If you like sprint races, this 11 race card at Oaklawn is for you this afternoon. The first race is the only time they’ll break in front of the grandstand today. After that, the last 10 races of the day will be contested at six furlongs. Two of those races are stakes contests, highlighted by the Grade 3 Whitmore Stakes. Post time today for this 11 race card is scheduled for 12:30 (CDT).
I’ll be covering this exciting meet on the ITM Blog, along with posting some updates and thoughts from time to time on Twitter @EricSolomon718. Feel free to reach out!
| Race | Top Pick | A | B | C | Exotics Menu |
| 1 | 1 | 1,4 | DBL, PK3, PK5 | ||
| 2 | 5 | 5,7,8 | 1 | DBL, PK3, PK4 | |
| 3 | 8 | 8 | 4 | DBL, PK3, PK5 | |
| 4 | 7 | 7 | 6 | DBL, PK3, PK4 | |
| 5 | 3 | 3,7 | 1 | DBL, PK3, PK5 | |
| 6 | 2 | 2,5,4 | DBL, PK3, PK6 | ||
| 7 | 1 | 1,3 | DBL, PK3, PK5 | ||
| 8 | 1 | 1 | 5 | DBL, PK3, PK4 | |
| 9 | 5 | 5,1 | 10 | DBL, $3 PK3 | |
| 10 | 1 | 1 | 3 | $5 DBL | |
| 11 | 5 | 5,8,4 | 3 |
Race 1:
The lone route race this afternoon is a maiden, optional $75K claiming race for three year olds and up, going one mile. The lone four year old in this seven horse field is Backside (#5) for Brad Cox, who is coming off a second place finish in a $35K maiden claiming race here last month. I think Fatguyinlittlecoat (#1) is an interesting longshot play in this spot. He’s stretching out to two turns for the first time this afternoon. His debut at Keeneland was solid when facing a nice group at this level back in October. His last three efforts have paled in comparison, but he did look more competitive in his last start when going to the lead. He’s a horse that could have been impacted by the January hiatus between struggling to find a race and missing some training time. His pedigree suggests that he can improve at two turns and he could get a front-running trip from his rail draw. C McGriff (#4) was really good when finishing second at this level last month. That was his second career start and his first at two turns and his first on a fast track. He has every right to improve in this spot and is a deserving favorite.
Race 2:
The figure makers should have an easier time making figures from this card seeing as how this is first of 10 consecutive races at six furlongs. Here at Oaklawn, they won’t even need to move the gate. The big longshots are hard to make cases for here, so of the other six runners, I think this race is fairly wide open. I landed on Fast Joker (#5), who is cutting back from a sprint for this race. I liked him better in a two turn race yesterday at this $12,500 N2L claiming condition, however, I’m still intrigued with him in this spot. His last two starts have been rough, so perhaps this is Chris Hartman trying to shake things up. He is making his second start off a layoff and there is a potential for the front-runners to be one-paced late. Montana Cafe (#7) was 4th at long odds in a race at this level last out. I think this field lacks the same depth that race did, so I’m willing to consider taking a shorter number on this gelding that was sired by Complexity. Kim Puhl’s barn has historically started slow at this meet and then picks up steam in the second half. Woodspoint (#8) was second in that same race and has a pair of nice at this level. He appreciated the return to this distance after routing two starts ago. He keeps knocking on the door, so it’s hard not to respect his consistency with these. Blue Line (#1) is a total wild card while making his first start in over 13 months. He’s taking a steep drop in class for his first start back, so that’s not necessarily a ringing endorsement. If he can come back to his last several efforts, he will fit nicely at this level. However, he feels like a huge question mark, and at a short price I’d prefer to take a wait and see approach. He’s a deeper saver for me on the multi-race wagers.
