Easy Action back sprinting

Easy Action’s natural speed will serve him well Thursday, when he cuts back to one turn for the sixth race at Oaklawn Park.

He’s moving from 1 1/16 miles to 5 1/2 furlongs in the allowance for 3-year-olds who have never won two races. The sprint also offers a claiming-price option of $100,000. The race was split into divisions when entries were taken, with the second allowance going as the eighth. The purse for both divisions is $103,000.

Easy Action has a couple of different variables in his favor in the eight-horse field Thursday.

“We’re cutting back and he’s naturally quick from the gate,” trainer Norm Casse said. “It seems like he’s the fastest horse in the race. I think ideally we’d like to be cutting back to threequarters. This is the race that was offered, and I think he’s fast enough to win going five and a half.”

Easy Action last raced at one turn on Jan. 28, winning a maiden special weight over six furlongs at Oaklawn. The Beyer Speed Figure of 81 he earned is the best career number in Thursday’s field. The Triple Crown nominee has made one start since the maiden score, finishing fourth in a first-level allowance route Feb. 18 at Oaklawn.

“Anytime a horse breaks its maiden this time of year, you have to try to route him one time and we did,” Casse said. “I won’t say we won’t do it in the future.

“He had a really rough trip. He broke a little slow, was caught really wide [when] part of a hot pace.”

Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount on Easy Action from the rail for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong.

Triple Crown nominee Arman also is cutting back to one turn for the sixth race. He was part of the pace in a firstlevel allowance at a mile Feb. 19 at Oaklawn, finishing sixth in his first out since October. Earlier in his career, Arman won his maiden over five furlongs at Churchill Downs.

Another top contender is Backside Buzz, who has come to hand this meet. He won a maiden special weight at six furlongs Feb. 3, then was second in his first start against winners in a $50,000 starter-allowance sprint Feb. 23. Backside Buzz owns the field’s co-highest last-race Beyer Speed Figure, a 78. Backside Buzz shares the distinction with Miracle Warrior.

In the eighth race, Lil Sweet Thang is cutting back to one turn. The last time he sprinted he was second to a sharp Vietnam Victory in the $100,000 Groovy Stakes on Jan. 28 at Sam Houston Race Park. Lil Sweet Thang has made one start since, a sixth-place finish in the same first-level allowance as Easy Action.

Tivy could go favored in his first start against winners. He won a maiden special weight over six furlongs March 4 at Oaklawn, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 77 he earned is the best last-race number in Thursday’s eighth race.

Other contenders include two-time winner Wild Mule.