Oaklawn Park Race 5: Post: 2:22 PM CT Grade: B+
Top Selection/Prime Play: 1-St. Albans Raid
Forecast: St. Albans Raid displayed excellent speed in her debut over a one turn mile at Churchill Downs last month in a similar restricted maiden affair before gradually weakening in the final furlong to wind up a respectable fifth while having every right to need the outing. She should be much fitter today, and from her favorable rail post the daughter of Global Campaign projects to be the controlling speed in a race that seems likely to have soft early splits. If she can shake loose early she could get very brave, so at 5-1 on the morning line she offers reasonable value on the tote and in the various rolling exotics.
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Turfway Park Race 7: Post: 8:55 ET Grade: B+
Top Selection/Prime Play: 4-Hard Circle
Forecast: In his first try over an all-weather surface, Hard Circle appears to have found a proper spot to earn his diploma after two solid outings on grass, first when a sharp third at Kentucky Downs in September and then most recently in a third place effort in a turf sprint last month at Aqueduct. In between those races he was unplaced when overmatched in the Laurel Futurity on dirt at Laurel but under these conditions – and with a repeat of either one of his grass races – the son of Hard Spun can graduate. The M. Maker-trained juvenile has a decided edge on speed figures and from where he’s drawn should draft into an ideal pace-stalking position, so let’s make him a gamble at or near his morning line of 3-1.
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