Levels of confidence
LEE’S LOCK Street Strategy in the ninth.
BEST BET Rock City Roadhog in the eighth.
LONG SHOT Lacey the Spartan in the third.
SATURDAY’S RESULTS 2-9 (22.2 percent).
MEET 86-261 (32.9 percent).
*Educated Guess
**things to like
***plenty to like
****confident choice
1Purse $22,000, 6 Furlongs, 3-year-olds and up which have never won two races, Arkansas-bred, Claiming $15,000.
***POETIC POSER followed a clear debut victory with a second-place finish, and the lightly raced gelding is dropping a condition and switching to a Hall of Fame rider. OLIVER’S BULL has been showing speed in stronger allowance races, and this is his first race in a conditioned-claiming field. ARWALKINGDEPUTY was heavily bet and did not disappoint in a determined maiden victory, and he has improved in each of three races.
PP HORSE; JOCKEY; TRAINER; ODDS
1 Poetic Poser; Borel; Howard; 7-2
11 Oliver’s Bull; BQuinonez; Ashauer; 9-2
2 Arwalkingdeputy; Canchari; Creighton; 5-1
10 Reinforce; Laviolette; Gonzalez; 8-1
5 Sea Bubba; Berry; Whited; 10-1
6 Suspecting Gold; De La Cruz; Martin; 8-1
3 A.P. Brannigan; Corbett; Von Hemel; 6-1
12 Red Dirt Rooster; Wethey; Rowland; 15-1
4 Morgan’s Curiosity; Rocco; Hobby; 12-1
7 Sarah’s Swingtown; Felix; Smith; 12-1
8 Karber; Flores; Litfin; 30-1
9 Morluc’s Secret; Cruz; Ives; 20-1
2 Purse $22,000, 6 Furlongs, Fillies, 3-year-olds which have never won two races, Claiming $15,000.
***READY’S SCHEDULE defeated $25,000 maiden-claimers as a post-time favorite, and she has steadily improving form and is spotted to repeat. LIMEADE battled for better than six furlongs before tiring late in a useful route effort, and she is dropping in class and returning to a preferred distance. INTIMIDATING GAL finished a non-threatening second at this condition at Fair Grounds, and her career Beyer speed figures are competitive with the other contenders in this field.
PP HORSE; JOCKEY; TRAINER; ODDS
8 Ready’s Schedule; Landeros; Diodoro; 3-1
7 Limeade; Rocco; Autrey; 2-1
5 Intimidating Gal; Santana; Asmussen; 8-1
3 Gold Chrome; Hamilton; Broberg; 10-1
10 Miss Queen Bling; Corbett; Durham; 5-1
4 Batten Down Belle; Castanon; Compton; 10-1
6 Bullofthewoods; Vazquez; Milligan; 15-1
1 Yesitookachance; Birzer; Campbell; 20-1
2 A Little Unique; Bridgmohan; Swearingen; 15-1
9 Flashy Holiday; Loveberry; Raidt; 20-1
11 Seattle Summer; De La Cruz; Martin; 20-1
3 Purse $20,500, 6 Furlongs, Fillies and Mares, 3-year-olds and up which have never won three races, Claiming $10,000.
**LACEY THE SPARTAN won a very fast entry-level allowance race just two back at Mountaineer, and he is adding blinkers for new trainer Steve Manley. IMPETUOUS BAY is only a neck from having a three race winning streak, and she possesses good early speed and is sharp enough to move up and possibly win again. VELVET ZIP may be the best finisher in a field loaded with early speed types, and leading rider Ricardo Santana had a big day Saturday.
