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Sat February 25th, 2023 |
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Stakes Spotlight
Oaklawn Park Race 10
Post Time 4:43 PM CST
Weather may prove to be a factor as there is a chance of rain on Saturday at Oaklawn. The track condition also could be huge in the outcome of this race. A wet track surely boosts the hopes of 7-WET PAINT as she comes off a strong victory over a wet, sealed track in her last at Oaklawn. She gets the same distance in here, runs for an incredibly hot barn of Brad Cox and Prat returns to ride. The pace setup ahead of her should be perfect as well as she looks to stalk and pounce in the lane. Thinking the linemaker missed on 11-OLIVIA TWIST as she was laid at 15-1 in here. She was the 2-1 second choice in the Martha Washington in her last. She showed speed in that spot before tiring but the wet track may not have been to her liking. If the rain stays away she may move way up in here. 3-GRAND LOVE is another that could push things along on the front end as she makes her first start of 2023. There may be some distance questions that need to be answered as she tired in both starts around two turns at two. Her workouts have been strong and consistent leading toward her return but she may be overbet and could need a start. 8-DEFINING PURPOSE is much along the lines of Olivia Twist in here as she could also move up on a dry track. She was sent off as the Even money choice in the Martha Washington and ran a respectable race. She has some tactical speed and is worthy of another look.
Oaklawn Park Race 11 - PLAY OF THE DAY
Post Time 5:23 PM CST
50 points are on the line in the Rebel as it is amazing to see a prep for a Derby prep go for $1 million. That's the benefit of the gaming impact at Oaklawn and it has made for very good three-year-old racing there in recent years. 4-GUN PILOT may be a bit of a sleeper in this spot as he is listed at 8-1. He comes in off a pair of solid races over the track and had to close into the short stretch last time out. He is bred to run all day and the added distance looks to be beneficial in here. 1-VERIFYING is the top Cox horse in this race as he draws the rail. He was an easy winner in her last while making his first start of the year. He does have some distance questions to answer as he is likely to take a lot of action at the windows in here. 5-GIANT MISCHIEF could be the Cox horse that is better suited for the 1 1/16 miles distance as he is also likely to be a longer price in comparison to Verifying. He makes his first start of the year but has worked well toward the return and is another that is bred to run all day. 6-REINCARNATE is one of the Baffert horses forced to switch trainers to try to get Derby points. This one didn't have to go too far as he moved to the barn of past Baffert assistant Tim Yakteen, a move we saw with some Derby hopefuls for Baffert last year. He's been solid in each start and may be a little later to mature but it also took him four starts to break his maiden and he chooses to leave California. Let's see how he handles the ship and Oaklawn surface.