Race shape could suit Epicurean's new running style

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Epicurean employed new tactics in her most recent start, and that come-from-behind style could come in handy Friday when she faces a number of speed horses in the sixth race Oaklawn Park.

The $50,000 starter allowance is for fillies and mares at six furlongs, and it’s one of the top offerings on a potluck kind of card.

The featured eighth race is a first-level allowance for Arkansas-breds over 1 1/16 miles. It carries an optional $20,000 claiming price that’s being used by possible favorite Smarty Grimes. The ninth race is a $40,000 starter allowance at the same distance that drew a deep cast of nine older runners like Truculent, Catdaddy, Fort Peck, and Spa City.

Epicurean enters the sixth race off a runner-up finish in a $30,000 starter allowance at this same distance March 25. She was beaten a length, one start after setting the pace and finishing second by a neck in a $20,000 conditioned claiming sprint here March 6.

“She showed a whole different dimension last time,” trainer Bentley Combs said. “She kind of stumbled out of the blocks. She seemed to be a filly who had done her best running on the lead, but when she stumbled, she showed a different dimension. She settled, came running at the end, and galloped out good after the race.”

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It was Epicurean’s first start for Combs after she was claimed by Ten Strike Racing on March 6.

“She’s pretty straightforward,” Combs said. “She truly loves her job.”

Geovanni Franco has the mount from post 4 in the field of seven Friday.

Epicurean could get a decent setup behind such quick rivals as Nisi Prius, Sapphire Royalty, Stanley Market, and Essential Bella.

In the eighth race, Smarty Grimes will get good support as a five-time winner facing less-experienced rivals. Topf Road Rules was a maiden special weight winner three starts ago and is returning to the distance of that score. He’s looking for the second win of his career, as is Bellamys Roan.

In the finale, Truculent will start as a top contender after finishing second and third in his two starts at this same starter-allowance level this meet at Oaklawn. He also is shortening up a tad to the distance over which he earned his best career Beyer Speed Figure, a 91. Francisco Arrieta has the mount from post 3 for trainer John Cox.

Truculent has shown speed in his recent races and figures to again be prominent. Bourbon Frontier and Lastchanceatglory, who are both drawn to Truculent’s inside, also could show speed. Spa City, whose last two wins have come from off the pace, could get the right setup. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount for trainer Tom Amoss.