After a couple of days at Parx, we head out to Arkansas and Oaklawn Park for today’s race of the day. Here we have older horses in race seven of an eight race card. A field of seven horses will go a mile and a sixteenth in this optional claiming race.
Favored in today’s race is the 7 Gun Runner Charlie (9/5 morning line). He draws the outside for today’s race, but with this smaller field, that shouldn’t be too much of an issue approaching the first turn. He likes to be forwardly placed and should be able to get over towards the rail as they approach the first turn here. There is some speed to the inside here though this afternoon.
That horse is the 3 Number One Dude (8/1 ML). He flattened out late in an allowance race in the slop here last month. The off track may or may not have been the issue, but the winner of that race last month, Publisher, won a stakes race here last week. The big question is which horse gets the lead here today or do the two potential speed horses duel into the first turn and into the backstretch?
The 4 American Promise (4/1 ML) races for the first time since last year’s Preakness Stakes. This is the first time he has run since the barn change after the passing of D. Wayne Lukas. He has had constant works since he returned to training February and has fired a few bullets in preparation for today. He does look like his best races have been near the front where he ran his best races.
The 5 First Division (2/1 ML) was nailed at the wire at the end of February here at Oaklawn Park. He is a closer and looks like a horse that could be coming on the outside here today. He was bumped in the stretch but still closed impressively last out.
Joe’s Pick
I think that American Promise is going to take some money here today because some handicappers will see that this horse ran in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness against the likes of Sovereignty and Journalism, who both should be returning to the races soon. If he gets bet, monetarily that might be a good thing for me.
I like First Division here in this race. He should get the setup here this afternoon that he can repeat his closing dash in the stretch like he did last time out. He got the setup last time out and was caught. Also with the help of the full stretch instead of the short stretch of the mile run, he will get the job done here this afternoon.
I’m calling this race 5-7-3-4 and my play is $20 to win on the 5. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
