The Bargain Oaks
The Bargain Oaks is the Bargain Bred equivalent of the Blue Grass Oaks run one week later then its prestigious counterpart. Last year super filly Slave to Tradition won the Bargain Oaks drawing clear by 2 lengths in her coming out party. This years Bargain Oaks has seen a purse increase from 75k to 125k which helps illustrate that the Bargain series is alive and kicking strong thanks to the excellent leadership of knightmare. I highly advise everyone to check out this serious which lets everyone compete on an even field where all that is required is breeding talent and the ability to breed a horse with 99 bps or less. This year’s edition of the race has drawn a small but talented field of seven that is likely smallish in size due to the dominance of Bargain Star Rewa Dreamin who has won both the Bargain Charlie Tiger Juvenile and more recently the Ozark Diamond last out. Let’s take a look at today’s runners.
1. Mileish – After breaking her maiden 2 back this daughter of Kheleyf ran a huge 2nd last out in The Ozark Diamond at odds of 9-1. Was closing hard in that effort and likely gave the winner a bit of a scare but ran out of real estate late. Even in the write-up for The Ozark Diamond I said that “I view her as one of the ones to watch off of that key race and feel confident she will outrun her 9-1 odds”, and boy was I dead on. Expect another big run out of her today and this time she’s down to 5-1 people are jumping on the bandwagon.
2. Omaplata – Named after a deadly mixed martial arts move this 3 yr old daughter of Kitalpha (Mr. Prospector) has had a respectable but uneven career thus far after 7 lifetime races. Debuted a respectable 3rd on the grass in a bargain race but went on to break her maiden on the dirt 3 races later in a sprint at
3. Daytona Mandate – Daughter of Full Mandate oozes talent after just two races where she is 2-1-1-0. Last out was a smashing win at 8.5 furlongs where she smoked a field of 9 other bargain maidens by 3 lengths posting a nice 76 speed figure in the process. Based off of the promising first two races I absolutely love this entry and think 16-1 is an absolute value play on this up and coming bargain filly.
4. Tin Buck Slew – Bargain president knightmare has a real nice daughter of Slew City Slew in his care and I am not just saying that just because he is in charge. She is a proven graded winner on the grass and even though she stumbled finishing 4th last out in The Diamond Ozark she has earned another shot at the big money Bargain Oaks today and am expecting a better effort. If anyone can slow down the juggernaught that is Rewa Dreamin it is likely Tin Buck Slew.
5. CTR’S Storm – Oddsmakers have her at 71-1 and it is easy to think even that is generous after studying the line of this daughter of Storm Walk. She has but two lifetime races to her credit but was beaten by 20 lengths in each so it is hard to hope for much better today.
6. Edge of Seventeen – Named after the famous Stevie Nicks song this daughter of The Cliff’s Edge ran a better then it looks 3rd in The Ozark Diamond after breaking her maiden in the previous race. She appears to be on the improve and is likely going to factor in the exotics so ignore her at your own peril.
7. Rewa Dreamin – Talented daughter of Woke Up Dreamin was the two year bargain star of 2009 and has continued that winning form into 2010 with a smashing win in the Ozark Diamond last out. She is clearly the filly to beat and a win in The Oaks this week further cements her legacy as a bargain legend. 8/5 odds shows what a dominant favorite she has become and even though I hate to bet chalk I don’t often advise betting against legitimate favorites and that’s just what she is.
Outlook:
It’s hard to see his as anything but a coronation for Rewa Dreamin but anything can happen so that is why we run the races. I will pick the favorite in this race but if she were to be beaten my choice to do so is Tin Buck Slew who should run better on the dirt after a race under her belt. I would back both Edge of Seventeen and upstart Daytona Mandate to round out the trifecta while also playing savers with those two above the favorite for insurance.
To get involved in the Bargain Bred racing series check out the forum at:
http://knightmarebbrs.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general