Oaklawn H.

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A strong California influence will be present in the $500,000 Oaklawn H. (G2)

on Saturday, with Grade 1 winners BUZZARDS BAY (Marco Bay), TIAGO

(Pleasant Tap) and HEATSEEKER (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) shipping in for this

lucrative event, but we'll look elsewhere for our winner.

Grade 1 hero CIRCULAR QUAY (Thunder Gulch) showed a new dimension with

blinkers in the New Orleans H. (G2), and we were quite impressed when he stared

favored Grasshopper (Dixie Union) in the eye down the lane and never relented.

The Todd Pletcher trainee didn't show much on the turf or a synthetic oval leading

up to his Fair Grounds win, but he was much improved back on the dirt and has

trained well in anticipation of this. We love the fact that John Velazquez gave

up various top mounts to ride this colt, and we see him as the one to beat.

Tiago has had some trouble in his recent efforts, and we're excited to see the

two-time Grade 1 star back on the dirt surface for John Shirreffs. The bay

four-year-old is void of early speed and will need some help to set up his

sustained late run, but he should complete the exacta with his best. Mike Smith

retains the mount on the bay, who smoked a five-furlong bullet in preparation

for

this contest.

FAIRBANKS (Giant's Causeway) was a strong second in the Gulfstream Park H.

(G2) most recently and looms a big threat in here as Pletcher's second entrant.

The Grade 2-winning five-year-old is one of the quicker gate horses in a race

lacking early zip, and if he is allowed to dictate a tepid early pace, he could

prove to be a tough customer in the stretch. Ramon Dominguez will guide the bay.

REPORTING FOR DUTY (Deputy Commander) is as honest as they come and will sit

in last prior to making one run entering the lane for Steve Asmussen. The

four-year-old colt always fires and although he may not be good enough to topple

this bunch, there's little question that he is an exotics threat due to his

consistency. Shaun Bridgmohan has the call. SILVER LORD (Unbridled's Song) owns

terrific early speed and has been good versus lesser,

but he would need a career best to come out on top in here. The talented

five-year-old could benefit if the pace is dawdling and hang around for a piece. 

Heatseeker, winner of the recent Santa Anita H. (G1), has moved his game up a

considerable amount since the winter and will make his dirt debut on this day

for Jerry Hollendorfer. The chestnut has a sharp turn of foot, on synthetic, but

he's too much of a question mark in this heat while toting 119 pounds. Rafael

Bejarano will be in the irons.

Buzzards Bay, who captured this race in 2006, has posted just two wins since

and is in questionable form entering this race for Ron Ellis. The six-year-old

chestnut has good tactical speed and is well drawn on the inside, but he's still

hard to back due to his inconsistencies. Jose Valdivia Jr. has the assignment.