LEE'S LOCK Stellacreek in the ninth
BEST BET Lawyer Gabe in the fourth
LONG SHOT Playing a Joke in the second
SUNDAY'S RESULTS 2-9 (22.2 percent)
MEET 106-419 (25.3 percent)
CONFIDENCE RATINGS
*Educated guess
**Things to like
***Plenty to like
****Confident choice
1 Purse $25,000, 6 furlongs, fillies & mares, 3-years-old and up, nonwinners of 2 races, Arkansas-bred, claiming $15,000
DEE'S BABY** crossed the wire first in two races last season at Oaklawn, and she is taking a slight drop on the heels of a second-place finish. CINNAMONSBIRDIE hit the wire a neck behind the top selection in her return from a 10-month vacation, and the pace figures fast enough to set up her late run. MY BELLO VITA is cutting back to a sprint after a useful front-running route race, and she is dropping into a state-bred race for the first time this season.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
7 Dee's Baby;Birzer;Roberts;5-1
2 Cinnamonsbirdie;Canchari;Witt;5-2
9 My Bello Vita;Ocampo;Chleborad;5-1
4 Roada Wish;De La Cruz;Martin;4-1
1 Rita Ann;Laviolette;Smith;9-2
5 Miss Seven K;Wethey;Cline;12-1
1a Wolf City;Mello;Smith;9-2
8 Auntcris'sshoes;Loveberry;Hornsby;20-1
3 In Lilly's Hand Court;Loy;8-1
6 Valid Esteem;Marquez;Seagle;20-1
2 Purse $24,000, 1 1/16 miles, 3 and up, claiming $7,500
PLAYING A JOKE** rallied to defeat $5,000 claimers at Will Rogers by 6 lengths, and he has the back class to move up and repeat. JACK'S THE WON proved game to the wire defeating $6,250 claimers, and the veteran drew a favorable route post and loves to win races. TAKE IT LIKE A MAN won a fast claiming race earlier in the meeting, and he was claimed out of his last race by a stable that is going strong right now.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
9 Playing a Joke;Ocampo;Richard;6-1
1 Jack's the Won;Birzer;Vance;3-1
3 Take It Like a Man;Franco;Diodoro;6-1
7 Prime Number;Laviolette;Cox;9-2
10 Charlie's Phantasy;Santana;Asmussen;7-2
2 Flyin Trey;BQuinonez;Holthus;8-1
11 Da Winner Is;Hill;Calhoun;10-1
6 The Third Ace;Corbett;Riecken;15-1
5 Aunt Ruby's Kitten;Canchari;Litfin;20-1
8 Red Wings;Saez;Duncan;30-1
4 Solid South;Marquez;Caudill;30-1
3 Purse $23,500, 6 furlongs, fillies & mares, 3 and up, claiming $7,500
GABIO** was a three-time winner last season, and she has been forwardly placed in consecutive third-place finishes and appears to be sitting on a top effort. EILEEN EVELYN won three consecutive races last season, including a $10,000 claimer at Keeneland, and she is taking a significant drop in class and shipping from Fair Grounds. LACIE'S QUEST had to overcome a sluggish start when second best in a $7,500 claiming race at Fair Grounds, and trainer Steve Asmussen has been spotting horses where they can win.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
1 Gabio;De La Cruz;Caldwell;5-1
2 Eileen Evelyn;Marquez;Haran;20-1
6 Lacie's Quest;Santana;Asmussen;5-2
10 Heather's Rose;Birzer;Brooks;8-1
5 Go Blue;Nakatani;Forster;7-2
4 Silky Sami;Franco;DiVito;10-1
8 Yooou Den;LQuinonez;Loy;10-1
7 Triple Trouble;Canchari;Anderson;10-1
9 Jogget;Court;Fires;8-1
3 Aloha Rose;Laviolette;Mason;15-1
4 Purse $23,500, 1 1/16 miles, 4 and up, claiming $7,500