Race 3:
I’m not going to try to beat the favorite, Hicko (#8) in this state bred $35K N2L claiming race. He was third when going one mile in a state bred $75K N2L claiming race in his last start. He’s been better when going one turn and he’s facing by far the softest field that he’s seen in his career. His AM form suggests that he’s sharp enough to win this field with relative ease. Cool Under Fire (#4) is the backup after a strong effort when breaking his maiden in a state bred $20K maiden claiming race last month. That was an easy front-running score against a soft group. The speed figures still validate his effort and beyond the favorite, he certainly fits if he can replicate that effort against winners.
Race 4:
This is a $16K starter allowance for horses that have at least one start for a $16K claiming tag or less since the start of 2024. The other qualifier here in order to be eligible for this race, a horse must not have won twice in the last four months. We’ll start to see races with conditions like this as the meet moves on, and the racing office will card spots like this in order to try to get as many different horses to visit the Winner’s Circle as possible at this meet. This condition excludes horses that win all the time in starter allowance races and forces them to go to tougher spots. We saw Jackman, a horse who just loves sprinting here at Oaklawn, win yesterday for the 11th time in his career on this course. Today, Raymond (#7), another certified lover of this strip, will be favored in this spot. He’s won 7 of 14 starts on this strip, but he did come up a bit short here last month when he was bested by Air of Defiance (#3) and Top Gun Tommy (#5), both of which he’ll have to deal with again today. He’s rebounded well before and I think both of those runners might bounce off big efforts last time out. Five O’ Somewhere (#6) is worth including on some tickets. Toss his race two starts ago when he ran into Stiglets, who put forth a monster effort. He came back with a much sharper try in a $20K starter allowance contest last month. He stalked the pace that day and I think he’ll get the first run on both Air of Defiance and Top Gun Tommy, who figure to be dueling up front.
Race 5:
Four year olds and up will try six furlongs in this $30K-$25K N3L claiming race. Glass of Jameson (#3) has been close in his first two local starts after shipping in from Southern California for Peter Eurton. This four year old gelding continues to gradually improve. He’s had two wins and two other in the money finishes in his last five starts and he feels like a good fit here. On figures, Crew Dragon (#7)looks like a horse that would fit very well with this group. However, it is hard to endorse him on top with a 2-39 career record. He has finished in the money 16 other times, so he’s not running poorly. He’s come close on this oval a few times so I could see him being right there with this crew. Miracle Worker (#1) is a live longshot here. His recent form is not great, but he’s not that far removed from some much stronger efforts against much better fields. The drop in class feels needed at this point, and that could be an impetus for a turnaround for him.
Race 6:
This starter allowance race for three year old fillies is open to any filly that broke their maidens in a maiden claiming, state bred, or a maiden auction race. Tiz in Sight (#2) is a three time winner and she’s a two-time winner at this meet on this course. She regressed a bit in her last start when she moved up to the N1X allowance condition. Her prior two efforts here were considerably sharper. She’s getting class relief, which should help her cause. Ducat (#5) went from last to first in the slop to break her maiden in a $50K-$40K maiden claimer last month. This is a reasonable spot for her first attempt against winners. She closed a ton of ground last time out and the potential for a strong early pace is there once again today. Revel Toast (#4) is another runner that is looking to rebound after a less than stellar try last time out. She is shipping here from New Orleans for Tom Amoss after some up and down form during her two year old season. She feels like a horse that could be sitting on a better effort today.
Race 7:
Fillies and mares will start the Late Pick-5 in this N1X allowance race. I’m going to try to escape this race with only two runners, making Gerlin’s Empire (#1) the top pick. She’s another runner that is coming here from the Fair Grounds after a relatively subpar try there. She’s making her her second start off a brief layoff and these types of runners tend to move forward for Dallas Stewart. She was working well in preparation for this start. Dare to Fly (#3) is the clear alternative coming here from Southern California for Phil D’Amato. Her last five tries have come on the turf and while those races weren’t bad, they weren’t great either. She broke her maiden at this distance on this course in maiden allowance company last winter and I think she’ll appreciate the return to both this track and the dirt in general.
