Kant Believe It has plenty in her favor

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Kant Believe It will have several key variables working in her favor Friday when she moves into a ratings handicap for the featured ninth race at Oaklawn Park.

The 5 1/2-furlong sprint is for older fillies and mares and carries a purse of $80,000. The field of seven includes Dream Concert, who makes her first local start after racing on the East Coast, and Anakarina, who has been running in overnight stakes here.

Kant Believe It is appealing on class as she last raced in a local stakes, finishing fourth in the $150,000 Poinsettia on Dec. 21. She shows some forward works for her first start since the Doubledown Stables for trainer Jimmy DiVito and will be looking for her third win over the Oaklawn surface.

“She’s likes that racetrack,” DiVito said. “And I like the five and a half distance. That’s a good distance for her. She’s got good speed.”

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DiVito added he prefers a fast track for Kant Believe It. There was rain locally on Wednesday morning, but the forecast was free of precipitation for Friday. Temperatures could climb as high as 70 degrees.

“I hope the track stays fast,” DiVito said. “I don’t think she’s quite as effective on an off track.”

Kant Believe It drew post 5, which positions her outside of one of her primary pace rivals in Anakarina, who starts from post 3. Jockey Ramon Vazquez, who entered the week with a two-win lead in the standings at Oaklawn, has the mount on Kant Believe It.

“I hope she’s right on the pace, or on the lead, if she breaks well,” DiVito said. “She usually breaks good. That’s her game, getting up there close to the lead.”

Vazquez has been aboard Kant Believe It for her two Oaklawn wins, both in allowance sprints. Overall, the mare is a four-time winner. She is the second-leading earner in Friday’s field with a bankroll of $396,776.

Demidanu leads all entrants in earnings with $502,876. She can take advantage if Anakarina, Kant Believe It, and Lady Aberdeen carve out some hot fractions Friday. Rafael Bejarano has the mount from post 4 for trainer Dewaine Loy.

Dream Concert ships in from Fair Grounds. She will be making her first start since last June when she was fifth to Majestic Oops in the Lady’s Secret at Monmouth Park. Last weekend, Majestic Oops won the Grade 2 Azeri at Oaklawn.

Dream Concert, who in recent times has been racing at distances ranging from seven furlongs to 1 1/16 miles, could make her case from off the pace when she breaks from post 2 under Cristian Torres.

Anakarina will be looking for her first local win after running third and seventh in a pair of overnight stakes won by the sharp Foie Gras. Anakarina will be shortening up slightly in distance from six furlongs and her speed should serve her well on the turnback.

Manny Esquivel has the mount for trainer Dallas Stewart. Anakarina is a half-sister to $1.5 million earner Hoist the Gold.

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