Handicapping Friday: Grade III Fantasy Stakes, Gardenia & Arkansas Breeders’ Championship

By Rick Francis —-

OAKLAWN PARK

Race 7) 1&1/16th Mile. Arkansas Breeders’ Championship S. Purse $165,000
Post Time: 5:06/( 4:06)/ 3:06/ 2:06 ADVANCED FORECAST: Sunny, High 81, Low 61

3) K J’s Nobility (Borel/Borel); 6-year-old has won 3-of-4nd hasn’t missed a board finish in a year. Makes his 15th Oaklawn start of which he’s won 6 along with a second and two thirds; primed for the stretch out.

11) Man in the Cn (Moquett/Rosario); 3-year-old has won two of his three career starts highlighted by his Rainbow win here in mid-April. First attempt at the distance but the late kick shown in his two wins puts him squarely in the win mix.

4) Hamazing Vision (Diodoro/Baze); makes third start of the year; two wins here and at today’s route; trainer is a hot 23 percent at the meet.

2) Souixper Charger (Peitz/Garcia); exits a gate-to-wire score here last month and has an Oaklawn record of 5 2-1-1

Selections: 3, 11, 4, 2

Race 8) 1&1/16th Mile. Gardenia S. Purse $80,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLD FILLIES

6) Quick Decision (Jones/Thompson); Istan filly is a perfect 2-for-2; class and distance test awaits. When Larry Jones starts a last out winner, 30 percent.

2) Piece of My Heart (Robertson/Talamo); Flat Out filly has won 2-of-3 her last a determined effort to hold off foes in deep stretch; jock Joe Talamo has been on a stakes roll of late.

7) Strong Flag (Asmussen/Santana); was coming on late to the aforementioned but wasn’t going to catch her; Asmussen is solid in these spots as one would think but only going to use underneath.

9) Ice Princess (Gargan/Carmouche); cross-entered in the Fantasy but look for her stay as her last two wins at Aqueduct fit this track and spot.

Selections: 6, 2, 7, 9

Race 9) 1&1/16 Mile. Fantasy S. Grade III. Purse $400,000 FILLIES, THREE YEAR OLDS.
Post Time: 6:09/( 5:09)/ 4:09/ 3:09

10) British Idiom (Cox/Castellano); BC Juvenile Filly champion raced wide throughout to place in the G2 Rachel Alexandra last February; rested and ready for trainer Brad Cox, Flashback filly’s next start will be as favorite in the Kentucky Oaks.

7) Shedareshtedevil(Cox/Rosario); awesome effort in the G3 Honeybee here in March as Joe Talamo split foes deep in the stretch for the win; Cox exacta.

3) Swiss Skydiver (McPeek/Hernandez, B.); stole the Gulfstream Park Oaks when 11 rivals allowed her to set soft fractions; if you should see a TV interview with Kenny McPeek and he likes this girl’s chances, run to the ‘windows”.

14 (Alta’s Award (Asmussen/Santana); game in the Honeybee to place, post doesn’t do her any favors early but things open up late.

Selections: 10, 7, 3, 14