ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, SCHUYLER WARRIOR

FIRST RACE

Oaklawn puts 3-year-olds in the spotlight in the featured eighth race Friday, with a high-end optional claiming sprint that could produce stakes starters. In the opener, SCHUYLER WARRIOR gets the nod for her runner-up finish last out in her first start in two and a half months. She also goes for barn in the midst of a strong meet and has an age edge on some of these as she is 4. LUCKY ANN hooked a quality kind of winner two races back at Oaklawn. ICE GODDESS has a chance to shake free, with the concern RISE ABOVE IT.

SECOND RACE

OUR ADDI BELLE was second at this level last time, making her a logical choice. Also like that she has an age edge on some of these as she is 4. OUR ADDI BELLE also could be sitting on a peak race in her third start since April. SASSY OLIVIA ANN did not get the break last out but managed to save third and the Beyer Speed Figure of 56 that she earned is the best career number in this spot. Faces older rivals, but looks like a win candidate. SHE’S UNDAWNTED has the speed to hold her position from the rail.

THIRD RACE

ONE SOCK MAUK cuts back to one turn, site of his best efforts to date, after getting hung wide in a mile race last out at Oaklawn. The field he faced in that two-turn start was a deep one. SPEIGHTSTIME might be tough to contain were he to run back to his effort from December at Fair Grounds. BOSTON MARATHONER is a fresh horse who shows some nice works over the local strip in preparation for his first ever start at Oaklawn.

FOURTH RACE

MY MAN GREYSON did not get the break last out but managed to split the field in a quick-paced race. He could be sitting on a peak effort in his third out since November, and like that he has an age edge on some of these as he is 4. DUSTY showed speed against steeper last out. IRISH JIG ran a credible fourth in his career bow and would seem to have reason to move forward for the experience of a race. Another off interest is BERNIE ROAN.

FIFTH RACE

OLD FASHIONED KING must overcome the wide gate, but like that he was second against starter foes last out and that he has done some of his best running over the local strip. He also has a high percentage trainer-jockey team in Jayaraman and Franco. INDY AWESOME exits same race as top choice, finishing third. ROMA ROAD is a logical choice and he won over top two by five lengths last out at Oaklawn. He might face a little more pace pressure from a couple in here making the sprint to route move. SKY ALERT is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Great Minds ($399K).

SIXTH RACE

KARLA WITH A K shakes Desert Thief and Greek Life in this spot after representing herself well against those rivals in her last couple of starts. She also has tactical speed and owns one of the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figures. SHE’SABREES finished just behind top choice when pair met on Feb. 10, and note the winner of that race, Desert Thief, came back in her next start to account for an optional $30K claiming sprint at Oaklawn. BIG RED SEVEN ran third in a quality heat last out and has reason to move forward in her second start at the meet.

SEVENTH RACE

SNICKERBOXER had his bid for five straight wins halted last out, but the rare defeat came at the hands of a promising kind of winner who has since come back and turned in a beautiful work at Oaklawn. UNION BOWMAN steps up in class off the claim, while searching for career win No. 17. Hickory. DR. CLARK should be sharp for the move to two turns off a pair of sprint starts.

EIGHTH RACE

A nice group has assembled for the feature, and suspect some of these will move into stakes company, perhaps later this meet in the Bachelor. SMOKIN NOW was an odds-on favorite last out in his first start against winners. He draws a post that might give Franco options, and like that Tiznow colt’s dam was a Grade 2 winner of $656K. ROMEO O ROMEO is one of the most credentialed members of the field as he was Grade 3-placed back in September. He also hooked leading Kentucky Derby contender McCraken two back at Churchill. ROMEO O ROMEO is from a Grade 1-winning mare who ran out $712K. Win candidate. GREELEY AND BEN was edged in his debut by eventual stakes winner Rockshaw. One start later, GREELEY AND BEN graduated and since the start three horses he defeated have returned to win maiden races. The runner-up accounted for a maiden allowance at OP with a Beyer of 75; the fourth-place finisher, Takeoff, a maiden allowance at FG with a Beyer of 79; and the seventh-place finisher, Speedy A.P., a $50K maiden claiming race, with a Beyer of 61. GENTLEMENGENTLEMEN was a stakes winner last year at 2 and he is launching his season in this spot. ST. LOUIE GUY and ALL SHACKED UP, who faced some of the better young horses at Turf Paradise and Sunland, also figure Friday.

NINTH RACE

GAME TIME DECISION was a close second last out to a multiple winner at the meet. ONE TRUE KISS exits a quick race and was Grade 2-placed earlier in her career. SHE’S A BOOTSY TOO looks like a strong fit with these. The one to beat is back-toback winner BOREALIS BEAUTY.