Count Fleet Sprint Headlines Arkansas Derby Undercard

By Rick Francis —-

OAKLAWN PARK

Race 11) 6 Furlongs. Count Fleet Sprint H. Grade III. Purse $500,000 THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Post Time: 7:05/( 6:05)/ 5:05/ 4:05

It’s the “rubber-match” between racing’s speediest veterans (2) Whitmore and (6) C Z Rocket. Winner of 2020’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Whitmore was caught in the final strides of the Hot Springs by ‘Rocket, a winner of five of his previous six starts. With both geldings coming from off the ace, a contested early pace could make it 1-2 again, however should a head-to-head come earlier than expected look for a last out winner in (4) Strike Power to catch lightning and both late; add (1) No Parole for exotics.

Selections: 2, 6, 4, 1

Race 6) 6 Furlongs. Carousel S. Purse $250,000 FILLIES AND MARES, FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Post Time: 3:55/( 2:55)/ 1:55/12:55

4) Frank’s Rockette – rebounded sharply off her disastrous BC Sprint effort by taking the American Beauty here in textbook fashion wearing down her opponents over a very muddy course. Geroux stays aboard so look for a stalking trip once again.

6) Casual – 4-year-old out of Curlin returns to her favorite distance where she’s 2-for-2. Filly had a terrible trip in the slop yet stayed on for second; trainer/jock tandem here, 29 percent.

1) Wildwood’s Beauty – though winless here and in her last ten starts, mare out of Kantharos always finds a spot on the board as she’s placed twice and finished third in her three Oaklawn starts.

5) Edgeway – daughter of Competitive Edge exits a strong win at Santa Anita posting the field’s highest last out speed figure; Rosario up.

Selections: 4, 6, 1, 5

Race 9) 1 Mile. Oaklawn Mile S. Purse $400,000 FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Post Time: 5:49/( 4:49)/ 3:49/ 2:49

6) By My Standards – makes 1st start of 2021; multiple graded stakes winner in 2020, 5-year-old out of Goldencents last two to end the year were well beaten efforts. He’s a proven commodity off the bench so look a strong showing.

3) Wells Bayou – Lookin At Lucky colt was bumped around at the break in last and finished third in the G3 Louisiana at Fair Grounds. Colt owns a first and second in three Oaklawn starts.

4) Rushie – winner of the 2020 Grade 2 Pat Day Mile, was a well beaten seventh in the BC Dirt Mile last November. Colt out of Liam’s Map is another that can fire off poor efforts.

9) The Sound – Hard Spun colt will go to the front and they’ll have to catch him.

Selections: 6, 3, 4, 9