Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Mary Rampellini handicaps the Friday, February 27 racing card at Oaklawn Park, including her projected 1-2-3 finishers. Her best bet of the day comes from Race 8.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Nerazurri (8th race)
Eighth Race
1. Nerazurri
2. Gowells Delight
3. Seraphia
The company line NERAZURRI brings into the Trivista overnight stakes is a gem, as she was second last out to champion Nitrogen. GOWELLS DELIGHT is a multiple Grade 2-placed runner coming off a clear win over the local strip. SERAPHIA brings some ascending Beyer Speed Figures into the Trivista. More on each of the entrants in the Closer Looks feature in Daily Racing Form.
Here are Mary’s thoughts on the other eight races on Friday’s Oaklawn Park card.
First Race
1. Open Flame
2. Only After Midnite
3. Avery County
Rebel Week continues at Oaklawn, which is building up to Sunday’s $1M stakes with a number of notable races. The feature for Friday’s card is an overnight stakes that drew some quality fillies and mares. In the opener, OPEN FLAME figures to make good use of the added real estate she picks up on the move from seven furlongs to a mile and a sixteenth. The race she ran in last time was a two-turn configuration at Delta Downs. ONLY AFTER MIDNITE exits a key race. The winner came back to take a $10K conditioned claimer at SA with a Beyer of 60 and the fourth-place finisher, a $10K maiden claimer at TuP, with a Beyer of 38. AVERY COUNTY makes the move to two turns with a supportive pedigree. Another who fits is CLOSDATGATE.
Second Race
1. Time Andbeyond
2. Personal Jet
3. Max Dot Socks
TIME ANDBEYOND was beaten just a length for everything last out when closing from 11th for second in his first start since October. PERSONAL JET meets winners for the first time, but owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. MAX DOT SOCKS has moved forward with each of his starts off the layoff. More than capable.
Third Race
1. Grand Oracle
2. Amentum
3. Lower Broadway
GRAND ORACLE ran a credible fourth off the bench last time and the race has since become a key one. The third-place finisher returned to take a $30K maiden claimer at OP with a Beyer of 70 and the seventh-place finisher, a $12.5K maiden claimer at OP, with a Beyer of 68. AMENTUM is back sprinting on the main track, site of his best recent finish. LOWER BROADWAY is another turnback prospect. His best recent Beyer Speed Figures have come at one turn.
Fourth Race
1. Forty Love
2. Sexagenarian
3. Aerate
FORTY LOVE is a consistent performer who has been a popular claim among stables. SEXAGENARIAN puts the blinkers back on and his maiden win came in the equipment. AERATE split the field off the bench last time and can move forward in his second start since November.
Fifth Race
1. Red Hot Jeanie
2. Balladry
3. Collected Glory
RED HOT JEANIE makes her first start since October for barn that both excels with its layoff prospects – and is in the midst of a strong meet at Oaklawn. BALLADRY was second the last time she ran for this price. COLLECTED GLORY forms a strong entry with RIOBELLA.
Sixth Race
1. Big Red Machine
2. Amazing Amanda
3. Synoptic
BIG RED MACHINE ran a credible third last out in her first start against winners and looks like a logical choice back. AMAZING AMANDA has been a consistent sort as a rule. SYNOPTIC makes her first start against winners after winning by a literal post last out.
Seventh Race
1. Kelly’s Girl
2. Coaster
3. Beautiful Twice
KELLY’S GIRL was third to a quality kind of winner last out and for the effort earned what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. This one has speed and a post that might give Carmona options. COASTER has represented herself well against a series of notable runners. BEAUTIFUL TWICE has the speed to hold her position from the rail. The winner she hooked last time is a three-time stakes winner against Oklahoma-breds. This one’s dam, meanwhile, was a stakes winner of $260K.
Ninth Race
1. Patton’s Tizzy
2. String Theory
3. Burlsworth
PATTON’S TIZZY has speed and a post that might give Mendoza options. STRING THEORY is a popular claim who might be sitting on a peak race in the third start of his form cycle. BURLSWORTH gives up recency to these, but has speed and owns some competitive Beyer Speed Figures.
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