Top three or four picks per race represent newspaper handicapper's projected order of finish, with other horses listed in post-position order. Morning line represents track's projection of win-pool odds at post time.
First race, 1:05 p.m.: Purse $20,000, 4-year-olds and up, claiming $6,250, six furlongs.
9. Serious Talk (Contreras/Asmussen) 5-2, 116
6. Nobadeer (Morales/Ortiz) 8-1, xx-109
2. Cowboy U Know (Cabrera/Don Von Hemel) 7-2, 119
12. Peonari (McMahon/Villafranco) 20-1, 116
1. Sky Wonder (Luzzi/DiVito) 10-1, 116
3. Only Liquor (Felix/Mason) 8-1, 116
4. Include Indycat (Gazader/Vance) 15-1, 116
5. Valid Nick (Wethey/Dixon) 20-1, 116
7. Flummox (Thompson/Morse) 5-1, 116
8. Macanao (Prescott/G. Garcia) 15-1, 116
10. Stranglehold (St. Julien/Barkley) 20-1, 116
11. My Expectations (Loveberry/Milligan) 20-1, 116
AE-13. Wicked Rascal (St. Julien/Caldwell) 15-1, 116
AE-14. Why Smile (Wethey/Young) 15-1, 119
Serious Talk claimed for $5,000 last out at Remington by eight-time Oaklawn training champion Asmussen for Maggi Moss. Plenty of back class. Nobadeer won here at previous bottom-level $5K tag off four-month layoff last March for Kelly Ackerman. Rested three months for this and now with Ortiz, who wins with 16 percent of his first-race claims. Cowboy U Know plunges from $15K for Don Von Hemel, but win here is worth $12K and claim would net trainer an $18,500 payday. Nothing wrong with that. Peonari hasn't sprinted lately, but Villafranco wins 29 percent with first-time claims and 22 percent when going from route to sprint. Ignore at your own risk.
Second race, 1:35 p.m.: Purse $35,000, 4-year-olds and up, claiming $20,000, 1 1/16 miles (*ineligible to be claimed).
4 (4) Roma Road (Parker/Calhoun) 5-1, 117
8 (9) Treasury Bill (Sanjur/Contreras) 15-1, 117
9 (10) More On Tap (Contreras/Asmussen) 3-1, 117
6 (6) Gizmo Jones (Cabrera/McKnight) 10-1, 117
1 (1) a-*Match Up (Maldonado/Diodoro) 7-2, 117
2 (2) Spider's Alibi (McMahon/Villafranco) 10-1, 117
3 (3) Fusaichi Flame (Gazader/Broberg) 6-1, 117
5 (5) Repent With Me (Court/Shorter) 10-1, 117
7 (7) Salsa's Return (Thompson/Morse) 5-1, 117
1a (8) a-*Vanderbilt Beach (Cohen/Diodoro) 7-2, 117
Roma Road well spotted after some strong efforts at Remington against slightly better but needs to outrun rail horse Match Up for lead. Treasury Bill, deep closer, has finished second or third in 16 of 36 career starts. More On Tap fits bill as contender because just about everything Asmussen puts on track merits respect. Needs good trip from 9 hole. Gizmo Jones has won four of seven, all on synthetic surface at Canada's Woodbine Racecourse. Trainer McKnight's 32-percent win rate is strong endorsement, but let's take a wait-and-see approach with his horses as they adapt to Hot Springs dirt. Salsa's Return is worth a look if scratched from Race 4 Friday.
Third race, 2:08 p.m.: Purse $29,000, 4-year-olds and up, non-winners of two races, claiming $30,000, six furlongs.
8. Gotta Curlin (Contreras/C. Hartman) 6-1, 119
2. Sutton Impact (Cohen/Diodoro) 7-2, 119
9. Rockin Rudy (Canchari/O'Neill) 5-2, 119
5. Oso Ready (De La Cruz/B. Cox) 5-1, 119
1. Sing Him a Song (Morales/Puhl) 8-1, xx-112
3. It Is Devaju (Hill/Ortiz) 15-1, 119
4. Tiz too Much (Parker/Broberg) 12-1, 122
6. Mutajaded (Gazader/Peitz) 10-1, 122
7. Entertainer (Cabrera/Moquett) 6-1, 119
Gotta Curlin shortens to six furlongs after maiden victory in slop at Gulfstream Park West. Good stalking speed, well spotted. Sutton Impact goes back short after showing good speed vs. allowance company at Churchill in November. Rockin Rudy, a Southern California shipper for O'Neill, has speed. Note his 12th-place finish in last year's Arkansas Derby. Oso Ready exits fast race at this class level two months ago at Churchill. Raucous early pace likely but might sit just off lead.
