lengths last season. RACER upset the top selection in a wireto-wire sprint-stake victory, and he is back with state-breds after a competitive third-place route finish against “open” optional claimers. MIDNIGHT RULER exits a competitive third-place finish in “open” company, and he is steadily improving and is a must-use in multihorse wagers. PP HORSE JOCKEY TRAINER ODDS 9 The Carousel. Purse $150,000, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-yearolds and up CHANTELINE*** set a fast pace and kept rolling in a fast allowance victory, and she is once again the controlling speed and a repeat candidate. ATHENA has won both of her races at the meeting, including the American Beauty, and is the one to fear inside the final furlong if she is ready to fire after a 10-week freshening. MARQUEE MISS was beaten 1 length or less in the Spring Fever and American Beauty. She possesses early speed and will be no surprise. 10 Purse $25,000, 1 mile, 3-yearolds and up, maiden claiming $20,000
RENVYLE** finished a clear second in his first race around two turns. The lightly raced and improving 3-year-old drew a favorable post. MIZZING FRAZIER raced competitively in two-turn turf race at Fair Grounds, and he is dropping in class and is dangerous if he transitions to dirt. DUBLINYOURMONEY is dropping in price after a pair of disappointing races, and a return to best form of 2016 will make him difficult to beat.