Unlike the Kentucky Derby, which could easily produce a chalk result, this Kentucky Oaks looks to me like a potentially rewarding betting race. With no strong group at the top to overwhelm everyone else in the field, there are some price horses who have very live shots in this Oaks.
The ease and speed of his wins made American Pharoah the acknowledged favorite for the Kentucky Derby this Saturday, and he certainly solidified that position on Sunday morning at Churchill Downs with final workout that was both fast and seemingly effortless.
LINDISFARNE (#4, ML 3-1) was impressive winning twice at Laurel Park for Rudy Rodriguez after being imported from Northern California. Her work tab shows she has been kept in steady training since her last start Jan. 29, and she should come back running off the freshening at a fair price. Lake Sebago, who was second to Lindisfarne in the $100,000 Marshua Stakes at Laurel, is a talented filly. PAULASSILVERLINING (#5, ML 2-1) is strictly the horse to beat here and will be a short-priced favorite.
Puntrooskie (#10, ML 12-1) will return to action in Sunday's eighth race at Woodbine, the six-furlong Jacques Cartier Stakes. It will be his first start since a second-place finish by one length in a six-furlong optional claimer March 15 at Gulfstream Park. The first-, third-, and sixth-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts.
Suances Dream (#6, ML 12-1) takes on six in Sunday's fifth race at Golden Gate, the one-mile Silky Sullivan Stakes ran on turf. Since Jan. 1, 2014, trainer John Martin is winning at a 31 percent clip in turf races, for a return on investment of $2.27.
Ivan James dominated the Grade 2, $621,100 Sam Houston Futurity for Quarter Horses on Saturday night, when he led throughout for a 1 1/4- length win over This Is A Deal.
Heavily favored I'm Workin On It remained undefeated by winning her stakes debut in Saturday night's $75,000 Goldfinch at Prairie Meadows.
Successfully stalking from off the pace, Stormdriver swept to the front turning for home and drew strongly clear to capture the $60,000 John Henry Stakes on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs.
Prospector’s Blues couldn’t handle Jungle Java on turf but returning to dirt got the 3-year-old gelding back to form and he turned the tables Saturday by capturing the $48,676 Gene Fleming Breeders’ Derby at Turf Paradise.
Domethatagain sat a perfect trip and scored a 7/1 upset in the George Morton Levy Final at Yonkers Raceway.
