Handicapper Tips & Picks

HONEYBEE STAKES (G3):

#6 WEST OMAHA will make her graded stakes debut here with progressive form and current form in this third start of the season. She has been holding her own in stakes company picking up the Silverbulletday win with a perfect trip last month and holding her own in the morning with stablemate Tarifa, the G2 Rachel Alexandra winner last weekend at FG. #1 ALYS BEACH also comes in from the FG where she has been working her way back around for a seasonal debut. She could present a class edge exiting the G1 races last year, though a longshot in those races and returns today giving up recency and off the few works on return, wanted to see a little more from her.

The Martha Washington upset winner, #2 BAND OF GOLD projects to be must shorter as she returns here and for many in the public that missed the wedding. She popped with a big effort on the day and will be required to repeat. She had a great ride from B. Hernandez and pace to target, something she could find once again. Part of that early pace due to rival #4 NEOM BEACH. She has the benefit of early speed, local form along with local form over this course and two turn distance. She will be class tested once again and still must take a step forward, something she has yet to make un order to make herself a main player in this division.

#7 LEMON MUFFIN is tough to make a contender case for though has been consistent and improving and one that could continue the pattern of picking up checks once again. 

REBEL STAKES (G2): 

#7 TIMBERLAKE fits the role as the favorite and the horse to beat in this field. He has the graded stakes form and figures that stand out and while he will give up recency he has been training forwardly into this race. He does project to be a heavy favorite and playing this race with him at that number it is worth trying to get creative with some prices to make it interesting.

#9 LAGYNOS could fall into that role and projected to be the longer of the three Asmussen runners and has some upside as he makes his second start of the season. He will return with a freshening from the Smarty Jones and part of the Fast early pace and is not a “need the lead” type based on his prior starts. His stablemate #1 CARBONE exits the Southwest (G3) was bet down and a weaker favorite last month as he was doing something new. Not only was the distance new but they tried to rate that day and was not as successful and given the rail draw they should be more assertive to allow him to show his early speed.

#13 TIME FOR TRUTH might be forced to show early speed as well given his natural speed and with today’s stretchout in distance without many options from the outside post. Something #11 JUST STEEL will have to navigate once again and still prove himself at the distance and class level.

#8 NEXT LEVEL scratched from the Lecomte (G3) showing up the next week to run a huge race and tougher beat in a solid allowance field. While arguably he was “best” on the day, he must still step up here and show he fits at this level and graded stakes company and has a rider change to Riquelme, a rider with this as his only mount on the card and a return to Oaklawn for the first time since riding here regularly back in 2019.

#5 MAGIC GRANT is one of two in the field not nominated to the TC. In terms of a minor share he worth taking a stab with. He is lighter than others as noted leading into this Southwest (G3) though was on an improving pattern at the time. While he lacks early speed, he was taken in hand and off the pace, something that did him no favors and unable to get himself position and race on the day will return with a rider change as the local connections take another swing.