I love to have an appetizer before dinner. A little something to get your hunger focused on big things to come. When I begin my handicapping process, I first take a look at the races and get a picture of who looks solid. After all the smoke has settled and I have determined my bankroll, I download the Winning Ponies E-Z Win Forms and go to work. – Think of this as your chips and salsa before the big steak arrives.

 

Oaklawn Park

 

Race #7 – The (G-2) Azeri Stakes – 1 1/16

 

#4 – Streamline (6-1) = This filly was a 1/2 length short of being 4-in-a-row with wins. She is 2/2 ITM at OP, and exits a red-hot pace scenario. This race sets up pretty salty and you can expect Chris Landeros to be in the second flight and get busy at the 3/16th’s pole.

#1 – Call Pat (3-1) = Same story as Streamline, but she’ll be farther back.

#7 – Untapable (1-1) = She is a beast, but hasn’t won since last April in the Apple Blossom, and been off since October 4, 2015. – Give her one. – The value won’t be there on this day.

 

Race #8 – The (G-3) Razorback Stakes – 1 1/16

#6 – Far Right (3-1) = Irad Ortiz in town from New York, and with the early foot in this race. – This runner will look like he was shot out of a cannon down the lane. – 3rd off the layoff, and is a perfect 5/5 ITM over the strip.

 

Race #10 – The (G-2) Rebel Stakes – 1 1/16

**** I’m looking for a very hot pace here, and there are a number of factors that point to extra credit for those who have raced over the surface. ****

 

#8 – American Dubai (12-1) = Landeros aboard this lightly raced son of E Dubai, and exits the (G-3) Southwest which has been lit up as a “key race.” – There will be handicappers who will dismiss him for the trainer who doesn’t have great stats. – You’ll want to use him in exotics.

 

#12 – Suddenbreakingnews (3-1) = This son of Mineshaft will love the hot fractions, and he is a perfect 6/6 ITM lifetime with a last to first victory in the (G-3) Southwest Stakes. – Very impressive last time out, and it is awfully hard to duplicate the “Silky Sullivan” move every time. He gets the far outside post, and if he overcomes this it may be the news of the day. – I like his style and it is great to see trainer Donnie Von Hemel with a real tough guy in his barn.

 

#10 – Whitmore (7-2) = The odds maker has this one right after he looked like a winner in the “key race” (G-3) Southwest Stakes. – Mike Smith is not in town, but they have a pretty good rider from New York named Irad Ortiz (21%). – Ortiz doesn’t travel for the spa for the food, he is in town for the cash. – This lightly raced gelding has come into his own in 2016. He had a troubled trip last out, and still looked good as gold at the 1/8th pole. As long as the track doesn’t come up sloppy he’ll relish the oval as he has been working more bullets than Jesse James has in his gun. – I am looking for him to be in the latter half of the second flight and tactically pick them apart. Smith would have made me happy, but I’ll take the young gun Ortiz any day. SBN will be flying, and Whitmore will pass American Dubai about the 3/16th’s pole.

 

There it is, a little appetizer to whet your whistle. – Now, take a look at these runners and print down the E-Z Win Forms to see where they stand in the field. – I always look to see where they fit, and Winning Ponies has the data to separate the pretenders from the contenders. – The easy to use data can be put to work by a first time handicapper or the hard-core player seeking value. – So, what are you waiting for ? – Be sure to download the E-Z Win Forms and follow the money. Think of this as a game sketch in the dirt with a stick when we were kids, as my final wagers will be based around the one-of-a-kind handicapping data from Winning Ponies. – Be sure to take a look at Gulfstream as they have plenty of great action, and California offers up great value. – Best of luck from your friends at Winning Ponies !