Before we look forward to two stakes Saturday, let’s look back and see what was learned last weekend.

Calculator ran right to his Beyer Speed Figures when he dominated the Sham Stakes. He may have been a maiden, but Calculator was a very distinguished maiden with ascending Beyers of 69, 77, 90, and 95 in four starts. That he was able to win with total ease and get a 97 in the Sham after being away from the races for 100 days is a rather strong hint that this colt might be a serious player in 2015.

There are a couple of tracks vying for the stakes spotlight Saturday, but we will give the nod to Fair Grounds, where the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte for 3-year-olds tops a card that includes four other stakes.

Gulfstream presents its Sunshine Millions program, so that card also is packed with stakes, ostensibly led by the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Classic. The headliner at Santa Anita is the Grade 2, $200,000 La Canada Stakes.

Lecomte Stakes

Killer Partner
Trainer: Mike Maker
Last race: Jan. 10, 11th
Finished: 2nd by 2
Beyer: 65
Turned in a promising career debut on turf; found herself in tough position between horses on the turn before finishing with good energy while on her left lead down the stretch.

For a major track in North America, Oaklawn is somewhat unique in that it does not have a turf course; all races are run on the one-mile dirt oval. Oaklawn’s winter meet features 10 graded stakes in 2015, and it draws many of the top trainers in the Midwest and beyond, with some of the biggest trainers sending runners to Oaklawn in advance of one of the biggest Kentucky Derby preps, the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

LOOKINGOUTFORYOU
Trainer: Bruce Levine
Last race: Jan. 11, 1st
Finish: 2nd by head (placed 1st)
Beyer: 78
Off a step slow and rushed up inside just behind the leaders on hold, raced in traffic while running greenly in the lane and being bothered late, and was placed first in $50,000 maiden sprint where he matched his initial 78 Beyer earned on a fast track. He was claimed by Repole Stable.

AIR OF ROYALTY
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Last race: Jan. 8, 7th
Finish: 3rd by 1/2
Beyer: 78
This front-runner/presser was compromised by hot fractions in this N2X turf sprint. She got the best of her pace foe, and then was swallowed late. Next time in a similar spot she can be gone. Connections may consider Sunshine Millions F&M Turf Sprint Jan. 24.

MISS BLISS
Trainer: Mike Puype
Last race: Jan. 9, 5th

Saturday, January 10

Gulfstream - Hal’s Hope (race 7)

COMMENT: Lea dazzled in this race last year and parlayed the win into a smashing win in the Grade 1 Donn last February. Then he got sick. Lea made his return on Saturday and proved a game winner, setting himself up for a title defense in the Donn. He was last early in a small field as Golden Lad and Valid dueled up front, had to wait behind horses while staying inside, had to wait further for room turning into the lane and seemed in trouble.

I'm fascinated by two horses that could wind up as overlays in the win pool. If the betting goes as expected, I will play both to win, and key them in exotics. I'm also slightly interested in a couple of longshots. While my opinion of these horses isn't as strong, I'll lightly stab at them.

Race 5

If you can beat Tiz Midnight in Sunday’s featured event at Santa Anita, I think there could be some value to be had in the late pick three. The sequence consists of races 7 through 9.

RACE 7

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A 50-cent pick four closes out the card at Gulfstream Park on Sunday, and with the modest minimum, the ticket can be played at levels that won’t deplete the wallet.

Regardless, let’s hope to fatten the wallet with a winning ticket. Here’s a look at the sequence, starting with race 8.

Race 8

Up first in a six-furlong dash for maiden claimers that looks wide open. So let’s go deep, using a number of horses and hoping to catch a price.