The voice of Oaklawn Park joins the crew and shares how he went from the backside to the booth and just about everything in between. Vic tells us why Oaklawn is great for handicappers and not to pay too much attention to the morning line odds.
Vic also puts on his handicapping hat and puts out some great 4-1-1 on the Honeybee Stakes, Rebel Stakes and an Allowance Optional Claiming race to close Saturday’s Oaklawn card.
Oaklawn Park Picks and Commentary
Terry “Hollywood” Hay’s Handicapping
Oaklawn Park Race 5 – $300,000 HONEYBEE STAKES – GRADE III
2 – Yuugiri has finished in the money three out of three races during her career, winning one of the races. She ran 2nd in last race the Golden Rod Grade 2 race and received the highest last race speed rating. She has the best dirt speed among today’s starters (tie).
3 – Secret Oath won her last race at Oaklawn easily her second in a row. Her best dirt speed is fastest among today’s starters (tie) with Yuugiri and has a good 4F workout on 18Feb OP 4f ft :48 B 2/14.
4 – Ice Orchid won her maiden race at Oaklawn at today’s distance and the trainer wins 17% of the races when bringing the winner of their maiden win back to race. Trainer/Jockey combo in the last 14 days have won four out of six races.
1 – Optionality won three races in a row and then ran second defeated by Secret Oath. She has finished 100% of the time during her career winning three of her seven career races.
Oaklawn Park Race 11 – $1 M REBEL STAKES – GRADE II
2 – Newgrange has won three out of her three career races the last two were G3 affairs and has the highest last race speed rating. His best dirt speed is fastest among today’s starters, and he has a bullet 5F workout on 19Feb SA 5f ft :58.3 H 1/46.
9 – Barber Road ran second in his last two races and now changes to a high % winning jockey. The trainer in last 14 days has finished in the ten out of sixteen races, winning ten races. He has a good 4F workout on21Feb OP 4f ft :48 B 4/49.
8 – Chasing Time won his last race at Oaklawn easily at a mile and now stretches out to 1-1/16 miles He has a high % winning trainer and Jockey.
10 – Ethereal Road closed from deep to win his maiden race at Oaklawn. He is trained by master trainer D. Wayne Lukas who knows a thing about winning races.
Race 12 – $100,000 AOC
7 – Heritage Park – Ran 2nd in last race and dug in to only losing by just a neck and earned the highest last race speed rating. He likes Oaklawn finishing in the money 61% of the time, winning 31% of the races. He can handle the distance as won five out of twelve races.
12 – You Vee Cee has finished in the money in all three races he has competed in at Oaklawn winning one of the contests at today’s distance.
11 – Rolling Fork won two races at Oaklawn last spring at today’s distance. He last races in August and has been on a break since then but comes in with high % trainer and has a bullet workout on 16Feb OP 4f ft :47.1 Hg1/69.
10 – Navy Seal ran 2nd vs similar in last race at Oaklawn at today’s distance and has veteran jockey Calvin Borel in the irons. He has a good 4F workout on 19Feb OP 4f ft :48.4 B 9/89.
Race 5:
Play: $1.00 Exacta Box & $.50 Trifecta Box: Cost $24.00 – 1, 2, 3, 4….$6.00 Win # 2
Race 11:
Play: $1.00 Exacta Box & $.50 Trifecta Box: Cost $24.00 – 2, 8, 9, 10….$6.00 Win # 2
Race 12:
Play: $1.00 Exacta Box & $.50 Trifecta Box: Cost $24.00 – 7, 10, 11, 12….$6.00 Win # 7
Swiss Army Shawn’s Selections
Oaklawn Park Race 5 – $300,000 HONEYBEE STAKES – GRADE III
PACE PROJECTION: A small 6 horse field with a lot of talent and speed. The two inside horses #1 Optionality and #2 Yuugirl will try for the lead as well as #5 Free Like a Girl. The pace could really set up for the ML favorite #3 Secret Oath who likes to stalk from mid pack.
#3 Secret Oath- She has absolutely dominated since coming to Oaklawn. Winning both of races there by over a combined 15 lengths. She beat the 3rd ML choice in this race #1 Optionality by over 7 lengths last race. As far as pace wise to this race should be perfect for her. Half the field is speed that she will just stalk and go by when they are tired.
#4 Ice Orchid- Has gotten better each race as she has gotten more distance each time. The last race which was a win was at this same distance. Will be another that will benefit from all the speed in this race.
#2 Yuugirl- If one of the speed horses were going to get away and wire the field, I would predict it would be this one. I have two concerns the three-month layoff and never racing at Oaklawn although the workouts are good there.
Plays:
$20 win #3
$10 ex 3 /4
$2 Tri 2,3,4
Oaklawn Park Race 11 – $1 M REBEL STAKES – GRADE II
PACE PROJECTION: Looks to me like the two inside horses will be the main players for the early lead #1 Kavod and #2 Newgrange. The #2 Newgrange will be the one if they want him out there. Johhny V. will be smart about it and sit off the #1 if the pace is too fast.
#2 Newgrange- Has never lost and his Beyer number has improved each race. Has gotten extra distance each race now at the same 1 1/16 mile. Has won on and off the early lead. Beat a few of these same horses last race in the G3 Southwest.
