Race 3:
Forever Liesl (#4)
Michelle Nevin gets an 84 Trainer Rating with horses coming off layoffs of this type.
Faced some solid competition last year at Laurel.
Figures to offer better value than the favorite Smile Big, who has been aided by track biases recently.
3-1 on ML
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Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 4:56 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs 

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Race 2:
California Night (#3)
Ran a competitive speed figure in his debut that was validated by runner-up Holland Park’s subsequent efforts.
Could control the early pace on the front end as fellow stretch-outs Go Get the Munny and Gleason are likely to stalk.
Is bred to stretch out in distance, being by 18 percent route sire Midnight Lute and out of a Malibu Moon mare.
5-1 on ML

Turfway Park | Race 10 | Post Time 6 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs 

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Aqueduct | Race 5 | Post Time 3:23 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

That’s the last time we will mention our top gimmick Pick Ironwood, whose performance last week was hardly encouraging. On the other hand, our other gimmick Pick, Ruler of the Nile, buried the field with a $2.60 payoff, so he at least saved part of the day. He was one of 10 BreezeFigs maidens to score last week, and as a handicapping insight we note that eight of them were either Group 1 or Group 2 horses. The other nine winners came at Aqueduct, Fair Grounds, Gulfstream (three), Oaklawn, Santa Anita, Tampa Bay and Will Rogers.

A filly who seems to be blossoming into a hillside specialist may prove your linchpin in Saturday’s early pick five (races 1-5) at Santa Anita

Race 1

Oaklawn Park | Race 10 | Post Time 7:09 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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The Pick 5 on this terrific 12-race card begins with a one-mile optional claimer that could set up for JINGLE ME THIS (1) or entrymate INGADORE (1A), if Gladtobehere presses the favored NORMANDY CROSSING (5) up front. Will also use the latter, a six-time winner on the Polytrack, who’s riding the wave of a two-race win streak.

Saturday
Oaklawn Park
Pick-4, races 7-10

This pick-4 to close out the terrific Rebel Day card at Oaklawn looks tricky at best and impossible at worst, but I’ll give it a gallant try by riding the Brad Cox wave, using only his two Steve Landers-owned contenders in the Essex (R8) and building a ticket around them.