THURSDAY,
FEBRUARY 4
SPOT PLAYS
OAKLAWN
Race 4
#9 Niles
Channel
Plus play exacta box w/ #7 Rock Ridge
#9 Niles Channel has been
knocking on the door in all of the recent races at different tracks including
Remington, Churchill, and last time out here at Oaklawn. Stretches out to a
two-turn route today and has run well at a mile before with a pair of runner-up
finishes in three prior tries. Fell too far behind last time after a bad start,
but still ran a solid race and earned a good speed figure. Can beat these with
a better start.
Play in
exacta box with #7 Rock Ridge, who finished second twice in a row at Delta
Downs in the last two outings and now takes the big maiden dropdown from maiden
special weights in versus maiden claimers for the first time. Shows a great
improving pattern with the speed figures increasing and increasing in every
outing. Shows up for top local connections, trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey
Ricardo Santana, which are Oaklawn’s deadliest trainer/jockey combo.
Race 9
#3 Wicked Flashback
Winner of
back-to-back races at Remington in the last two outings, and only seems to be
getting better in every start. Went wire to wire and won by big easy margins
that indicate she should have no trouble extending the winning streak today.
Speed figures beat these, and she has the speed to go wire-to-wire with the
same jockey on board that has already won twice aboard this horse.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4
OAKLAWN
RACE 1
1 – #4 Thornish 2-1
2 – #3 Trophy Daddy 9-2
3 – #1 Arlington’s Shine 6-1
RACE 2
1 – #2 Cashanova 4-1
2 – #4 Shortlist 5-2
3 – #6 Hard to Be Good 4-1
RACE 3
1 – #2 Weast Hill 5-2
2 – #3 Heisfancy 4-1
3 – #4 Heritage Park 5-1
RACE 4
2 – #9 Niles Channel 5-2
2 – #7 Rock Ridge 7-2
3 – #2 Englander 7-2
RACE 5
1 – #3 Competitive Fire 9-2
2 – #6 Unburnt 20-1
3 – #5 Hopping Jitterbug 9-2
RACE 6
1 – #3 Dryspell 3-1
2 – #6 Axis 6-1
3 – #1 Kickin’ Kirby 8-1
RACE 7
1 – #2 Snapper Sinclair 6-5
2 – #6 Plainsman 5-2
3 – #5 Lord Dragon 6-1
RACE 8
1 – #2 French Empire 8-1
2 – #4 Bye Bye J 3-1
3 – #5 Headland 5-1
RACE 9
1 – #3 Wicked Flashback 5-2 Best Bet
2 – #2 Tiger Bait 8-1
3 – #4 Midnight Karma 8-1
4 – #10 Ms. Malevolence 7-2
