ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 10, VANDELAY

FIRST RACE

Chanel’s Legacy, who is a two-time stakes winner at the meet, cuts back in distance for the featured $150K Purple Martin. In the opener, STRUT N SWAGGER gets the nod. He was second in a quick sprint last time and for it was turning back from a mile and a sixteenth. He could be even sharper in his second straight sprint start. JIFQUICK moves back into the claiming ranks after facing starter foes. He’s appealing as an 11-time winner. BUCK MAGIC has the speed to hold his position from the rail.

SECOND RACE

The gutsy and admirable SET THE TRAPPE dueled through quick fractions when second to a quality winner last out. The race went in good time and for the effort he earned what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. TWENTY AND FOUR exits same race as top choice. DOUBLE DARE comes out of a race that went faster than par. He split the field in what was his first start since December.

THIRD RACE

SUSPECT A STORM returns to the overnight ranks off a stakes start in which he faced the 2016 Arkansas-bred Horse of the Year, Weast Hill. WE BE STORMIN shakes Weast Hill for the first time this meet. He could be sitting on a peak race in his third start since August. MALLARD’S BRO figures to be a threat in the later stages. He is a multiple winner at Oaklawn.

FOURTH RACE

THE GIPPER hooked a sharp debut winner last out and since the race Rapid Dial has been nominated to the Triple Crown. Note the race THE GIPPER exits went in a quick 1:09.60. MY MAN KAN has experience and natural speed, and also has lined up against steeper. UNO MAS BRANDY shows some strong works for his career debut.

FIFTH RACE

ANTEROS ran a big race off the bench when a close second at 66-1 last out at Oaklawn. The start was his first since September and he figures to be sharp for the move back to two turns. CANOFSPOTS is an 11-time winner facing some less-experienced rivals. COPPER HILL can make a real impact were he to run back to his effort from Jan. 28 at Oaklawn.

SIXTH RACE

RAGE RIOT moved into the starter ranks last out and proved a solid fit, earning what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. He can be closer to the pace than some of these, including RING NECKED. The latter was favored over similar in his most recent out, and is a logical choice back. STURDY ALLAN should be razor sharp for the move to two turns off the sprint win. He is making a rare route appearance and there are aspects of his pedigree that support him at two turns.

SEVENTH RACE

MAIN ROAD cuts back to one turn after showing speed around two and that can be an effective move with a horse. In addition, the last time he sprinted he put up a career-high Beyer Speed Figure. DIVINE SHIFT gives up recency to these as he has not raced since August, but was second in a quick race last time to earn what ranks as this field’s best Beyer Speed Figure. PROVIDENCE was third last out to a runner set to start in the Sunland Derby in New Mexico on Sunday.

EIGHTH RACE

LONG STATION is an honest runner who was just edged in a quick race last time. He was a little farther off the pace than usual as the fractions were quick, and in the stretch he put in a powerful bid. Due. ROJAC is appealing as a four-time winner facing some less-experienced rivals. He was third last out to a quality winner and for the effort earned what ranks as this field’s best lastrace Beyer Figure. WESTFEST started his career in Southern California, while another of interest is CHOIR DIRECTOR.

NINTH RACE

CHANEL’S LEGACY, a two-time stakes winner this meet at Oaklawn, cuts back to one turn and the last time she sprinted she won the Dixie Belle. There appears to be a nice amount of speed tucked to her inside and on the turnback she might get an ideal stalking trip. GOLDEN MISCHIEF is another cutting back to one turn and the last time she raced at the configuration she was a stakes winner at Fair Grounds. She makes her Oaklawn debut and has had a chance to work over the local strip. COUNTRY CANDY is a multiple stakes winner at one turn who played runner-up to top choice in a sprint stakes last season at Remington.

TENTH RACE

VANDELAY must overcome the wide post, but he’s fired two of his best races to date in his two route attempts, and in both of those efforts faced quality winners. ALTITO will be second Lasix and is from the Grade 1-winning mare Summerly. TAPSOLUTE exits same race as top choice, while MO’S MOJO owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. The winner of the race he exits is set to run Sunday in New Mexico in the Grade 3, $800K Sunland Derby.