Perfect Ant Cap

Welcome to Oklahoma, where this week’s feature is the Perfect Ant Cap for 2-year-olds, at one mile on the main track. A field of five will go to the post for a purse of $65,000.

Koorawatha is the only maiden in the field, but he is the 7/5 favorite on the strength of his debut race, in which he finished second by a head and earned an 84 speed figure. With a pedigree loaded with Derby winners, the distance shouldn’t pose a problem, but facing winners for the first time is always a challenge.

Theoretically Ted broke his maiden first time out at 5 ½ furlongs, and followed that up with a fifth-place performance in the Alnaab Avenger Special. That wasn’t a terrible performance, but he will probably need to improve today to get the win. A son of Derby winner Grindstone and a Theatrical mare, he probably will not mind the extra distance.

Viognier looked good breaking his maiden at a mile last time out. I would give the edge to others who have already faced winners, but this is a well-bred colt (his dam is a multiple stakes winner) with a lot of potential.

Obnoxious probably deserves to be the favorite based on his performance in the G3 Montana Futurity. In that race, he closed from last and was beaten less than two lengths for all the money. He will be stretching out to a route for the first time, but his pedigree suggests that won’t be a problem. He is by Fusaichi Pegasus and a half-brother to multiple G1 winner Echoes.

Karem’s Bait Shop makes his second stakes appearance after finishing second in the  6 ½ furlong Paris Naskra Challenge. He was making up ground late in that race, and is eligible to improve with the added distance. He is by hot sire Giant’s Causeway and a half to two stakes horses.

Good luck to all!