We’ll end a busy week of racing with a 10 race program, highlighted by the King Cotton Stakes for older sprinters dashing six furlongs. With President’s Day coming up next month, there will be a slight schedule change coming up. Racing will resume on Friday (2/13) and continue through Monday (2/16). After that, we’ll return to the usual Thursday-Sunday race weeks. First post this afternoon is set for 12:30 PM (CST).
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 | 8 | 8,6 | 5 | DBL, PK3, PK5 | |
| 2 | 12 | 12 | 11,9,7 | DBL, PK3, PK4 | |
| 3 | 11 | 11,8 | 9 | DBL, PK3, PK5 | |
| 4 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 | DBL, PK3, PK4 |
| 5 | 7 | 7,12 | 6 | DBL, PK3, PK6 | |
| 6 | 2 | 2,4 | DBL, PK3, PK5 | ||
| 7 | 7 | 7,1 | 3 | DBL, PK3, PK4 | |
| 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | DBL, $3 PK3 | |
| 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | $5 DBL | |
| 10 | 10 | 10,11,5 |
Race 1:
The day begins with a $12,500 maiden claiming race for three year olds and up going six furlongs. You’ll see that horses bred in Arkansas are running with a $20K claiming tag in this race. The morning line favorite, Bolt’s Treasure (#11), is typically a horse I will bet against the majority of the time. I don’t think this is the best distance for him and he has come up short at this level in the past. I’ll try Arky Road (#8) in his second start off the layoff for Scott Becker. He closed mildly to be 4th last month when making his first start since April. He moved forward at this level in his second career start last winter and this barn does very well with runners in their second starts off a break. Horses that were closing wide weren’t getting home earlier in the meet with the same frequency that they have been scoring this week. Personal Jet (#6) is entered with the waiver while making his first start off the claim and his first start since August. He’s another Arkansas bred who was competitive in state bred maiden special weight races here last season. He went off form after leaving town so we’ll see if he can return to form in his first start for a sharp claiming barn. On deeper tickets, I’ll toss one of the firsters, Irish Guard (#5), who is debuting for John Ortiz and Shortleaf Stable. While this pairing of Double Irish and the mare Sequiota has yet to produce a winner, this one has been working better than some of the other first time starters in the race, and I like seeing the apprentice Amir Mendoza in the saddle.
Race 2:
Four year olds and up will go 1 1/16 miles in this $12,500-$10,000 N2L claiming race that will start the first Pick-4 wager of the afternoon. There are definitely some horses that are hard to be in this race, but the contenders are also hard to get excited about. On paper, I think Tyler’s Turn (#12) is going to be very tough in this race. He tried the Tapeta at Turfway and never really got going in his most recent effort. He came from off the pace to run well in his last two dirt starts in Kentucky, including a daylight win in a $20K maiden claiming race at Keeneland. He goes back to two turns on the dirt today and is taking a big drop in class. The outside post is no picnic, but I do think he is the one to beat. There’s some cheap speed on the lead, but I think there are several good horses that are going to be in the back half of the field in the early stages of this race. I’m thinking that a horse like Charley Pride (#11) could find himself a little closer to the front end and maybe get the jump on some of the deeper closers here. He’s stretching out to two turns after two bad breaks in sprint races here at this level. He did make up ground two back, but struggled to do so last time. He’s sired by Arrogate, so I do think he can handle the added distance and this feels like a good time to try a dirt route. Fast Joker (#9) drops in class for his first start since June for Greg Compton. I’ve talked about Compton’s struggles before at this meet this year, but I do think he will start to get some wins soon as he’s been placing horses in more competitive spots since coming back from the break. This barn has decent numbers with horses off longer layoffs and this might be the softest field he’s even faced. Brilliant Man (#7) is a suspect class dropper for Jade Cunningham. He was claimed two back for $30K and takes this drop after faltering in a claiming crown race where he was 133-1. His local works have been slow, and he’s only 1-17 in his career. He fits from a figures and class standpoint, so I do want to cover my bases.
Race 3:
The Mid-Card Pick-5 begins with a $50K starter allowance race for three year old fillies that also need to qualify for the N1X condition to compete in this spot. Something has to give here as there is a lot of speed signed on. Most of the runners in this race are coming off wins where they were on the lead or a length or less behind the leader at the first call. I think What’s Up Dog (#11) will have every chance to run them down late here. She stalked the pace from an outside draw to win a $50K maiden claiming race three back. She was 5th at this level at Churchill two starts ago and she rallied from off the pace to be second to Tiz In Sight (#3), who controlled the pace last time out. The course is playing kinder to horses coming with an over the top rally and I think this filly could be getting better since the Cipriano Contreras claim. She continues to be protected, which is also a positive sign. While I don’t know if this distance is going to suit her, She’s So Coal (#8) was excellent when crushing a field of state bred maiden allowance types here at the end of December. Since that was a state bred race, she’s eligible for this starter allowance race in open company. We’ll see how Francisco Arrieta chooses to ride her, but I’m thinking she’s not going to be on the lead today while cutting back in distance. This spot feels like a good audition for a state bred stakes sprint at the beginning of April. On deeper tickets, Amazing Amanda (#9) is the front-runner that I do want to back up with. She broke her maiden in her 4th start, which came here in a $50K maiden claiming race at the beginning of the meet. She is one of the 17 winners that Mark Casse has saddled here, so it’s hard to ignore anything coming from this barn. I do like that she’s more seasoned than some of the other shorter prices in this race. She took a step forward when adding Lasix last time out. She’s going to be under pressure early and often here, but Cristian Torres is a very strong finisher, so if she has anything left in the tank, he’ll be able to get it out of her.
