We head to the southwest and to Oaklawn Park for today’s featured race. Today, we have older fillies and mares sprinting six furlongs. The weather should not be an issue for today’s race, or any of the races on their card this afternoon.
Oaklawn Race 9 – Allowance/Optional Claiming
The 5 Mischievous Gal is the 5/2 morning line favorite in today’s featured race. She is second race off of a layoff after winning last month here at Oaklawn going six furlongs as well. This five-year-old mare returned after an almost three-month break to win going away. She did lug in a little bit at the eighth pole, but you could argue that the longshot that finished second lugged out as well. Nonetheless, she will be dangerous here again today.
The 7 Midshipman’s Dance comes in after a three-month layoff after not showing much in the Seneca Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs. She returns to Oaklawn where she won her first two races at this distance. She will enjoy the cutback to one turn here as going two turns might be a bit too much for her. If she runs like she did last season here at Oaklawn, look out!
The 6 Pharoah’s Heart (4/1 ML) returned last month here at Oaklawn after being on the sidelines for almost a year. She definitely needed that race last month and returns today at the same distance. She looks like she could be lone speed here today if she wants to go for the lead. But she was slow out of the gate last time out so let’s see if that gets corrected today.
The 8 Backyard Money (5/1 ML) chased the leader last time out and tired last month here at Oaklawn. She has raced well in the past here so bouncing back can happen here today. There isn’t that much speed in this race, so there is a chance she could he near the front today and finish the job.
Joe’s Pick
I am going to take a swing at the fences here today. Mischievous Gal will be tough to beat, but Midshipman’s Dance is going back to sprinting here today which I think will help her immensely. I’m going to take here with a longshot play here in today’s feature.
Let’s call this race 7-5-6-8 and my play is $20 to win on the 7. Best of luck everyone and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
QPW Update Desk
Saturday’s Also Eligible will feature two Road to the Kentucky Derby races as well as the precursor to the Florida leg of that road. At Aqueduct we have the Jerome Stakes which features McAfee, a brother to my pick for horse of the year Thorpedo Anna.
At Oaklawn, we have eight entered for the Smarty Jones, which is the start of the Arkansas Road to the Kentucky Derby. Hot Property and Kale’s Angel are the two favorites in that race.
Though not a Kentucky Derby prep race, we will also look at the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Nine horses are entered for the one-turn, one mile race which may lead to some of these horses onto Florida’s leg to the Kentucky Derby.