By Joe Quillen
Friday 2/9/24 – Oaklawn Race 9
Let’s head to the Southwest for today’s Quills Picks Winners as we head out to Oaklawn Park for their ninth race. The penultimate race on their card is a optional claiming event that is going one mile on the main track. Post time is projected for 5:50 pm ET.
The lukewarm favorite for today’s race is the 5 Masqueparade (3/1 morning line). He didn’t show much last year going 0 for 5 with only one on the board finish. I’m going to try to beat him here today.
The 1 Commandperformance (5/1 ML) shortened up from a mile and 3/16 race where he was bounced around and then was wide around the track. He drops some and should have a nice trip along the rail.
The 3 Major Blue (9/2 ML) could be on the lead here as he does have superior speed here. It’s possible he could lead this all the way around, but the problem is that he’s going around two turns for the first time since last summer.
The 9 B Dawk (6/2 ML) ran for the first time in a year in December at six furlongs and didn’t show much. He’s going back around two turns here and should like the added distance today.
The 8 Osbourne (7/2 ML) has only run around two turns twice, finishing second in the Springboard Mile at Remington a couple of years ago. This is a rare route race for him as he comes back down to an optional claimer. I expect him to be a few lengths behind the leaders.
I’m tempted to play B Dawk here since I think this horse is named for Eagles Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins. At least I think so because Brian Dawkins did appear at Parx a couple of years ago when the horse ran in the PA Derby. I’ll say that Major Blue gets caught at the end by Commandperformance, I’ll call this 1-3-9-8, and my play is $20 to win on the 1. Good luck everyone, and I’ll catch you next time with another Quills Picks Winners.
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