PP HORSE; JOCKEY; TRAINER; ODDS
1 Lacey the Spartan; Thompson; Manley; 12-1
6 Impetuous Bay; De La Cruz; Martin; 6-1
12 Velvet Zip; Santana; Asmussen; 5-1
3 Goodheartedgirl; Vazquez; Villafranco; 3-1
2 Briny Breezes; Ocampo; Milligan; 10-1
5 Bettina Brugge; Johnson; McPeek; 7-2
4 Misty Grove; Hamilton; Witt; 15-1
10 Sealark; Loveberry; Roberts; 12-1
9 Holy Habit; Manrrique; Puhl; 15-1
11 Denali Inspired; Mello; Martin; 15-1
7 Miss Nightlinger; Laviolette; Turberville; 15-1
8 Deferred; Birzer; Creighton; 20-1
4 Purse $20,000, 1 Mile, 3-year-olds and up which have never won two races, Claiming $10,000.
**PERKY KITTEN is a front-running route runner who is dropping to the lowest price of his career, and he drew a favorable two turn post. NO DISHONOR held on gamely in a front-running maiden victory, and he seems to like the surface at Oaklawn. STONECRUSHER did not care for the wet footing as a beaten post-time favorite, but he is adding blinkers and should be on a fast track.
PP HORSE; JOCKEY; TRAINER; ODDS
2 Perky Kitten; Esquivel; Mason; 4-1
4 No Dishonor; Rocco; Autrey; 6-1
11 Stonecrusher; Johnson; Hartlage; 15-1
10 Halder; Birzer; Ice; 5-1
9 Just the Tap; Santana; Asmussen; 8-1
12 Heroic Act; Vazquez; Hartman; 9-2
7 We Have Rainbows; Bridgmohan; Hobby; 8-1
6 Sconnie Nation; De La Cruz; Van Berg; 15-1
5 Word Racer; Canchari; Robertson; 12-1
1 Bullrocket; Berry; Morse; 10-1
3 Square Bale; Wethey; Hall; 15-1
8 Magic Bay; BQuinonez; Mullins; 15-1
5 Purse $20,500, 1 1/16 Miles, 3-year-olds and up which have never won three races, Claiming $10,000.
***CHARACTER ZERO is a lightly raced five-year-old who won a fast non-winners-of-two claimer, and if he holds his form he should handle this group. BACKONTHEROAD raced well against better last season at Oaklawn, and the late-running Arkansas-bred is rounding back into form. WALDO has a pair of useful sprint races over the track, and he is stretching out and getting rid of his blinkers for new and winning trainer Brad Cox.
PP HORSE; JOCKEY; TRAINER; ODDS
11 Character Zero; Santana; Moquett; 7-2
6 Backontheroad; Loveberry; Caldwell; 10-1
1 Waldo; Castanon; Cox; 10-1
8 Reigning Catfish; Corbett; Swearingen; 5-1
10 Lewis Cielo; Johnson; Swearingen; 9-2
2 Warren’s Clyde; De La Cruz; Van Berg; 6-1
4 Solid South; Rocco; Sims; 6-1
12 Denali Causeway; Birzer; Martin; 10-1
7 Eyesonthelady; BQuinonez; Lauer; 15-1
3 Curzon Street; Canchari; Brueggemann; 15-1
9 Playball Tony; Mello; Martin; 20-1
5 Franks On Fire; Rodriguez; Riecken; 30-1
6 Purse $20,300, 6 Furlongs, Fillies and Mares, 4-year-olds and up, Claiming $6,250.
**VIRGINIA’S JOY defeated better than these only two races back at Hawthorne, and she may have been too close to a rapid pace when faltering in her last start. MARYJEAN has won six of her last seven races against similar opposition, and she has been very popular at the claim box. MISS ADDICATE rallied to third behind a wire-to-wire winner, who did come back to win again Friday, and she is taking a drop in price.
PP HORSE; JOCKEY; TRAINER; ODDS
7 Virginia’s Joy; Felix; Mason; 6-1
6 Maryjean; Loveberry; Milligan; 4-1
10 Miss Addicate; Vazquez; Villafranco; 3-1
5 Tavara; Laviolette; Shorter; 9-2
1a Maybelle Slew; De La Cruz; Puhl; 8-1
2 Sparkling Ruler; Court; McBride; 10-1
4 Crhossgo; Birzer; Martin; 10-1
9 Switchen Er Up; Hamilton; Broberg; 15-1
1 All About Brownie; De La Cruz; Puhl; 8-1
3 In Tall Cotton; Berry; Morse; 8-1
8 Southern Symphony; Johnson; Ashauer; 15-1
7 Purse $20,000, 6 Furlongs, 4-year-olds and up, Claiming $7,500.
**CHATFIELD ROAD was claimed by a stable that boasts a high win percentage with first-back purchases, and he has early speed and was competing well against much better last season at Hawthorne. SHIMMY TINJO is a three-time winner at Oaklawn who is dropping to the lowest claiming price of his career, and he has always been a versatile sprinter. BANK ACCOUNT outdueled the top selection in a recent third-place finish, and he was claimed by a winning stable and drew outside of the opposing speed.
