Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Mary Rampellini handicaps the Thursday, February 26 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: Scot’s Law (8th race)
Eighth Race
1. Scot’s Law
2. Actis
3. Sticker Shock
SCOT’S LAW is returning to the overnight ranks after the stakes-placing last out. Note the winner and runner-up were both entered back in the Honeybee for Sunday at Oaklawn. This one is a half-sister to Scottish Lassie, a multiple Grade 1 winner of $735K. ACTIS has a strong foundation of route races under her belt, and she is the fourth stakes winner produced by her dam. STICKER SHOCK is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Fighting Mad ($472K). This one meets winners for the first time, but owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. 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 Thursday’s Oaklawn Park card.
First Race
1. Boat Song
2. Unload
3. Midnight Majesty
Oaklawn moves into Rebel Week on Thursday, with the $1M prep for the Kentucky Derby to be run on Sunday. In the opener, BOAT SONG gives up recency to these, but he tends to run well off the bench and hails from a barn that excels with its layoff prospects. UNLOAD ran a credible third on the cutback to one turn last out. MIDNIGHT MAJESTY exits a quick race against a win machine.
Second Race
1. Windy Bay
2. Talkin in Cursive
3. Edistrudis
WINDY BAY hooked a quality kind of winner last out, with that one returning to score Saturday at Oaklawn. TALKIN IN CURSIVE is appealing for her tactical speed. EDISTRUDIS has moved forward with each of her starts at the meet.
Third Race
1. Misinformation
2. Herbs Bolt
3. Horse of the Sea
MISINFORMATION appears to be a runner who can be effective from both on and off the pace. He’s a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Hot Fudge ($577K). HERBS BOLT is well-versed at this mile and a sixteenth trip. The winner of the race he exits is entered in the Fountain of Youth on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. On a pedigree point, HERBS BOLT is a half-brother to stakes winner Wendelssohn ($488K). HORSE OF THE SEA – who has a beautiful name – owns the field’s co-highest last-race Beyer Speed Figure. WESTERN WARRIOR is a half-brother to Blazing Sevens, winner of the Grade 1 Champagne and runner-up in the Preakness.
Fourth Race
1. Thea
2. Bamtwentyklater
3. Catching Heat
THEA was fourth last out to a quality kind of winner, one who has been entered back in an overnight stakes that runs later this week at Oaklawn. BAMTWENTYKLATER is back on dirt following the promising turf start and she is proven on the main track. Since the start on the grass, she’s turned a bullet five-eighths in 1:00. CATCHING HEAT ran a big race off the bench last out, when second to a winner who came back one race later and accounted for a ratings handicap at Hou with a Beyer of 69.
Fifth Race
1. Bigwrigdude
2. Gimme a Chance
3. Southfork
BIGWRIGDUDE might go from 185-1 last out to favorite in this spot as the owner of the field’s best last-race, and career, Beyer Speed Figure. Further, the race he exits has become a key race. The third-place finisher came back in his next start to account for 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. GIMME A CHANCE faced open foes last time in a race that went faster than par. SOUTHFORK has speed in an asset that might help keep him up out of trouble in this large field.
Sixth Race
1. Lolo Le Plume
2. Floating Beauty
3. Kerry’s Kiss
The stakes-placed LOLO LE PLUME ran a credible third off the bench, with the winner of that race returning in her next start to take the Grade 3 La Canada at SA, with a Beyer of 83. The stakes-placed FLOATING BEAUTY was second to a quality kind of winner last out, with that one entered back in an overnight stakes for later this week at Oaklawn. The stakes-placed KERRY’S KISS can make an impact with a repeat of her effort from two back at Oaklawn. On a pedigree point, LOBBY RENDEZVOUS is from a multiple stakes-winning mare who ran out $441K.
Seventh Race
1. My Gun’s Loaded
2. Helene’s Power
3. Bet the Gray
MY GUN’S LOADED is a February foal who hooked a quick crowd last out, with the winner coming back to take the Dixie Belle at OP with a Beyer of 84 and the third-place finisher, a maiden allowance at OP, with a Beyer of 73. The latter is entered back in the Honeybee on Sunday at Oaklawn. HELENE’S POWER is a consistent performer who owns some of the field’s best Beyer Speed Figures. BET THE GRAY has moved forward with each of her starts. On a few pedigree points, MAJESTIC MOON is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Eight Rings ($474K) and BRIENZ is a half-sister to stakes winner Miss Justify ($398K) and FRAUD ALERT is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Wyatt’s Town ($236K).
Ninth Race
1. Paris Accord
2. Air Castle
3. Ghost Money
PARIS ACCORD was prominent over a laboring kind of surface last out and did well to hold second. She has the look of a runner on the improve. AIR CASTLE brings good racing experience to the table. GHOST MONEY was well-regarded last out in her career debut.
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