Pick 4 Preview: Oaklawn Park Fantasy Stakes – April 10, 2013

A great week of racing at Oaklawn Park starts on Wednesday with the 41^st running of the Grade 3 Fantasy stakes for three-year-old fillies.  The eight and one-half furlong race drew a field of seven with Rose to Gold the expected heavy favorite.  Rose to Gold comes off a dominant win in the Grade 3 Honeybee, the local prep, and can stamp herself as another contender in this year’s Kentucky Oaks.  Marathon Lady, Hung the Moon and Manuka Honey will be chasing the favorite home.

With the short-priced favorite in the Fantasy let’s take a look at the late pick-4, which starts with three-year-old claimers in race six.

Tensaw could start favored, but he may be up against it pace wise and is worth trying to beat.  Statehood is 10-1 and looks to be inside speed with the only other possible pace pressure coming from Don’tgetmestarted in post 10.  Lac Seul’s Dream fits as does Doctor Ross.

Distinct Affair looks for the hat trick to begin his career in race seven and is one of four two-time winners in the race.  Silver Strike has won two as has Badge of Glory and Flower Spell.  Badge of Glory is a 30-1 long shot, but Flower Spell has a shot from the outside gate.  The race does have a bit of pace so expect good runs from Queen Negwer and Franks Officer Gal.

Things don’t get any easier in the finale with a full field of nine and six runners between 7-2 and 10-1 on the morning line.  Inca Miss, Bwana Babe, Baby Wildcat, Missippi Martini and Belle Muse are the preferred five, but use as many as can be afforded.