Handicapper Tips & Picks

#3 QUEEN CLANCY was BTL on debut and might have been "best" on the day off the visuals. She was still GREEN showing run throughout and past the wire/GALLOP+. The experience is key as well as the conditioning since as she steps up to this circuit and stretching out in distance. 

#2 HAPPY HAPPY with proven stamina as makes her return to the main track - her one main track races as a sophomore earned a figure that fits in with today's group. She is preferred over #6 INSENSITIVE with similar number though one that has lost ground in her races including the rougher races. Her most competitive race to date was over this course at 6f at the $50k MCL level in April.

#1 HAMO  must step up overall though to her credit she chased and gained ground on Musical Mischief on 10/24 and that filly came back to win an allowance at CD in her next start and finished third in the American Oaks (G1) on Tuesday at SA. 

#5 K'ANTHEIA picks this spot to make her return and again with reservations. There were some reservations when she was entered in the MCL races earlier this month making her return off the layoff. She was a vet scratch from the 6f $40k MCL here on 12/17 and lands in this spot by default. 

#4 INVARIABLY will make his belated return to Oaklawn Park where he turned in competitive number form this level in his maiden races. He comes into this race with recency and more of a lateral move from the recent races at RP. He can be upgraded from the 12/14 event with the trip and excessive ground loss. The barn change and training Rufino is new to OP, this being their first local starter and first year training. The barn during the PRM meet sent out 16% winners with 46% ITM in a 75 starter sample. 

#5 HOOPERDRIVESTHEBOAT should be the "speed of the speed" a runner that has been able to turn in a 21 opening 1/4. With that said, he should find pace pressure and while the barn is not one that can take these aggressive class drops that is in play and coming back off another layoff. One of those that could be on the lead, #9 SMOKIN' HOT going out for a "hot" Contreras barn. His tactical position is unclear exiting route races, but mostly higher level route races where he has been on the lead and that could transfer to showing early speed here. 

#10 BLACK STORM is overdue for a win and some racing luck since entering the Moquett barn. He had a look at price before the break and the 5th place effort was BTL at the open claiming class. Trip will be key with his runstyle along with holding value once again. 

#13 FORSAKEN is sitting on the AE and would change in the complexion either in or out. In the race, he could be the controlling speed changing the dynamic and unable to draw in, others will be tasked to take up the E/EP role. 

#4 TABLE MONEY could take up that role and become a player in his own right. He has form over this course from last season and fitness returning to a more reasonable level for his abilities in the second start off the layoff. 

#8 PEPPERONI KID was competitive in both of his statebred MCL races last year. He fired a BTL effort showing a ton of run through adversity and back at the right level broke his maiden in April. 

Coming off a maiden win, #10 COLONEL BARTON will look to hold his form taking on winners. His current form stacks up for this level and with many in this field. 

#11 STREET COMMANDER has form and class that fits at this level as he returns off the layoff. The challenge will be trip with his off the pace runstyle, though preferred of those "closer" types - #3 HOWL YEAH and #12 KINFOLK. 

#1 PARTYINTHESTREETS is one that is worth a mention and can be used. He fired his best race first out breaking his maiden on debut back in April. At the time, the T. Martin barn was running hot multiple winners on that card and on the weekend. That trend will be tough to pick up on after the break and the first starter this weekend. 

Al Cates does not have the "jump off the page" stats with FTS though is capable with the right runner. #2 COOL AND CLOUDY will debut here and could be live off the works and in this spot. They project to show early speed a contrast to stablemate #6 ABBY'S ENCORE for this second start though should appreciate the experience and class change.

#9 CHEZ WHIZ returns with the experience and rider upgrade from the debut where the overall effort was BTL and given no favors from an indecisive ride. 

#10 STREAKIN DEACON has some of the "flashier" works on paper and likely to get attention off that and with the presence of Bejarano. Gonzalez does not have the strongest numbers first out, though does seem to send out live runners that show speed and this one should follow that pattern. 

#1 DIXIE PENNY holds buried Oaklawn form and could present intent in this spot as she returns and returns for the claiming tag. She will be joined by entrymate #1A GIMME CANDY one that is coming back from a taxing win PRESSED throughout and all out to hold. The shift back to a sprint is also noted today.

The class change also comes into play for #8 COST A FORTUNE a move that should have her at the right level for her abilities. She has three wins over this course from back in 2022 and has not shown much improvement since to keep up with the placement of her prior races any at the allowance condition. 

#5 DISTORTED SECRETS returns off the layoff as the primary concern as otherwise she fits in this group and has the right runstyle to work a trip. 

#11 MIA BABY also finds some class relief and back in at the claiming level where she has been more effective. She has been freshened since the 11/15 start when bet down on the day and could be given a slight excuse with legit contact at the start and made a middle move into a fast pace before losing ground and not asked late. 

#7 SPOILED ROTTEN could end up favored here as the "new face" in from California for Miller. While she fits, she does not hold any edge. As far as class, this is a lateral move from her most recent races and was just racing evenly. Her three wins to date were all recorded at a lower OFR than today. 