Race 4:
Three year olds will go 1 1/16 miles in this optional $150K claiming/N1X allowance race. Four of the eight runners in this race were nominated to the Triple Crown and two of the four runners that weren’t nominated, are entered with the hefty $150K claiming tag. I’m baffled as to how the morning line favorite in this race is Honey’s To Blame (#6) as opposed to Our Magical Moon (#8). The latter was an impressive winner in open maiden special weight company at this distance on this course at the beginning of the meet. A longshot ran off early and he settled in fifth, well off the loose leader. When the real running began, he came through with a strong three wide bid and powered home as a much the best winner. Meanwhile, Honey’s to Blame easily dispatched fellow Arkansas breds when cutting back to a sprint after a pair of turf routes in open maiden races in New York. While there’s no doubt that the local race was designed to be a confidence builder, that was not a great field of state bred runners. Mark Casse has had a great weekend so far, racking up six winners in the first three days. It’s hard to ignore anything from his barn right now. I’ll play Our Magical Moon on top, backing up with Honey’s to Blame. I’ll use Clocker Special (#4) as a deeper saver in this race. I’m really looking to bet him next time out, as I think he’s going to need this start. He was okay on debut last summer at Churchill when finishing third in a productive maiden allowance race. He upped his game when going to Ellis though, scoring there for the first time. He’s going from a sprint to route and making his first start in seven months today. Brisset made the same kind of move a few years ago with a horse named Kuchar. He ran into We the People when returning in a route for his three year old debut. He was not a factor in that race, but was much sharper when scoring in his second start off the break.
Race 5:
Fillies and mares will go six furlongs in this $30K-$25K claiming race. Both Sombra Dorada (#2) and Misty Muppet (#5) are cross-entered in races on Friday with smaller fields but also smaller purses. The fact that their connections sought those races after entering here tells me that there’s a decent chance that both defect from this spot. The class drop for Lite It Up Louie (#7) should be appreciated today. She came back after a seven month layoff to face a very salty N1X allowance field here at the end of December. She was much sharper in 2024 when racing at the right level of competition. While she’s done her best work at Canterbury and she’s 0-7 here, most of the races on this oval have come against better fields. I think she fits well at this level here and should be a fair price in a race that feels fairly wide open. Demi (#12) beat the top pick at the end of the meet here last season when coming from last to first after missing the break. That was her first start in 13 months and since coming back she has been quite consistent and quite popular at the claiming box. She’s had seven starts since that race and she was offered for a tag in six of them. She was claimed five times in that span, winning once and finishing second in four of those races. The outside draw and the way closers have been able to get him certainly give her a fighting chance at this level, despite moving up in class. The morning line favorite in this race is Promises to Dance (#6). She’ll benefit if Sombra Dorada does scratch because that takes away at least one horse that would likely be challenging for the early lead. The bigger problem for her is Bolt on the Rocks (#1) breaking from the rail .She might be the quickest early in this race and the rail post likely forces her hand. I do think on her best day, Promises to Dance can handle the pace pressure, especially on this course and at this distance. Cutting back from two straight races at 6 ½ furlongs, along with the class drop, figure to help her cause, but I can’t take too short of a price on her in this race. She’s more of a backup for me.
Race 6:
Three year old fillies will start the Late Pick-5 with a maiden special weight test going 1 1/16 miles. There’s two that I want from this race on my tickets, and I’ll make the longer priced option, Cognizant (#2) the top pick. She makes her second start while stretching out to two turns for Steve Asmussen. Winchell Thoroughbreds campaigned the sire and the dam, with Steve Asmussen training both. The dam foaled the graded stakes winning colt, Disarm, who was also a winner in his second start. That colt was sired by Gun Runner, who is certainly more accomplished than Silver State, who is the sire of this colt. However, Winchell clearly stands to gain if this colt is successful as a sire, so he had him cover some of his better mares. Early on, Silver State has had four winners from 23 starters that routed for the first time. He also loved this course, going 3-3 in two turn stakes races, including a win in the Oaklawn Handicap. This filly feels like the kind of horse that can move forward in this spot. The main opposition figures to be Rockin Robin (#4), who finished second, six lengths behind her stablemate, Search Party, in her local debut. That filly came back to win the Martha Washington Stakes here on Friday so that effort clearly flatters this filly, who figures to be the post time favorite. She has improved in each start and she’ll get a rider upgrade to Cristian Torres, who continues to ride this course extremely well.
