Saturday January 18, 2013

Please double check all program numbers prior to wagering

Oaklawn   Race 4,   5 1/2 furlongs  Claiming $20,000 (3:38 ET)

Best Value Play: #6 Lee’s South (10/1)

Most Likely Winner: #8 Lake Creek (2/1)

Other Contenders: #3 Rocket Professor (7/2), #4 Taproot (5/2)

 Analysis: Lake Creek ships in from Okie land after win and drops a little to boot. Hard knocking gelding may be tough to beat. Rocket Professor comes from the Windy City with a Chicago and a Chicago jockey, and has an impressive resume. Taproot runs second time a after a rest and won his last wit ha trainer everyone fears, plus gets a red hot pilot. Lee’s South faced very tough runners at Remington Park, drops in class, keeps his regular rider and has shown a past affection for Hot Springs.

 PARX  Race 9,   6 furlongs  Allowance 1X (6:09 ET)

Best Value Play: #3 Call Me Kelly (12/1)

Most Likely Winner: #6 Titletown Five (2/1)

Other Contenders: #1 Valdina Saint (3/1) #4 Masaru (8/1)

 Analysis: Titletown Five is trained by the most well known trainer of the past three decades and he was on the Triple Crown Trail last year. Valdina Spirit slips in from the Big Easy sporting blinkers and has been the chalk every time he stepped from the gate. Masaru runs for the winningest trainer of the last few years, broke his maiden at Churchill, which is a huge plus and seems to have prepped well. Call Me Kelley is a well rested off the pace threat that has run well in Southern California.