LAWYER GABE*** ships from New Orleans on the heels of a troubled second-place finish, and he was claimed by sharp connections and has won 2 of 5 races at Oaklawn Park. VIVA OUTLAW finished second in an unusually fast $6,250 claiming race only two starts back, and he too was claimed by a sharp trainer and benefits from a positive rider change. PERFECTLY AT HOME was beaten a neck while nearly 3 lengths clear of third, but the one-run closer may not get as friendly of apace set-up this time.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
9 Lawyer Gabe;Santana;Asmussen;2-1
3 Viva Outlaw;Hill;Hartman;9-2
8 Perfectly At Home;BQuinonez;Riecken;6-1
1 Tens Wild;Vazquez;Richard;9-2
4 Street Prancer;Ocampo;Chleborad;10-1
2 My Borsalino;Landeros;Williamson;12-1
12 Cajun Don;Birzer;Litfin;15-1
7 Lenapah;Canchari;Hartman;15-1
6 B L's Tsunami;Court;Shorter;15-1
10 On Cycle;Rodriguez;Burress;20-1
5 Balega;Loveberry;Broberg;20-1
11 Rous;Laviolette;Cox;30-1
5 Purse $23,500, 6 furlongs, fillies & mares, 3 and up, maiden claiming $12,500
HURRICANE MARY** broke a tad slow and was caught wide through the turn in a late-running third-place debut, and she benefits from the trip and switches to a top veteran rider. LISA'S THE BOSS was bet down to favoritism in an improved second-place finish at this level. She is lightly raced and eligible to show more for winning connections. HAPPY WILDCAT possesses good early speed and her recent fourth-place finish earned the field's fastest last race Beyer figure.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
6 Hurricane Mary;Nakatani;Pitts;9-2
1 Lisa's the Boss;Hill;Mason;7-2
2 Happy Wildcat;Wethey;Caldwell;6-1
5 Tiz Liz;Mello;Hall;6-1
11 Relentless Dear;LQuinonez;Prather;12-1
12 Tactical Maneuver;De La Cruz;Martin;8-1
4 Mzapropriatedfunds;Santana;Hartman;4-1
10 Speed of Sound;Loveberry;Milligan;12-1
3 When She Sings;Canchari;Morse;15-1
9 Tizso Majestic;Suarez;Holthus;20-1
8 Ralla's Rally;Ocampo;Shorter;30-1
7 Chic Chant;Saez;Van Berg;30-1
6 Purse $25,000, 6 furlongs, fillies & mares, 3 and up, nonwinners of 2 races, claiming $15,000
CLASSY STUDENT** lost a late lead in a tough-luck second-place finish, and she is dropping in price and may only need a well-timed rally to get home first. ELAINE KOWALESKI has finished narrowly behind the top selection twice at the meeting, and is back in the conditioned-claiming ranks after an even effort against allowance rivals. LADY AREYDNE followed a runner-up finish with a determined maiden victory at Fair Grounds, and the lightly raced and improving filly is well spotted in a low level conditioned-claiming sprint.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
12 Classy Student;De La Cruz;Caldwell;4-1
11 Elaine Kowaleski;Vazquez;Villafranco;3-1
1 Lady Areydne;Santana;Asmussen;8-1
5 Gingermore;Franco;Hartman;12-1
3 Minnie Ruth;BQuinonez;Young;12-1
8 Greely's Comet;LQuinonez;Thomas;15-1
2 Superbowl Sally;Rocco;Calhoun;12-1
10 Disones Pretty;Court;Fires;5-1
7 Batten Down Belle;Marquez;Compton;15-1
6 Frisky Whiskey;Hill;Mason;15-1
4 Cold Cash;Birzer;Van Berg;8-1
9 Get Paid;Corbett;Durham;20-1
7 Purse $76,000, 1 mile, fillies & mares, 3 and up, maiden special weight
