Maiden America Wednesday Horse Racing at Will Rogers Downs: RT picks the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th, all claimers

Maiden America 5.05.21

Hooptie Handicapper

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Happy Cinco de Mayo

Some quick looks at Will Rogers Downs today.

Race 2 - $7.5K Maiden Claimers

3yo↑ OK breds going 5.5f

#5 Oso Prieto (1/1) shipped in from Sam Houston, has a race over the track and is third off the layoff. Trainer/jockey combo is 5/3-1-0 and he has shown good early speed. He will likely wire this group and of course, the odds will be worse than the morning line. #8 Smooth Operator (5/1) returns to the distance that he had more success with before his last. This will be his third race in the last month, so he is rounding into form. Look for him to charge late. #6 Boot Camp Brad (4/1) is making his 4-year-old debut and is put in for workouts leading up to this. He gets second Lasix and trainer/jockey hitting at 26%. Betting win/place on #8 Smooth Operator makes the most sense to me from a price standpoint.

Race 3 - $15K Maiden Claiming

3yo’s↑ going one mile

Do you take Went at 1/1, who has lost 13 times previously and a 5% jockey in route races? Or, bet E Z Tapit at 6/5, who has 6 attempts to no avail? My answer? Neither. Go with the first time starter who has put in two terrific works recently. #1 Unbridled Glory (5/1), who just showed good early speed out of the gate on April 17, will get first Lasix, a shot at setting the pace and making this into a last furlong race.

Race 5 - $7.5K Maiden Claiming

Fillies and mares 3yo’s↑ racing 6 furlongs

#4 E Ticket Ride (1/1) did much better at a mile than six furlongs and is coming off an all-time high Equibase number, so I will back front runners, #2 Orphan Angie (12/1) a sophomore who is second off the layoff and #8 Mystery Star (8/5) with leading jockey Floyd Wethey in the irons.

Race 7 - $7.5K Maiden Claiming

Okie breds, 3 years old ↑ running six furlongs

Seven horses entered this, and it reminds me of the lyrics by Jackson Browne ‘you take Sarah, I take Sue, ain't no difference between the two.’ I will again look to the first time starter #1 Charlie Mo (5/2) who just ran a nice :47 workout. His mom had had two other foals and one of them won at first asking.

Happy Hunting 😊