Oaklawn H.

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday's $500,000 Oaklawn H. (G2) will feature a field of seven, and the

nine-furlong event could provide IT'S A BIRD (Birdonthewire) with his second

graded win. The Marty Wolfson trainee opened the year with a rallying, close-up

sixth in the one-mile Hal's Hope H. (G3) and then successfully stretched out to

Saturday's distance when dominating the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream

Park by 5 1/4 lengths. The six-year-old dark bay dueled with the leader in the

New Orleans H. (G2) most recently and had enough left to hold third over a

sloppy, sealed surface at Fair Grounds. While Oaklawn Park has been receiving

rain showers the past few days, the weather is supposed to clear and the track

should be dry. That could be all It's a Bird needs to fly home under Julien

Leparoux.

HONEST MAN (Unbridled's Song) never seemed to get a good grip of the

rain-soaked track in the New Orleans, eventually finishing eighth. Prior to that

one, though, the Larry Jones charge was an easy 4 1/4-length winner of the

Mineshaft H. (G3). The dark bay earned a career-best 105 BRIS Speed rating for

that victory, and he posted a sharp five-furlong move at Oaklawn on Tuesday in

preparation for this one. Honest Man is an honest runner who could find himself

in the winner's circle yet again with Gabriel Saez aboard.

JONESBORO (Sefapiano) hasn't shown much of late, but the Randy Morse runner

is an Oaklawn specialist who's racked up a 4-2-1 line from 12 starts at the Hot

Springs, Arkansas, venue. He finished second in his seasonal bow at the track,

but fell back to sixth after running close to the early pace in the Razorback H.

(G3) last out. Despite that, the seven-year-old chestnut should not be

discounted when running at Oaklawn, which is why we're tabbing him for the

bottom of the exotics. Calvin Borel will be back in the saddle.

SECRET GETAWAY (Skip Away) could jump up in a big way in this spot. The

four-year-old didn't do so well when running near the rear in the Mineshaft two

back, eventually finishing fifth. However, he set the pace in the New Orleans

last out and was just caught by the winner on the line to finish second. That

race proved the chestnut's talent, and it wouldn't surprise us if the Michael

Stidham runner led all the way home here. Clifton Berry picks up the mount.

CATMANTOO (Vision and Verse) put in a good rally to take third in the

Razorback last out, but he only earned a 98 Speed rating. That may not be enough

for him to claim a top-three placing in this field. PROM SHOES (Include)

captured the Essex H. two back but, like Catmantoo, might have to settle with

just picking up a check. RUNFORTHEDOE (Brz) (Our Emblem) might need less ground

to be more effective.