Scully: Oaklawn Spot Plays for Feb. 28-March 1

A big weekend awaits horseplayers at Oaklawn Park. Kentucky Derby prospects will square off in Sunday’s main event, the $1 million Rebel (G2), and I have spot plays for both Saturday and Sunday cards at the Hot Springs, Ark., track.

Saturday, Race 7

#1 Hero’s Medal (8-1) returned from a layoff with a pair of improved efforts and projects to be up close from the start in a race lacking pace. His best efforts have come when he’s able to race within striking range, including a nose second two back, and Hero’s Medal appears to be facing a soft group for the level. I like his chances in the third start back.

Saturday, Race 9

The short-priced runners on the morning line appear vulnerable, and I expect a strong showing from #7 Exosome (10-1) in his third start this season. After breaking his maiden at Keeneland last October, the Candy Ride colt returned from a freshening in the Lecomte (G3) and missed the break, rallying to be a decent sixth. I won’t count the last on Turfway’s synthetic track against him – Exosome ran into the beast Lockstocknpharoah, who looks like a future stakes winner for Tommy Drury after winning his first two starts by 10+ lengths. Kelsey Danner adds blinkers and wheels Exosome right back three weeks later.

Saturday, Race 10, Razorback (G3) 

No easy return spot for Magnitude, who was forced to miss the Saudi Cup (G1) in mid-February and does his best running on the front end. He must deal with the in-form No What’s New to his immediate inside, and I will tab Magnitude’s stablemate, #1 Tap Into This (4-1), for an upset A late-blooming gray son of Tapit, Tap Into This needed six starts before breaking his maiden last July, and the four-year-old colt has now won four of the last five outings. He’s registered triple-digit BRIS Late Pace ratings in the last four, registering Speed numbers as high as 103, and Tap Into This may receive a favorable setup.

Sunday, Race 9, Honeybee (G3)

#6 Search Party (9-2) showed flashes but kept disappointing backers early in her career, losing the first four starts, including twice as the favorite, but she turned things around at Oaklawn. The Mark Casse-trained daughter of Gun Runner stylishly recorded her first win, graduating by a six-length margin, and showed courage overcoming a rough trip to prevail in the Martha Washington S. on Feb. 6. None of the three-year-old fillies are running fast at this stage, and Search Party projects to keep posting bigger numbers as she continues to progress this spring. 

Sunday, Race 10

A frontrunning neck second in his December career debut, #9 Baby Vino (15-1) got caught in a wicked pace battle when returning on Feb. 6; the race completely fell apart in the stretch, and there won’t be anywhere near the same early tempo this afternoon. The Vino Rosso colt is bred to appreciate added ground, and with a favorable pace scenario projected, Baby Vino rates top billing on the front end. 

Sunday, Race 11, Rebel (G2)

#7 Silent Tactic (9-2) was shuffled back to last on the backstretch and experienced a troubled trip when making his first dirt start in the Smarty Jones S. on Jan. 3, rallying well to be a clear second. The late runner didn’t receive an ideal setup behind a moderate pace in the Feb. 6 Southwest (G3), but it didn’t matter, as Silent Tactic blew past the pack to win going away by more than three lengths. Like stablemate Search Party, Silent Tactic is discovering his best form presently for Casse, and I expect the colt to keep showing more in the Rebel.