ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 8, SAFFA’S DAY FIRST RACE

There’s a double Rainbow in the forecast for Friday at Oaklawn, where a pair of $150K divisions of the Rainbow series for Arkansas-breds will be decided. In the opener, SHIP IT RED gets the nod as the owner of the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. DEFLATER exits a race that went quite quick. SUBSTANTIAL ran well on the cutback from two turns last time and might be sitting on a peak effort in his third out since November.

SECOND RACE

KID SHELLEEN ran a big race off the bench last time, when second against steeper. The start came over this mile and a sixteenth distance, in his first out since August. He also has an age edge on leading contenders AIR SHOW, CHROME RUN and RAM. AIR SHOW gets good pedigree support for the move to two turns, while CHROME RUN is well-versed at two turns.

THIRD RACE

HUG THE MUNNY makes his Oaklawn debut and like the half-mile move he turned in over the local strip April 3. THE BIG BLUFF faced steeper in his last race and is making his second start since November. GREATER CAIRO ran a strong race off the bench.

FOURTH RACE

CATDADDY appears to have more natural speed than a number of these and that could give him a tactical advantage. He goes from a mile to a mile and a sixteenth and could show the way or track a runner like sprint-to-route prospect RULER OF THE NILE, who breaks to his inside. The latter is making the third start of his form cycle. VANGILDER is moving back to the mile and a sixteenth distance of his last win on form. A logical choice is the sharp INTREPID HEART.

FIFTH RACE

IMA BLING CAT is a consistent sort who owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Figure. This will be the third start of his form cycle. PAPA STAR brings speed to the table and the asset should serve him well at this five and a half furlong trip. LUCKY BREAK fits with these.

SIXTH RACE

ACOSTA must overcome the wide draw, but he’s a fresh horse with the speed to secure position into the first turn. TAKE CHARGE D’ORO cuts back to a more traditional distance after the mile and a half start in which he hooked a marathon specialist in Darren’s Fortune. LITTLE NO WAY figures to be prominent on the move back to two turns.

SEVENTH RACE

BLAME J D has speed and a post that might give Vazquez options. He also owns one of the field’s best career Beyer Speed Figures and gets a chance at a straight 3-year-old spot in this afternoon’s Rainbow. ASPEN CLUB won his maiden over open rivals last year at Remington Park. He’s a halfbrother to Im a Bear, who was a stakes winner at 2 and 3. NAVY SEAL is a half-brother to past Rainbow winner Weast Hill ($497K). This one was a sharp maiden allowance winner last out at Oaklawn.

EIGHTH RACE

SAFFA’S DAY ran a strong race on the cutback from a mile and a sixteenth to six panels last time and the Beyer Figure of 83 that he earned is the best career number in this spot. MOLTO VIVACE might get a nice trip just off the speed. ONCOMING TRAIN cuts back to one turn and his maiden win came at this six furlong distance at Keeneland.

NINTH RACE

HEATED ARGUMENT was an impressive debut winner back in February and is bred to be a runner as a daughter of Tapiture and the mare Heated Debate, a stakes-placed winner who produced Ministry ($303K), a past winner of this race, the Rainbow Miss. DOLLY DIMPLE is a half-sister to Sekani, another past winner of the Rainbow Miss. KABOOM BABY can take advantage were a few of these to make for some hot fractions up front.

TENTH RACE

JAMES’S MOONSHINE meets winners for the first time, but owns the field’s best last-race dirt Beyer Figure. TROPHY DADDY faced steeper last out at Oaklawn. HAMAZING WISDOM is back on dirt and back at Oaklawn and he won his maiden here in 2020.