#8 Chasing Time- Should be able to get a nice stalking trip in here. Has a win and a second at Oaklawn. Loved going a mile winning that race by almost 8 lengths now gets another 1/16. Crazy enough but this horse has been doing really well despite 5 races and 5 different jockeys. Saturday will make 6 different jockeys as Tyler Gaffalione gets aboard.
#11 Dash Attack- Won his first 2 starts and then last race the G3 southwest he didn’t run at all. Just ran even however he could be ready to go here. Look at those 2 workouts after that race both bullets which suggests he might be closer to the pace than before.
Plays:
$2 exbox 2,8,11
$1 tribox 2,8,11 $.50
Tri 2/4,5,7,8,11/4,5,7,8,11
Race 12 – $100,000 AOC
PACE PROJECTION: I could see as many as 4 horses try for the early lead here. #3 Goodnight Archie, #7 Heritage Park, #8 Mo Choctaw, and #12 You Vee Cee.
#4 Where’s Randy- Has closed well in all 3 of his races winning one and getting second in another. Will get plenty of pace to run at here. He’s had troubled trips in all 3 races as well and has overcome them for the most part. The workout since last race was very good as well. A cleaner trip or a little more pace in the beginning of the race will make this horse dangerous.
#12 You Vee Cee- This horse has enough speed to get good position from the outside. Doesn’t seem to need the lead which would be huge here as there is plenty of other speed signed on. 4 career races and has always finished in the trifecta. I see him doing it here again and being a contender for the win.
#11 Rolling Fork- Coming off a much-deserved break as this horse raced 9 times in a 6-month period. Has speed but can also close so can overcome whatever pace. Has been working out really well so I would expect this horse to be ready to fire right away.
Plays:
$18 win #4
$1 Exbox 4,11,12
$1 Tribox 4,11,12
22 to 1 Tom’s Tips
Oaklawn Park Race 5 – $300,000 HONEYBEE STAKES – GRADE III
4 – Ice Orchid
Maiden winner last time out as the favorite, did enough to win
Has been closing in first 2 races, then ran front last out
Hot trainer/jockey combo of 6 starts 4 wins
The time of the race was good and if ready to handle the step up, could surprise
3 – Secret Oath
.50 favorite last time, won by 7plus and could have been more
2 races over the track, 2 wins
Even works coming into this race
Only question mark for me is the off track but bred to like off surfaces
2 – Yuugirl
Coming off a layoff after 3 races at CD
Only a maiden winner but placed in grade 2 at this distance
In that race, they added blinks, it helped but not able to hold off the winner
Nothing special about it’s works but ok
Jockey switch to John Velazquez (Gaffalione is on the 1 horse)
Oaklawn Park Race 11 – $1 M REBEL STAKES – GRADE II
7 – Ben Diesel
Ran 3rd to top contender in this race and appeared to run a little “green”
Wants the lead, maybe? But since he’s maiden win, he’s drawn awful position positions 10, 13 and 1
Changed tactics from 2 races back, running towards the front and last out held back, made a move and then drifted
Works into this race are consistent with his previous work pattern
The ageless one rides again, Jon Court
2 – Newgrange
Won all his races including the grade 3 Southwest at OP
Look really good winning too
Good work coming into this race at SA
But, will he run on an off-track? Breeding says, maybe but more toward not liking it from the mare side
4 – Un Ojo
Came from the clouds last race to up for 2nd to Early Voting in a 1 1/8 race
Missed in a restricted NY bred race but was closer to the pace
Started racing at Keeneland, won at Delta (and ran 4th in minor stake race)
Because he’s NY bred, 500k restricted race was good
Last race, muddy track
He goes off at big odds here, if ready, he will be flying
Race 12 – $100,000 AOC
11 – Rolling Fork
Coming into this state bred race off a layoff, last raced in August at CT
Not the best of races either
Likes OP with 5 starts 2 wins 1 second 1 third
Great work of :47.1Hg – like to see a gate work like this
Could be on the frontend or back a little
Good efforts on off track
6 – Leo Del Reo
Ok run last out but didn’t finish
Never in the DD allowance race, looks like just a workout
Switch jockeys will help with ok post draw
Trainer has no wins (or placings) this season at OP but does have some interest with horse 3rd off layoff of 18% win. ITM 45% of the time with positive ROI (not big#)
Big price I assume here but this veteran has 23 starts 3 wins and 4 seconds
Faces state breds and it’s been a while
3 – Goodnight Archie
Placed 3rd last out being forwardly placed and caught losing 2nd
Could show speed but more likely lay off the pace
Jockey switch really helps to Ricardo Santana, Jr
If he runs a game effort, should be able to get up for an ITM finish
Rich’s Ranks
Oaklawn Park Race 5 – $300,000 HONEYBEE STAKES – GRADE III
3 – Secret Oath
4 – Ice Orchid
2 – Yuugiri
1 – Optionality
Oaklawn Park Race 11 – $1 M REBEL STAKES – GRADE II
2 – Newgrange
9 – Barber Road
8 – Chasing Time
4 – Un Ojo
Race 12 – $100,000 AOC
8 – Mo Choctaw
11 – Rolling Fork
12 – You Vee Cee
1 – Afleet Sky