Race 8, The $150K Purple Martin Stakes:
Three year old fillies will dash six furlongs here. River Wind (#1) had a live look in her debut and she ran like a horse that could have a bright future in front of her. She made the early lead and she never looked back, scoring by eight plus widening lengths. Speed was good that day, so it is worth keeping that in mind. However, she has the pole position in a race loaded with front end speed. I’ll back up with Not a Lady (#5) who is one of two Steve Asmussen runners in this race. She has a decent foundation of races where she continues to gradually improve. She’s coming off a 5th place finish in a two turn race in the Sunland Park Oaks. She cost a ton of money, so the fact that she’s been cutting her teeth at lesser circuits is not the best sign. However, I think a closing sprinter in one turn races could be a sweet spot for her and she should have every chance to get that kind of trip here.
Race 9:
Four year olds and up will sprint in this N1X allowance race. I think Northern Chill (#5) has a look at a decent number in this race. He ran well against a slightly softer field at this level last month. He has a few big efforts on this course at this distance and he might be in a position to move forward here. He’s going to have competition for the early lead, which is what is keeping me from using him more prominently. However, I do think he can move forward off that race, which should put him right in the thick of things. Pokernightatvees (#1) has the pole position for his front-running style and there’s a chance that he could assume command early and never turn back. He was nailed on the wire at this level last out and should be right there once again today. If the pace falls apart in this race, the Tampa invader, Life Is Precious (#10) could be a candidate to pick up the pieces. This looks like a private purchase by David Jacobsen, who has been ice cold here lately. Perhaps infusing some new blood into the stable will help things progress. He’s fairly consistent and he’s closed well into strong tempos at this distance in the past.
Race 10, The Grade 3 Whitmore Stakes:
I loved Tejano Twist (#4) in an allowance race here two weeks ago and he did not disappoint as the 6-5 second choice. I’m against him to win in this spot though, as he;s struggled to run big races off this kind of short rest in the past. There isn’t a ton of speed to set things up for him either. Wendlessohn (#1) was brilliant here at times last season, and while his recent form has been muddied with a few turf starts lately, he’s still very sharp at this distance on the main track. He won the Thanksgiving Classic at the Fair Grounds in November before on off the board finish in the Duncan Kenner Stakes on the lawn. He came back here for the King Cotton Stakes last month where he wasn’t able to match strides with Roll On Big Joe that day. He won’t have to deal with that one today and I think he’ll be able to control the tempo, while saving some gas for the stretch run. Tough Catch (#3) is the backup for me in this race. He was a decent second in the Steel Valley Sprint at Mahoning Valley two starts ago. He was away for a few months before returning to score in his four year old debut here in a N3L allowance race. He’s a better stalker, but he did set the pace in his last start .Look for him to be more relaxed in the early stages here.
Race 11:
I’m going to take a pedigree play in this maiden special weight contest and use Bella Ella (#5) as the top pick. Donnie Von Hemel has not had a debut winner in over two years, so that is a real concern. However, this Munnings filly has been working quite well over the local oval. This filly is a half to stakes winners American Promise and Hoosier Philly, the latter of which was very good on debut. As a sire, Munnings gets 13% winners with his runners debuting in dirt sprints. I don’t think this is a great field on paper, so I’m thinking that she could break the debut drought for this barn. Empath (#8) is the longer priced runner of the Mark Casse duo entered in this race, She improved in her last start when she ran into River Wind, who was a beast. She will go earlier in the card in the Purple Martin Stakes, so a win by her there would flatter this filly, who is making her third career start today. Steve Asmussen also has a pair in here and Mi Amiga (#4) the more desirable runner for me. She debuted in May and looked like a filly that needed more time. She’s been away for almost 10 months, but she’s been working well for her return. Horses sired by Yaupon have been very good this year, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see her look a lot different here. On deeper tickets, I’ll throw in the Brad Cox firster, Leafology (#3). This has been a pedestrian meet for Brad Cox by his lofty standards. This Independence Hall filly has been work well for this barn. She was a 2025 two year old purchase, so the potential has been there.
