Upset pick in Fantasy among Friday’s Late Pick 5 thoughts at Oaklawn

Stellar Wind’s return in the $600,000 Apple Blossom (G1) highlights the penultimate program of the 2017 Oaklawn Park meet. The John Sadler-trained mare towers over five rivals and I’m looking forward to seeing future match-ups against Songbird, who is now back in serious training after recording her work last week.

The Apple Blossom doesn’t offer much appeal from a wagering perspective but the 12-horse Fantasy (G3) before it does. My top choice, Ever So Clever, is 20-1 on the morning line.

Here are my thoughts on today’s Late Pick 5 (races 6-10):

Race 6: Tabbing #8 Battle Tap (6-1 morning line) to make it two straight. 4yo colt showed promise as a juvenile but something went amiss last year as he ran poorly in four starts. He’s turned things around this year at Oaklawn, with back-to-back solid efforts, and will make his second start off the claim for Paul Holthus. I will also use #3 King Ptolemy, #9 Sabrena’s Bling, #11 Flowers for Lisa and #12 Solve as back-ups.

Race 7: #9 Providence (5-1) appears poised to graduate for Steve Asmussen. The 4yo adds blinkers to keep better focus and should be close from the start. The Morse-trained entry of #1 Lawton and #1A Hooroo, #4 Main Road and #8 Divine Shift will be added to the equation.

Race 8, Fantasy: Upset pick with #12 Ever So Clever, who turned in a sneaky effort finishing fifth in the Honeybee (G3) last out. Medaglia d’Oro filly placed in a pair of stakes last fall, finishing second in the Pocahontas (G2) and third in the Golden Rod (G2), but fell out of favor when opening this year with a dud in the Martha Washington. Ever So Clever appears headed back in the right direction for Asmussen, offering a nice middle move last time into contention and while she came up a little short, dark bay could put it all together today. #3 Benner Island and #10 Spooky Woods will also be used.

Race 9, Apple Blossom: Stellar Wind is a single on all tickets.

Race 10: I will look to close out the Late Pick 5 with the following trio: #1 Philoctetes, #6 Langdarma and #12 Dan the Go to Man.

50-cent Pick 5 tickets (Races 6-10)

I am leveraging my opinions with Battle Tap, Providence and Ever So Clever, singling each once. Here are the 50-cent Late Pick 5 tickets I’m playing for $63:

3,8,9,11,12 with 1,4,8 with 12 with 3 with 1,6,12 ($22.50)

3,8,9,11,12 with 9 with 3,10,12 with 3 with 1,6,12 ($22.50)

8 with 1,4,8,9 with 3,10,12 with 3 with 1,6,12 ($18)

Good luck!