ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 7, GOLDEN NOTION

FIRST RACE

The card Friday includes a pair of high-end overnight races that drew the popular runners Hot Shot Kid and No Parole. In the opener, MISS CASEY BETH gets the nod as one who has represented herself well against steeper all meet at Oaklawn. DAT GIRL has an age edge on top choice as she is 4. Both exit the same race against steeper. WISH FOR CANDY is on the also-eligible list, but would rate as a chief contender were she to draw into the body of the race. She was third at this level and distance last out at Oaklawn. Another of interest is the first-time starter DO ME A FAVOR.

SECOND RACE

RANSOMED is appealing as an eight-time winner facing some less-experienced rivals. JOSIE THE E F FIVE also fits that mold as a five-time winner. She’s also proven class, as one who has placed in three stakes. SHE’S A DIME was just edged against the N3L crowd and earned what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Figure.

THIRD RACE

NAPOLEON’S EMPIRE must overcome the wide post - which is becoming a theme. He ran his race last out when third from the 10-hole and looks like a logical choice back. ANOTHRDAYATTHELAKE finished just in front of top choice last time and draws a better post than than one, as he breaks from gate No. 3. He, too, is a logical choice. DEALIN’ STELEN can be closer to the pace than top two and is a winner at this distance at Oaklawn.

FOURTH RACE

MISS MERCKEN is back on dirt with limited racing options right now and note she was a main track winner in January at Fair Grounds. PRETTI SAVI might be sitting on a peak race in the third start of her form cycle. DUTCH TREAT owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Figure.

FIFTH RACE

GANGLY picks up a tad more ground and note his best Beyer Figure was earned at this mile and a sixteenth trip. NEW EAGLE is a fresh face of sorts as this marks his first race since February. He shows a set of forward works for the task at hand. FORT MCHENRY hooked a tough crew last out and now moves back to the mile and a sixteenth distance of his best race on recent form. Another of significant interest is ARTEMUS EAGLE.

SIXTH RACE

LOUISE THE LASER is a consistent sort who has made a fine transition back to dirt after being a regular on the synthetic main track at Woodbine. KALLISTE ROSE was a winner the last time she raced for this price. LIPPY faced steeper last out and the start was this one’s first on a wet main track. She might be best served with a fast strip as both of her wins came over such “footing.” Another of interest is ELIZABETH RULES.

SEVENTH RACE

GOLDEN NOTION, who has an age edge on some of these as he is 4, was third last out in a race that has become a key one. The runner-up came back to account for a maiden allowance at OP with a Beyer of 84 and the eighth-place finisher, Prodigious Bay, another maiden special weight at OP, with a Beyer of 85. This one adds blinkers and is from a multiple stakes-placed mare who earned $157K. DERBY DATE is appealing as one who has seen graded stakes rivals. He, too, adds blinkers. On a pedigree point, this one’s dam was a multiple stakes winner of $387K. BIG CHEDDAR has been a consistent force in the maiden ranks this year and

shows a nice local work for the return to traditional dirt. Another of interest is SHANGHAI’S DREAM. The race RAGTIME BLUES was second in last out has produced three next-out winners: The winner came back to take an optional $40K claimer at SA with a Beyer of 66, the fourth-place finisher, Uncaptured Hero, a $100K maiden claiming race at Dmr, with a Beyer of 75, and the sixth-place finisher, River Finn, a $50K maiden claimer, also at Del Mar, with a Beyer of 67.

EIGHTH RACE

JULIUS comes off a productive race. It was his first since September and he dueled and finished a close-up fourth in a sprint that went quite quick. JULIUS has reason to move forward for the start, and also is back on dirt after racing over a synthetic track last time. On a pedigree point, he is from a multiple Grade 2-winning mare who earned $610K. TRUCK SALESMAN was Group 3-placed two back at Meydan and that makes him appealing on class. He shows a sharp five-eighths work over the local strip for what will be his Oaklawn debut. IMPRESSED owns a series of competitive Beyer Figures.

NINTH RACE

HOT SHOT KID launches his season following a Canterbury Park meet in which he won five stakes, including four in consecutive fashion from July to September. Racehorse. D’ RAPPER was second against some of these last out and is a logical choice back. BATTLE STATION is appealing as a two-time stakes winner. NIFTY is from a multiple Grade 2-winning mare who ran out $1.5M and who has produced a pair of stakes winners in Giant Mover ($163K) and Maleeh ($158K). MIDNIGHT SWAP is from a Grade 3-winning mare who ran out $664K.

TENTH RACE

The stakes winner NO PAROLE returns to the overnight ranks and racing at one turn and he’s both unbeaten and untested under such “conditions.” LIAM’S PRIDE is in the midst of a strong meet. He’s from the same mare as Grade 1 winner Morning Line ($1.2M). AMERICAN BUTTERFLY has been effective at this six furlong trip all meet at Oaklawn. More than capable.