PP HORSE; JOCKEY; TRAINER; ODDS
3 Chatfield Road; Vazquez; Villafranco; 5-1
11 Shimmy Tinjo; Canchari; Robertson; 9-2
9 Bank Account; Santana; Moquett; 3-1
4 Arborville; Borel; Whiting; 6-1
2 Insideondoutside; Rocco; Autrey; 12-1
1 Muazzaz; Felix; Mason; 15-1
7 At Bat; Loveberry; Broberg; 8-1
5 Dixie Banner; Laviolette; Smith; 8-1
10 J.Z.’s Crafty Boy; Ocampo; Lynn; 12-1
6 Bourbon King; Thompson; Martin; 20-1
8 Casa de Cambio; Hamilton; Lynn; 20-1
8 Nodouble Breeders’. Purse $75,000, 6 Furlongs, 3-year-olds and up, Arkansas-bred.
***ROCK CITY ROADHOG defeated “open” $16,000 claimers in his first race for high percentage trainer Chris Richard, and he may have needed the race following a lengthy layoff. BUMPY CAT set the pace when second in an allowance tune-up for this stake, and the pace is not expected to be fast, which works in his favor. MALLARD’S BRO is a local stakes winner who is better around two turns, but he is certainly talented enough to win and should be rolling late.
PP HORSE; JOCKEY; TRAINER; ODDS
1 Rock City Roadhog; Bridgmohan; Richard; 3-1
6 Bumpy Cat; Felix; Mason; 4-1
2 Mallard’s Bro; Santana; Cates; 7-2
7 We Be Stormin; Vazquez; Cates; 7-2
8 Uneven Score; Loveberry; Caldwell; 10-1
5 Bud Ro; Hill; Shorter; 10-1
10 Best of Birdstone; Ocampo; Adams; 15-1
3 He Is a Roadster; Court; Dixon; 12-1
4 Rattlesnake Holler; Berry; Whited; 15-1
9 Dancing Stone; Wethey; Page; 30-1
9 Purse $67,000, 1 1/16 Miles, 4-year-olds and up, Allowance Optional Claiming.
****STREET STRATEGY made an impressive return to the races Jan. 30, and if he stays healthy he should have a productive 2015 campaign. IRISH YOU WELL is battle tested in graded stakes races, and the Fair Grounds shipper receives some class relief after an even effort in the Mineshaft Handicap. FABULOUS KID easily defeated entry-level allowance rivals in front-running fashion, and he keeps leading rider Ricardo Santana.
PP HORSE; JOCKEY; TRAINER; ODDS
8 Street Strategy; Borel; Morse; 5-2
3 Irish You Well; Ocampo; Catalano; 3-1
4 Fabulous Kid; Santana; Ice; 5-1
7 Scuba; Rocco; Dutrow; 5-1
9 Quiet Man; LQuinonez; Biehler; 15-1
1 Purple Sky; Bridgmohan; Stall; 12-1
10 Stachys; Vazquez; Villafranco; 8-1
5 Texas Two Step; Hill; Gorder; 15-1
2 Lifes Reward; Canchari; Moquett; 20-1
6 Bruvver Max; Thompson; Martin; 20-1
11 Awol Adam; De La Cruz; Puhl; 30-1
EXOTIC POSSIBILITIES
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette handicapper Rick Lee seeks out horses which make good “key” horses in multi-horse and/or multi-race wagers, commonly called exotic wagers.
The daily double pairs two full fields of twelve, and the first race has a “hidden” class dropper in Poetic Poser, and the second race has limited contention so a small wager can return a good profit. The 50-cent late Pick 3 starts with a very competitive field of eleven in the seventh race, but the eighth and ninth may be able to be covered with two or three runners.