ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 8, FIVE STAR FACTOR

FIRST RACE

Oaklawn opens Rebel week with a nine-race program that includes a high-end optional claiming route for 3-year-old fillies that could produce starters for next month’s Fantasy. In the opener, ELONA gets the nod as one who represented herself well against steeper last out. She also draws a useful post and is making her third start off the layoff. MALIBUBU must overcome a wide post, but she has speed and was favored against steeper last time. POINT AT Z BABY owns some competitive Beyer Figures

SECOND RACE

OFFICER GRIGGS is on the also-eligible list, but would be the pick were he to draw into the body of the field as he has been a consistent force at this level all meet. OPEN HAND and VESTED CREEK were a respective second and third to a blowout winner last out at Oaklawn. The race went faster than par.

THIRD RACE

SILVER LINING JOHN is a winner of three of his last four starts - in a streak started in 2015. He has some back class to call upon, is a winner over the local strip, and draws a post that might give Franco options. WILDCAT FRIENDSHIP returns to the claiming ranks after facing starter foes and the last time he raced for a tag he was third in a quick heat. SON OF PEARL has natural speed and is in the midst of a productive meet.

FOURTH RACE

DISTINCTLY MINE split a field of steeper rivals last out at Oaklawn and could be sitting on a peak race in her third start since October. FLEET GREY has some back class to call upon, while COTTON CLUB CUTIE figures to be making her case through the lane on the cutback from two turns. Her last three wins on form came at one turn. More than capable.

FIFTH RACE

PATRIOTIC AMERICAN has moved forward with each of his outs at the meet and could be sitting on a peak race in the third start of his form cycle. He also draws a post that could give Contreras options. CATAROUX has the speed to hold his position from the rail. He, too, is making his third start off a layoff. SCATTERED CASH exits a quick race.

SIXTH RACE

HICKS HONEY came rolling for third last out in her first start since the Oaklawn meet a year ago and she would seem to have reason to move forward in her second start back. BANDI’S GAL can be closer to the pace than top choice, which could serve her well at this mile distance, as the race will end at the sixteenth pole. CHEYENNE BLUES has won three of her last four starts and goes for barn that had a double at Oaklawn last Thursday.

SEVENTH RACE

WARNING SIGN has fired in each of his starts and his races have come against quality foes. He also has an age edge on these as he is 5. PERPLEXED is a January foal who might be sitting on a peak race in his third out since October. OATER cuts back to one turn after showing speed around two - something that can be an effective move with a horse.

EIGHTH RACE

Suspect some of these could advance to next month’s Fantasy at Oaklawn. FIVE STAR FACTOR seems like a quality sort. She was second at a level similar to this one last out and prior to that race was stakes-placed, finishing third in the Dixie Belle at Oaklawn. The winner of the stakes, Chanel’s Legacy, returned in her next start to capture the Martha Washington at Oaklawn.

FIVE STAR FACTOR has natural speed and could get an ideal tracking trip behind a few of the sprint-to-route prospects in the field. CONQUEST

BANDIDO seems like one who will appreciate the added ground she picks up in this spot. She is a half-sister to Grade 3 Holy Bull winner Hey Byrn ($339K). SULLY’S DREAM was fourth last out in a race that has become a key one. The thirdplace finisher came back in her next start and accounted for an optional $50K claiming race at Turfway, with a Beyer of 79, and the seventh-place finisher, Laney, another optional $50K claiming race, at Gulfstream, with a Beyer of 66. In addition, the winner from the race SULLY’S DREAM exits ran second in the Grade 3, $200K Honeybee last Saturday at Oaklawn. DREAMCALL is a halfsister to stakes winner Gangbuster ($356K). TAP OF WAR is from a multiple Grade 3-winning mare who banked $300K.

NINTH RACE

ADMIRAL SHEPARD is well-versed at the twoturn trip, and those races came against steeper. RECAPITULATION might prove to be the one to catch on the stretchout from six furlongs to a mile. INCLINED TO DANCE gets some pedigree support for the added distance.