#2 HOLLYWOOD ENDING will be tested stepping up against winners off a PERFECT trip picking up the maiden win. While that can be a downgrade, in this race shape they could be the controlling even "lone" speed based on the complexion of this field.

#4 TEN DAYS LATER will get a look wheeling right back from the BTL effort on 12/17. His overall form and figure stack up at this allowance condition and going back to his juvenile season showed he could hold form while racing on shorter rest time between starts. 

#5 AFFABLE MONARCH should be sitting on a peak effort as he stretches back out in this second start of the cycle. He should be fit exiting the sprint making an early move into a solid pace after the usual SLOG (a pattern for this horse) and continued to GALLOP+ after the wire. 

#1 LEAGUE OF LEGENDS is often pace compromised with his RunStyle making the closing run from off the pace. That along requires price compensation and should be there given the recent running lines and finishing positions that look less than ideal...at least on paper. Visually he is moving forward with each start off the layoff and numbers represent that as well. He looked to be given/PREP the allowance 13-days ago and turned in a sneaky run earning a follow especially on the class DROP, the change in play here. The early pace should be honest and he should be higher on the board than rival #6 FLAGS UP one with a similar RunStyle.

#5 CHIPOFFTHEOLDBLOCK could rebound with the return to Oaklawn, a course that has woken him up in the past. Reuniting with R. Eramia (and front wrap removal) could also be a sign of intent as the two picked up a pair of wins in the spring and had a subtle trip in the 4/1 allowance here. 

Torres and Amoss could be looking for redemption with #9 PRISIONER after teaming up with Luna Vieja here on 12/16 and DQ as the unofficial winner. The pace should be honest and PRISONER with early speed in his own right should be part of that group. Fitness and even intent could also come into play for this second start of the cycle/claim and returning for the $50k tag they were claimed at back in August.  

#1 BEER CHASER has sneaky Oaklawn form especially when isolating his sprint races from the rest. He just barely finds eligibility here with his two claiming starts back in the first part of 2022 and has been protected in every race since. W. De La Cruz will be back aboard and keying off that buried form these two teamed up on a higher level N1X allowance to finish fourth, though had trip adversity and still found a way to finish in a BLANKET at the wire. 

#4 VULCAN had a "longshot" look on 12/16 when assigned the 20-1 ML coming off an EX in November at CD though the public did not take the bait opening live holding 6-1 odds at post time. He turned in an honest effort given the outside post (slight against profile) on the pace and part of a Fast/X_FLOW DUEL with the winner, Nautical Star (C. Hartman) making a late run from off the pace to win by open lengths.

There is some reservation wheeling back on shorter rest from a spot where they could have been live and this spot was not always the plan. The plan for this race could fall to stablemate #10 BLUE KENTUCKY making a local debut off the 50-day freshening. This one has sprint form and form at the starter allowance condition on par for this event. His RunStyle should fit today's race shape though a trip is still required with the outside draw. He shares a similar RunStyle and form to #11 ROB THE RICH another that has a post to overcome and should be much shorter of the two in this race coming shipping in off the win streak and the "1's" in his form. 

#6 JOE FRAZIER has run well off a similar long layoff in the past, including the win at the starter level here in March. N. Juarez takes over today as C. Torres the rider from last seasons sticks with #5 JACKMAN for K. Broberg, a horse he has had success aboard including races at Oaklawn. JACKMAN has run efforts that make him a player though has often struggled to pair up top efforts and must return with one of those races coming back from a tough fought win and figure last month at RP. 

#9 CREATIVE MINISTER fits the N3 part of the condition to race here protected for McPeek. He is looking for that belated win, though has recorded "winning" efforts and has held his form since returning from the layoff back in March - a race that at the time appeared a "prep" for CREATIVE with his multiple graded stakes winning stablemate Smile Happy the victor.

#12 HEROIC MOVE appeared well-intended last month in the Zia Park Derby, though had a rough start and ran on for place, a good effort all things considered.

Trip will be key with the draw and for Torres to take back to stalk. #8 UNINVITED GUEST should be looking for a similar trip and should have intent for the live barn, though class is softer and that requires price compensation especially on the win end. 

If M. Chaun can let some of the other "speed" in the field go and move off the inside, #1 CAMP DAVID could sit the right trip and the trip he requires - the presser not the pressed. Similar as far as trip for #11 WINTERS LION given the post and in today's race shape. He has front running win breaking his maiden over this course and his maiden track form has been consistent, albeit number wise a little light compared to others. 

#10 LET'S DUET has come up short on the win end, though not short of a "winning" effort under similar allowance conditions. Trip is the key with her and part of the overall record as she naturally lacks early speed though has a strong late kick. 

#9 JUBELLA turned in a BTL effort at this level, surface/distance last season. Historically, she is not one that can hold her form for a longer campaign and with that type of horse she often will come off the bench race ready. 

#4 RED RIVER MAGIC could present the most upside and of the sophomore fillies (#13 FLASHY LASS and #14 MAGIC BUBBLES) drawn into the main body of the field. She has shown progression and has the two turn foundation as well as some confidence off the open length off-turf MSW win last month.