Friday's Best Bet: Daphne Moon can shine brightly in Gardenia
Friday’s 8th race from Oaklawn Park is the Gardenia Stakes for 3-year-old fillies traveling a mile and a sixteenth on the main track (Post Time - 5:38 p.m. ET).
Click here for Oaklawn Park Entries, Results
#5 DAPHNE MOON (4-1) did not match her sharp debut victory in two subsequent graded starts as a juvenile, but the stakes races did not set up for her. She returned with a smart local optional claiming victory at this course/distance as my top choice, and her numbers improved that day.
#7 Strong Flag (9-2) seems to be making nice progress for Steve Asmussen. She broke through with a sharp maiden win in a local route in the mud March 15, and was a solid 2nd in a race without much pace in her first start vs. winners April 10. She is back at her winning distance.
#3 Gingham (3-1) puts blinkers back on for the recently hot Martin Garcia/Bob Baffert team. She was an okay performer in California but not quite up to graded company.
#6 Quick Decision (12-1) captured both of her local sprints from on or near the lead. Larry Jones always seems to have a decent filly in his barn, and she will probably take them as far as she can.
#10 Antoinette (8-1) is lightly raced and on the upswing for Bill Mott. I like her tactical speed.
Wagers:
#5 to win
Exacta 5-7/3-5-7
Trifecta Key 5/3-6-7-10
Trifecta 3-6-7-10/5/3-6-7-10
Recent Best Bet Winners
April 4 - KIMARI ($7.80), Exacta ($23.80)
April 6 - WHOLEHEARTED ($6.40)
April 11 - PROVERB ($7.60), Exacta ($33.60), Trifecta ($48.70)
April 15 - Blue Harbor/Mr. Tickle/Yo Y Me Trifecta ($127.50)
April 17 - Sekani/The Mary Rose/Choctaw Charlie Trifecta ($48.30)
April 20 - SHE'S ALL WOLFE ($2.80), Trifecta ($89.00)
April 21 - CANEY'S GHOST ($5.80), Quinella ($9.00), Trifecta ($14.10)
April 23 - LUNA FORTIS ($25.40)
April 24 - Artemus Eagle/River Finn Exacta ($77.20)
April 25 - Sneaking Out/Bye Bye J/Ready to Runaway Trifecta ($20.05)
April 29 - Eaton's Memory/Matapan Exacta ($8.60)