Raintree Starlet the one to catch in feature

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Raintree Starlet has proven to be a good gate horse, and if she gets the break in Friday’s featured ninth race at Oaklawn Park, she has a chance to control the pace.

“She’ll be on the lead and if not, very close to it,” trainer Robertino Diodoro said.

Raintree Starlet is part of a six-horse field for a $35,000 starter allowance for fillies and mares over six furlongs. The purse is $50,000. It’s one of three starter allowances on the 10-race program.

Raintree Starlet faces opposing speed Friday in Cherished, Sandy Sangria, and Jennemily, who is cutting back from two turns. However, they all could be chasing Raintree Starlet. She has broken on top in her last four starts, and her most recent was a tour-de-force performance. Raintree Starlet was quickly up by two lengths and went on to win the $20,000 waiver-claiming sprint in hand by 8 3/4 lengths on Feb. 11 at Oaklawn.

“Big race,” Diodoro said. “She’s a mare that’s gotten good right now, and when mares get good they can be dangerous.”

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Raintree Starlet earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 89. It was a career-best number for her, and it’s the best last-race number in the field Friday. She will break from post 2 under Ramon Vazquez, who has the mount for M and M Racing.

Raintree Starlet, 5, is a three-time winner over the Oaklawn surface, with one of those victories coming in the Dixie Belle Stakes at 3. The daughter of Get Stormy added blinkers last out and will be making her second start in the equipment and her second start since Nov. 1.

Diodoro also will saddle Cherished, who is making her second out since Dec. 4. She was prominent in her comeback race March 18 and finished fifth behind Ocean Breeze, who was winning her second straight allowance at the meet. Cherished has registered her last two wins on the lead. Francisco Arrieta has the mount from the rail for Flying P Stable.

Sandy Sangria could get a tracking trip behind Raintree Starlet and Cherished, who are both situated to her inside. She will break from post 3 under Luis Quinonez.

Jennemily set the pace over 1 1/16 miles last out and finished sixth to a multiple stakes winner. She is now back racing at one turn. David Cabrera has the mount from post 5.