Big Race Preview 3168

Not to be overshadowed by the Sand Castle Races we have four more big G1 races this week, two on the dirt and two on the turf. Arkansas has their two big races of the year for older dirt colts and older dirt fillies and mares. Louisiana hosts a popular G1 affair and three year old fillies have a in New South Wales.

Race: 3168.0615 Orange Blossom – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Arkansas
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt

A field of thirteen take to the Arkansas track headed by Wild Chick and K’s Joan Bach. These are two very good mares that have been over shadowed a but by Armed With Money who is in Dubai this week. Wild Chick has eleven wins in eighteen starts with another five seconds. Only one time has she not hit the board. She has two wins in three starts this year and you only have to go back to December for her last G1 win. She ran a big one last time out, although it was in a listed stakes, earning a 109 speed figure winning by more than two lengths. She likes to stalk so will probably be mid pack early and with her consistency you know she will be there in the end.

K’s Joan Bach ran second to Armed With Money at the Breeder’s Bowl. She has five wins in her last seven starts with a couple of G1 wins in there. She took some time off and made her five year old debut in an open allowance last time out. She ran third there and probably needed that race. Look for her to return to top form here.

Master and Command (IRE) is one of those runners that has shown the ability to run that huge speed figure at times. She posted back to back 111-speed figures not too many races back and is fresh off a listed stakes win. She is a stalker and you have to respect her ability although she is not as consistent as the top two.

Bush Wins Again is another G1 stakes winning filly with that big speed figure ability. She is fresh off a G2 win by three lengths and she did not need a big speed figure to do that. She won a G1 in September last year where she earned a 110-speed figure. She is another stalker type that is consistent and fast making this one very good race to watch.

Race: 3168.0614 Oaktree Handicap – Grade I – $750,000
Track: Arkansas
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

With all the big boys in Dubai this week this field draws twelve runners that look fairly evenly matched. Biting Insects gets the nod as the race favorite. He is win less in races over a mile although he ran a 109 speed figure in an 8.5f stakes race last time out so it is not like he cannot run fast enough over a mile. You would like your favorite to have won over a mile in a race going this far. His best speed figures have been in sprints but like I mentioned before he can run well over a mile as well. He is a middle closer type so look for him late if he makes a run.

Formulated Risk (GB) looks better than our favorite on paper. He is a proven route runner and is fresh off a nice G3 win last time out where he earned a 109-speed figure at this distance. He is in a good groove right now running big speed figures nearly every time out. Also it is interesting to note that this guy was in a claiming race a few races back and claimed by his new owner. He has really done well with the switch of owner and a switch in surfaces.

Fly For Buda has regained his form as an older horse after an outstanding three year old season. This year he has a G2 win and just missed last time out in a G1 race. His speed figures now are better than his three year old speed figures. As a three year old he was third in the Bluegrass, won the Middle Jewel, and finished second in the New Yorker. He will be pressing the pace or stalking look out for the Buda.

Forgotten Halo is a newcomer to this level. He has put together three wins in a row the last two in listed stakes races. He has been winning at the allowance and listed stakes level for a while so he has some class. He is stepping up and based off his recent speed figures he is a player here. He will need to continue his recent speed figure trend as well as prove he can press the pace at this level.

Race:3168.0515 Explosive Bet Stakes – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Louisiana
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf

Just eleven runners set to go with Sip of Saki the morning line favorite. Saki exploded last time out on the track winning a G2 at a mile with a 114 speed figure. His best distance probably is at a mile but he is a graded stakes winner at a mile and a quarter so this distance is well within his range. Saki looks like much the best on paper. He is in a pretty good groove right now with his middle closing style. He is usually toward the back of the pack and closes strong.

New Storm is the second favorite coming off a G3 win. This veteran is a multiple graded stakes winner at this distance including a G1win. You have to go a little further back in his past performances to find when he was running speed figures like the favorite. He is capable of those types of races and might prefer the turf was yielding. New Storm is a bit of a deep closer and might need some pace help for a top performance.