Fourth race, 2:38 p.m.: Purse $24,000, 4-year-olds and up, non-winners of a race since Sept. 13, claiming $12,500, six furlongs.
10. Googleado (Maldonado/Morse) 7-2, 119
3. Cougar Country (Conteras/Villafranco) 8-1, 117
8. Pistone Steel (Morales/Puhl) 20-1, xx-110
11. Cash Bonus (Cohen/Diodoro) 5-2, 117
1. Or Sunday (Sanjur/Cristel) 12-1, 117
2. Mucho Macho Dan (De La Cruz/Stuart) 10-1, 119
4. Silverdollardreams (Prescott/G. Garcia) 20-1, 119
5. Academy Bay (Parker/Caldwell) 15-1, 119
6. Vacanza (Cabrera/Ortiz) 8-1, 117
7. Wildcat Shoals (St. Julien/Chleborad) 12-1, 117
9. Dion (Canchari/T. Martin) 12-1, 119
12. Dr. Clark (McMahon/Mason) 10-1, 117
AE-13. Jackie Blu (Cabrera/Broberg) 12-1, 117
AE-14. Warcraft (De La Cruz/Contreras) 8-1, 122
Googleado tired after setting rapid fractions vs $20K claimers but can win from just off pace for Morse, who wins 15 percent with second off-the-claim entrants. Cougar Country, making first start for Villafranco, has beaten tougher. Pistone Steel has back class to pull off monster upset if one is wiilling to throw out his five most recent starts, all accompanied by legitimate excuse. Cash Bonus drops off claim for Diodoro, who has to be hoping that gelding doesn't repeat his most recent Oaklawn effort last spring when he broke in tangle and unseated his rider.
Fifth race, 3:08 p.m.: Purse $76,000, 3-year-olds, non-winners of a race other than maiden, claiming, starter or restricted OR non-winners of two races, allowance/x-claiming $62,500, one mile.
4. Kingsville (L. Quinonez/Pish) 5-1, 117
3. Bravazo (Stevens/Lukas) 7-2, 117
5. Dream Baby Dream (Contreras/Asmussen) 7-2, 114
8. P R Radio Star (Felix/Swearingen) 6-1, 117
1. Ezmosh (Court/B. Cox) 5-2, 117
2. x-Papa Caliente (Birzer/Campbell) 20-1, 117
6. x-Schoenhardt (Canchari/T. Van Berg) 20-1, 117
7. x-Major Brown (Parker/Whitelaw) 15-1, 117
9. Soul P Say (Loveberry/Milligan) 12-1, 117
Kingsville exits third-place finish in Remington's Springboard Mile, which has produced countless early-season winners at Oaklawn. Bravazo, stakes placed at Keeneland and Churchill, gets Stevens up for Lukas, thus should draw plenty of support. Throw out last-out clunker in Grade 2 race at Churchill. Dream Baby Dream tries two turns for Asmussen, who wins 17 percent with horses making their first start routing. P R Radio Star has speed to steal this for Swearingen -- don't dismiss.
Sixth race, 3:39 p.m.: Purse $23,000, 4-year-olds and up who have started for a claiming price of $8,000 or less in 2017, starter allowance, 1 1/16 miles.
3. Story Onthe Street (Cabrera/Gladd) 7-2, 122
6. Indy Awesome (Contreras/Villafranco) 5-2, 117
7. Ucanthankmelater (Cohen/Diodoro) 6-1, 117
9. Early Bid (L. Quinonez/Peek) 12-1, 117
1. Poddubny (Perez/Haran) 20-1, 117
2. Light Bound Bid (McMahon/Loy) 12-1, 114
4. Colony Strike (Morales/Ortiz) 12-1, xx-110
5. Glitnir (Court/Hiles) 5-1, 119
8. The Rouge Diesel (St. Julien/Hall) 8-1, 122
10. Summer King (Canchari/T. Martin) 15-1, 117
11. Can't Remember (De La Cruz/Kordenbrock) 15-1, 117
12. Misdeed (Luzzi/Silva) 10-1, 119
AE-13. Star Dog (Morales/T. Van Berg) 12-1, xx-110
AE-14. Crooked as Can Be (Thompson/B. Martin) 10-1, 117
Story Onthe Street has won four in a row and looks capable of extending streak. Indy Awesome, now with Villafranco, won at this level here last April for Broberg. Ucanthankmelater, now with Diodoro, is a West Coast shipper who always came up a little short for previous trainer. Early Bid is deep closer who shouldn't be adversely affected by outside post.
Seventh race, 4:09 p.m.: Purse $76,000, 3-year-olds, non-winners of a race other than maiden, claiming, starter or restricted OR non-winners of two races, allowance/x-claiming $62,500, one mile.
