The $200,000 Tinsel on Saturday at Oaklawn Park could be a breakthrough race for Speed Bias. He has a good chance to secure his first stakes win after finishing third by a neck in the Grade 2 Fayette in October at Keeneland and second by a nose in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special in May. “He’s been close a couple of times already,” said Ron Moquett, who trains Speed Bias. “I think it’s definitely on the horizon for him.” Speed Bias is part of a field of seven in the Tinsel, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. The group includes Grade 2 winner Double Crown, triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure earner Strong Quality, and the useful 3-year-old Denington. Speed Bias contested the pace in the Fayette, which was run over 1 1/8 miles. For his effort, he earned a Beyer of 94. Speed Bias on Saturday will break from post 4 under Ramon Vazquez. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. “He ran very hard and ran very well in the Fayette,” Moquett said. “He’s usually pretty close to the front end and we’re going to let Ramon dictate the pace however he wants.” Strong Quality, who popped a Beyer of 100 for a nine-length allowance win on Nov. 18 at Churchill Downs, will start from post 2 under Florent Geroux. He is quite quick and could show the way with Speed Bias getting an ideal tracking trip. If Speed Bias were to nail down his first stakes win, it would be particularly sweet for owners William Sparks and Keith F. Johnston. “Mr. Sparks is a graduate of the University of Arkansas and his partner is from Montana and this is their favorite track,” Moquett said. “So, they want to try to do well here.” Denington is moving back to two turns after winning a mile allowance at Churchill in a sharp 1:34.83, which earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95. Julien Leparoux has the mount for trainer Kenny McPeek. The 10-race card also includes four allowance offerings. They begin in race 3 with a two-other-than allowance sprint for fillies and mares that drew representatives of six different state breeding programs from Arkansas to New York. Back to Ohio is an 8-for-9 runner who was bred in Ohio. Leeloo exits off a runner-up finish in the Iroquois in her home state of New York. Lover Girl is a stakes winner who was bred in Minnesota and Chandana was bred in Indiana. Summer Shoes and Connie K are stakes winners racing in their home state. The race also drew horses bred in Kentucky. Runaway Jack will be going for his fifth straight win when he starts in the fourth race, a two-other-than allowance for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs. Walker’s Win, who once won six in a row, and Super Ocho, who was sixth in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, also are in the field. The eighth race drew last season’s Advent winner, Count de Monet. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.