ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 4, MEGATAP

FIRST RACE

Arkansas Derby week continues at Oaklawn, with the main event now just one card away. SUGAR LOVE gets the nod here for the move back to the conditioned claiming ranks following a win over starter allowance foes. She won from an outside post and again draws a similar gate. MS. MALEVOLENCE was favored last out in a sprint that went quite quick. BLINKERS is interesting as one who has seen steeper in the past.

SECOND RACE

CLEARLY MAD moves back to the main track for the first time in a while and he was a consistent performer on dirt at Churchill Downs. He also removes blinkers, and he did not wear a set in most of his main track races. CONFESS was third at this level last out and is a logical choice back. MAJESTIC DAY goes route to sprint and has been effective making such a move in the past. This marks his third out since June.

THIRD RACE

INDIAN BELLA shortens up some to a mile and her last win came at this distance. She also exits a race against steeper, and note the third-place finisher from it has since come back to score at Oaklawn. FABULOUS GIRL stretches out from a pacesetting effort over six panels and looks like the one these will have to catch. She ran a big race in what was her first start since October. BIG TINY makes perhaps her first start at two turns and could get an ideal tracking trip off FABULOUS GIRL.

FOURTH RACE

MEGATAP appears to have more natural speed than these and as such is a candidate to wire the field. He also owns it’s best career Beyer Speed Figure. JUNESANDRA cuts back to one turn and he’s been effective at this configuration. He’s also back with straight 3-year-olds. MAXIM MOMENT adds blinkers in what is a high percentage equipment move for Diodoro, according to statistics from Daily Racing Form.

FIFTH RACE

MINE MY TIME exits a race that went faster than par and for this trip will add blinkers. UNSCATHED moves back into the claiming ranks after facing starter foes. TENTWELVEFOURTEEN picks up a tad more real estate and his last two wins came at this six furlong trip. The race YOU SPLIT TENS exits has produced two next-out winners.

SIXTH RACE

HE’S MEANT TO BE was part of a quick pace last time and now returns to the starter ranks, site of his last win on form. I BELONG TO BECKY comes off a useful comeback race and can move forward in his second start since November. He’s a full brother to Grade 3 winner Poshsky, who overall won 16 races and earned $823K. BELIEVEINHOLIDAYS figures to be making his case through the lane on the cutback to one turn. He’s from a Grade 1-winning mare who earned $244K. SOMETHING SUPER is from a multiple stakes-winning mare who ran out $342K.

SEVENTH RACE

MUSIC APP set the pace last out in a maiden race that went in good time and note the winner came back in her next start to place in a sprint stakes at Oaklawn. As for this one, the Beyer Figure of 64 that she earned for her runner-up finish is the best career number in this spot. MUSIC APP is a half-sister to stakes winner Hillbilly Royalty ($215K). EDEN was third last out in a key race. The runner-up came back to account for a $30K maiden claimer at Turfway with a Beyer of 60 and the fourth-place finisher, Sistaofwar, a $7,500 maiden claimer at the same track, with a Beyer of

53. This one has an age edge on top choice as she is 4. BLAME THE RED CAT exits the same quick race as top choice.

EIGHTH RACE

JUSTATAPIN might prove to be the one to catch. She’s moving to six panels off a front-running effort over five and a half furlongs. BETWEEN THE HEDGES has reason to move forward in her second start since June. KALLINIKI drew a tough post for her route appearance last out. She’s back at one turn, and might be sitting on a peak effort in her third out since December.

NINTH RACE

A case can be made for each of the fillies in a competitive feature. EXOTIC WEST gets the nod on the move to two turns. She gets pedigree support for the task from both sides of her family. EXOTIC WEST also exits a quick sprint in which she finished second and note the third-place finisher returned last Saturday at Oaklawn to run second in the Grade 3, $600K Fantasy, a points race for the Kentucky Oaks. SISTER ANNIE has been in the money in all five of her starts and is proven at this mile and a sixteenth distance. WILLFUL WOMAN is back in the overnight ranks following a start in the Grade 3 Honeybee at Oaklawn. The winner of that race returned to run third in the Grade 1 Ashland last Saturday at Kee, while the runner-up accounted for the Fantasy. WILLFUL WOMAN is a half-sister to past Fantasy winner Ever So Clever ($522K).

TENTH RACE

TIGER BAIT moves back into open company, where she has fared well in the past. The race she exits has become a key one, with the runner-up coming back to account for an optional $10K claimer at DeD with a Beyer of 65 and the third-place finisher, an optional $25K claimer at OP, with a Beyer of 70. ABRAMAX has speed and a post that might give Torres options. SUMMER LOVIN is a consistent sort who appears to be working her way back into the winner’s circle. Another of interest is STYLIN UPTOWN.