9. New York Central (Stevens/Asmussen) 6-5, 117
2. Lone Rock (Thompson/Van Meter) 4-1, 117
4. Five Man Wolf (Hill/K. Von Hemel) 9-2, 117
1. Higher Power (Cabrera/D.K. Von Hemel) 6-1, 117
3. True Loyalty (Canchari/DiVito) 12-1, 117
5. Catdaddy (B. McNeil/Petalino) 20-1, 117
6. x-Sidneyway (Wethey/Prather) 30-1, 117
7. Speedy Fellar (Parker/Pish) 12-1, 117
8. Sidney's Ransom (Sarvis/Gorder) 15-1, 117
New York Central, Tapit colt who sold for $750K as yearling, boasts Stevens-Asmussen connections but must overcome outside post in first attempt beyond six furlongs. Lone Rock exits second-place finish at this level for Van Meter and could spring mild upset with ground-saving trip. Five Man Wolf scored visually impressive Churchill maiden victory Nov. 22 when he circled field and won by 4 for $50K tag. This is a tougher test. Higher Power moves up after maiden score at Remington for Donnie K.
Eighth race, 4:38 p.m.: Purse $125,000, Pippin, fillies and mares 4-year-olds and up, 1 1/16 miles.
5. Streamline (Stevens/Williamson) 7-2, 122
8. Ever So Clever (Contreras/Asmussen) 6-1, 122
3. Terra Promessa (Santana/Asmussen) 8-5, 122
2. Farrell (Hill/Catalano) 3-1, 122
1. Rachel's Temper (Maldonado/Walsh) 15-1, 115
4. Impasse (Cohen/Lukas) 30-1, 119
6. Mo's M V P (A. Garcia/Campbell) 30-1, 119
7. Ruby Sioux (Cabrera/D.K. Von Hemel) 30-1, 115
9. Bootsy's Girl (McMahon/Jurado) 30-1, 119
10. Miner's Cat (Court/LoPresti) 15-1, 115
11. Someday Soon (Thompson/Van Meter) 15-1, 119
Streamline has earned $532K and never finished out of money in eight career starts over track. Stevens lands mount. Ever So Clever might go off at higher odds than stablemate in her 4-year-old debut. Never disregard the second Asmussen horse. Terra Promessa won this race last year, but don't take short odds on her. Farrell has speed to bother likely favorite and must gun it early with other speed to her outside.
Ninth race, 5:09 p.m.: Purse $75,000, maiden 3-year-olds, six furlongs.
6. Freakin Joe (Hill/Ortiz) 4-1, 120
4. Transgress (Stevens/Lukas) 9-2, 120
7. Mitole (Contreras/Asmussen) 7-2, 120
5. Augie (Court/Compton) 10-1, 120
1. Sharp Money (Felix/Mason) 120
2. Pryor (Cohen/Moquett) 120
3. Greeley Can Win (Morales/G. Thomas) xx-113
8. Uncle Pappy (Thompson/Morse) 120
9. D'oros Ruler (Canchari/Anderson) 120
10. Gettin Even (Pompell//Holthus) 8-1, 120
11. Bodie Tap (Gazader/Peitz) 5-1, 120
12. Komrad (Cabrera/Moquett) 15-1, 120
Freakin Joe well supported in Nov. 17 Churchill debut when third despite slow start and wide trip. Transgress, second in June debut, has 10 listed works since Oct. 25, four earning fastest-of-the-morning "bullet." Mitole has every reason to improve off third-place finish in Nov. 25 Fair Grounds debut. Augie cuts back, gets blinkers in second start for Compton. Watch board for clues on newcomers Sharp Money, D'Oro's Ruler and Bodie Tap.
Stable coupling: Match Up, Vanderbilt Beach, second race.
Blinkers on: Ruby Sioux, eighth race. Augie, Uncle Pappy, ninth race.
Arkansas-bred horses in open company: Light Bound Bid, sixth race.
First start since reported as gelding: Tiz Too Much, third race.
First-time bleeder medication: Sharp Money, D'oros Ruler, Bodie Tap, ninth race.
Simulcast schedule: Gulfstream Park, 11 a.m. Aqueduct Race Course, 11:20 a.m. Laurel Park, 11:30 a.m. Tampa Bay Downs, 11:35 a.m. Fair Grounds, 1 p.m. Santa Anita Park, 2:30 p.m. Golden Gate Fields, 2:45 p.m. Penn National, 5 p.m. Turfway Park, 5:15 p.m. Delta Downs and Gulf greyhounds, 6 p.m. Derby Lane greyhounds, 6:30 p.m. Southland Greyhound Park, 7:30 p.m. Los Alamitos quarter horses, 8 p.m. (Gates open 11 a.m. Gaming center open 10 a.m.-6 a.m.)
Sports on 01/13/2018