Oaklawn Saturday Selection: Bachelor Stakes

By Rick Francis —-

Oaklawn Park

Race 9) Bachelor Stakes 3YO 6 Furlongs Post Time 4:45 CDT

1) Little Menace (Asmussen/Elliott); had the perfect setup in the Gazebo last month just didn’t have enough late. He needs a quicker pace and with most of the Gazebo combatants returning from that contest look for the same pace scenario.

2) Beau Oxy (Robertson/Canchari); loved the FG’s two back winning by 14, hated the Gazebo losing by 11; only in deep super wagers.

3) Echo Town (Asmussen/Santana), Speightstown colt has improved in each of his three starts highlighted last out in driving fashion over the Hot Springs slop; unlike stablemate, this pace sets up perfectly for him.

4) Ginobili (Baltas/Cohen); battled possible Arkansas Derby favorite Nadal to the line in the Grade 2 San Vicente, however in his first trip outside of California he came up empty facing OC’s here earlier this month; the “quick” turnaround works here don’t overlook.

5) Lykan (Mason/Baze); Congrats colt makes his 11th career start and has hit the board in all five starts at the distance; after double-digit odds in his previous starts, he was bet down to 3-1 in the Gazebo and finished third, he returns to double-digits here and unlikely to show against these.

6) Liam’s Pride (O’Neill/Garcia); fast tracks and he’s money here,forecast calls for dry and fast.

7) Eight Rings (Baffert/Rosario); winner of the Grade 1 American Pharoah prompted the early pace in the BC Juvenile but tired late to finish well back. Baffert is or at near 30 percent with all conditioning angles in play here but the one I like the best is the distance cutback for his return to the races.

8) Sir Rick (Diodoro/Mojica); broke alertly in the Oaklawn Stakes and stayed to close to the front, but when hitting the top of the stretch he came to a stop; that doesn’t bode well in this.

9) Long Weekend (Amoss/Talamo); frontrunning colt by Majesticperfection has won 3-of-4 two straight; took the Gazebo in hand and like this post position to keep him mid-track throughout.

Selections: 9, 7, 3,(1-6)