PLACE DES VOSGES** had early traffic trouble into the first turn before finishing third as a post-time favorite, and she moves to the rail and may make amends in the third start of her form cycle. MORNING MIXER contested a moderate pace and held on well in an improved second-place route finish, and she is cutting back a bit in distance and may not have to improve much to graduate. BUZZER BEATER was beaten by a diminishing neck in a sharp sprint tuneup, and she has proven route ability and is wearing blinkers for the first time.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
1 Place des Vosges;Vazquez;Hartman;9-2
4 Morning Mixer;Johnson;Hartlage;7-2
10 Buzzer Beater;Santana;Asmussen;10-1
3 Learning Curve;Nakatani;Moquett;5-1
6 Heronetta;Hill;Gorder;8-1
7 Katie's Warrior;Birzer;Hobby;6-1
8 The Strip;Landeros;McPeek;6-1
9 Angel of Troy;Rocco;Gorder;12-1
2 Looks Super;Ocampo;Peitz;8-1
5 Sheza Lute;BQuinonez;Jacquot;15-1
8 Purse $79,000, 6 furlongs, 3 and up, nonwinners of 2 races, allowance
PORTANDO** trained smartly up to his debut and did not disappoint, winning by 4 lengths, and he figures to work out another ideal trip from just off of the lead. ALABAMA TIDE is a consistent and strong finisher who ran into an impressive winner March 5, and the beaten favorite is talented and can make amends. ASTOUNDING had trouble in midstretch or would have won his comeback race by a larger margin, and he is another lightly raced finisher with a solid chance to run these down.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
5 Portando;Santana;Asmussen;3-1
7 Alabama Tide;Vazquez;Hartman;2-1
1 Astounding;Hill;Catalano;7-2
4 Ray'swarrior;Rocco;Hobby;5-2
1a Holding Aces;Hill;Catalano;7-2
6 Comic Bird;Franco;Jayaraman;12-1
2 Dynamacho;Birzer;Hall;30-1
3 Sports Book;Court;Raidt;20-1
8 Briar's Gold;Marquez;Haran;30-1
9 Purse $26,000, 6 furlongs, fillies & mares, 3 and up, Arkansas-bred, maiden claiming $20,000
STELLACREEK*** was pressured through a fast early pace in a deceptive fourth-place debut finish, and she is dropping into the maiden-claiming ranks and has recorded two sharp subsequent breezes. OUR ADDI BELLE lost a narrow advantage inside the final furlong in a good effort against "open" maiden-claimers and is a logical threat in state-bred competition. DIVA OF DISASTER finished fifth in a stronger maiden allowance race. She has some early speed and is switching riders.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
1 Stellacreek;Canchari;Witt;3-1
3 Our Addi Belle;De La Cruz;Martin;7-2
8 Diva of Disaster;Loveberry;Howard;8-1
12 Cookin Sue;Ocampo;Dixon;4-1
9 Exileonmanestreet;LQuinonez;Ashauer;12-1
7 Sea Lucy's Reality;Saez;Rowland;6-1
4 Polish Suspect;Landeros;Hornsby;10-1
2 Passing Breeze;Court;Cook;20-1
6 Nicoles Bullet;Rocco;Cline;20-1
10 Sherry Berry Wine;Manrrique;Cannon;30-1
11 Mary Lou;Rodriguez;Whited;20-1
5 Andrea Reese;Franco;Stuart;20-1
EXOTIC POSSIBILITIES
Lawyer Gabe is a good horse to key in multihorse wagers in the fourth, and the race drew a 12-horse field, so spreading out underneath is justifiable. The 50-cent late Pick-4 is loaded with large fields and begins in the sixth with several contenders. The seventh is another race where a "price" horse can defeat the likely favorites, and Race 8 has four very good sprinters. To save money, I will single Stellacreek in the ninth at the risk of Our Addi Belle winning the race.
Sports on 04/06/2016