Race 7:
Open $35K-$30K claimers will go one mile here. It has not been a great meet thus far for Brad Cox, but I do think he has a live runner in this race. Uncle Caesar (#7) was a horse that he claimed at Parx of all places. Cox brought him here to compete in a tough N1X allowance race. Both First Division and Super Cruise came back with strong efforts in their next starts after that race. He drops in class after being claimed for $50K, which I don’t love. However, I like his consistency prior to his last start and with Cox training him, I’d think he would be sitting on a better effort while getting class relief. There are many that I’m suspicious of in this field, so while I was looking to try to play against, Black Powder (#1), I think he’s capable of doing better than he’s shown lately. He’s another one that is getting class relief, which should help his cause. He blew the break last out when facing optional claiming/N2X company. Saez opted to hop off the top pick in favor of riding this six year old for Maker. His 3-7 record over this course does not go unnoticed. I think winning this race might be out of reach, but Dynamis (#3) could be a sneaky longshot here that could blow up the trifecta. His recent form has been lacking, but he’s making his third start off the layoff while getting some class relief. While there’s no discounting that his last two starts have been really bad, he did run well in spots on this course last season. With his draw, he should be able to sit a decent trip.
Race 8: The $150K King Cotton Stakes:
The featured race this afternoon runs through Roll On Big Joe (#5), who was the winner of the Ring the Bell Stakes here earlier in the meet. He ran a huge race two back in the Bet on Sunshine Stakes at Churchill, and I wasn’t certain if he was going to be able to pair that kind of effort. However, he certainly did, winning impressively in gate to wire fashion. While the course has been playing more fairly than it was earlier in the meet, it’s still very possible to win on the front end on this course right now. However, I think this is a great spot for the seven year old gelding, Tejano Twist (#6). He’s a four time winner on this course and he’s 10 races in 44 career starts overall. He’s making his third start off the layoff today and he finds a course that should be more to his liking. We’ve seen several horses come with over the top late bids in the stretch this weekend, and earlier in the meet, horses just weren’t winning like that with that kind of frequency. Francisco Arrieta is going to get the assignment for the first time as he’s going to try to perfectly time his late charge. He was idling a bit in the stretch in the Ring the Bell when making his first start since May. He was third best that afternoon. He came back three weeks later to face Ryvit in a five horse allowance field that had no real early speed. He still closed well despite being pace compromised, The final figure was soft, but that’s an effort I’m willing to forgive. He was excellent in his third start back last year when he put up a big figure when finishing second to Banishing. He won this race last year and was second in both 2023 and 2024. I think he finds the Winner’s Circle once again in this race.
Race 9:
Fillies and mares will sprint six furlongs in this N1X allowance contest. Untamed Moment (#7) is going to likely be a short price here after putting up a monster figure when making her first start in four months here back in December. However, I’d rather not pay a premium to see if she can back that up. I much prefer You’ll Be Back (#8) in this race. She ran a big race to be second in the Miss Preakness Stakes in May at long odds.. She went to the sidelines and resurfaced here in December. She came with a bold bid, but she was caught late after getting a little leg weary in the final furlong. She fits well with this group and should be more fit for this race. I like the rider upgrade to Luis Saez for this race as well. Coaster (#10) is also one to consider after running a solid second to Foie Gras at long odds in the Oaklawn Anywhere Overnight Stakes at the end of December. She was plagued by inconsistency at the start of her career, but she’s been quite sharp in her last few starts .She likes racing here as this was the track where he broke her maiden emphatically back in April.
Race 10:
Arkansas bred three year old fillies will close out the card in this maiden special weight going six furlongs. I landed in Paroli (#10) in the nightcap, making her third career start and her first since being moved into Ron Moquett’s barn. He does well with new acquisitions and this Gentlemen’s Bet filly ran well in her second career try, finishing second against open maidens at Remington Park. Gentlemen’s Bet was a stakes winning sprinter on this course and he still is a useful sire of horses bred in Arkansas. One of his runners was a winner in the state bred race on yesterday’s card. Rockin the Lane (#11) was banged around pretty hard at the break when making her second career start here back in December. She ran up on heels and came with a three wide rally off the turn, only to flatten out late and finish third. She has every right to improve with a better start after pairing her first two Beyer Speed Figures. She’s clearly a contender here. Secret Slew (#5) came along late to get in front of her in that race and she’s back in this spot too. She tried two turns at this level 15 days after that sprint. She met a filly who ran a monster race, winning by 12 lengths that day. It’s fair to think this filly is going to be better when sprinting, and I believe that last effort can only help her here.
2025-26 Meet Statistics
Top Pick Winners: 34/165 (20.6%, $249.00 $1.51 ROI)
