Indiana Oaks and Derby

Post time for Race 8 at Indiana Grand Racing is 9:11 PM EST for the Indiana Oaks.  Here's the field:

#1  Oceanwave(3-1, Jockey-Shaun Bridgmohan; Trainer-Wayne Catalano)  Last two races have been against Grade I competition.  Though her numbers don't come up, the jockey is one of the most overlooked talents in the game.  For that reason alone, I would include her in my discussion(s).

#2 High Dollar Woman(20-1, Jockey-Joseph Rocco; Trainer-Steve Hobby)   Inherited new trainer in last race, a six furlong optional claimer in the slop.  Now, they're graduating to two turns, and taking on Graded competition.  Can't see the step-up.

#3 Affect(30-1, Jockey-Fernando De La Cruz; Trainer-Eion Harty)  Was beaten in last race as favorite, a $28K allowance race over synthetic.  Only has four races under her belt.  Picks up blinkers.  Maybe Harty knows something?  Picks up a new jock for this endeavor.  Without me.

#4 Sweetgrass(8-1, Jockey-Chris Landeros; Trainer-Ian Wilkes)  Was progressing well in last race, the Iowa Oaks.  She was up the track in the Blackeyed Susan, but, other than that race, she's always there.  Has a bullet work in preparation for this race.  She is a keeper!!!!!

#5 All Day Alice(30-1, Jockey-Florent Geroux; Trainer-Jon Cowan)  She looks to be up on the front end early in the race.  How long she stays will be the question.  If you can hope for some staying power, she would be nice in your exotics at 30-1.

#6 Ahh Chocolate(5-2, Jockey-Brian Hernandez; Trainer-Neil Howard)  Gets the favorite role, and she looks to be deserving of action in your exotics. 

#7 Pangburn(7-2, Jockey- Robby Albarado; Trainer-Kenneth McPeek)  She just missed in the Iowa Oaks last race.  Acquires the services of Albarado, which is never a thing to frown on.  Does she have what it takes?  If you like Sweetgrass, then you've got to like her, for she beat the other one in the last.

#8 Zeven(15-1, Jockey-Corey Lanerie; Trainer-Eddie Kenneally)  She's only had one Grade III race, but, she almost always finished near the winner.  Though I'm not siding with this one, I wouldn't be surprised if she turned the tables on me.

#9 Tiger Ride(12-1, Jockey-Alex Cintron; Trainer-Graham Motion)  She is under the tutelage of a new trainer, and has recently recorded a bullet work.  She has not raced in 94 days.  If you believe that Motion can perform magic on this recent addition, you'll be rewarded with generous odds.  Good luck, but without me.

#10 Emmajestic(20-1, Jockey-Miguel Mena; Trainer-Michelle Lovell)  Not much to get gaga about here.  One interesting angle, which would involve the jockey(also applies somewhat to Albarado).  Mena is scheduled to ride in Ellis Park's feature, the Don Bernhardt Stakes, and then travels 187 miles to ride in this race, which is roughly 3 hours and 37 minutes away).  He would be hopping on a plane; getting off the plane; traveling to the track; hopping on this filly; and cruising into the Winner's Circle.  Lot of activity for the jockey.  So, 20-1 would be rewarding, if you think he could pull it off.

#11 Silverpocketsfull(6-1, Jockey-Julien Leparoux; Trainer-Ian Wilkes)  Comes into this race off a 102 day layoff.  This filly would be the second entrant for her trainer in this race.  She might have what it takes, but, I don't like playing horses coming in off an extended layoff.

Picks

Let's go with a 50 cent Trifecta Partwheel:  1-4-6-7/1-4-6-7/1-4-5-6-7-8.  $24.  $3 Daily Double 1-4-6-7/2-4-5. $36

Post time for Race 9 at Indiana Grand Racing is 9:41 PM EST for the Indiana Derby.  Here's the field:

#1  Mr. Z(2-1, Jockey-Joe Bravo; Trainer-D Wayne Lukas) He finally won a race.  He was on the Derby trail, either being a pretender(a la Louisiana Derby), or contender(Arkansas Derby).   His front-running style didn't show up in the Kentucky Derby, possibly part due to traffic problems, or, conceding taking a back seat to American Pharoah, who he was co-owned with.  After the Derby, Lukas shopped him successfully to another owner,  Calumet, but the owner/trainer failed to duplicate their 2013 Preakness heroics with Oxbow.  Maybe it was the sudden downpour before the race.  But, in  his last effort, he led wire-to-wire in the Ohio Derby.  This race has him installed as the favorite.  Maybe he finally gets this game?  Or, could he have been the blind squirrel that found an acorn?  His record is 2-for-15, so, I'll go with the latter.  If it would be the former, then the new owners are geniuses, as well as Lukas.

#2 Divining Rod(5-2, Jockey-Alex Cintron; Trainer-Arnaud Delacour)  He was the wise guy in the Preakness Stakes.  Although he failed to pull off the upset, he was in contention for most of the race, finishing third.  His last effort was runner-up to Mr. Z as the favorite.  He only was to lose by a neck, so his measuring tactics came up a little bit short.  He has fired two bullet works in preparation for this rematch, and he looks like he will be ready for the challenge.

#3 Tiz Shea D(6-1, Jockey-Jose Lezcano; Trainer-William Mott)    He has been camped out in New York for his last four races.  Now, Mott has packed his bags, hoping to see if this charge might have BCC stars in his eyes.  Never to discount Mott, I always remember Drosselmeyer.

#4 Alabaster(15-1, Jockey-Julio Felix; Trainer-Eion Harty) He recently ran an even 4th in his first Graded action, at 60-1 odds.  Maybe the trainer thinks that this colt is now ready to graduate to bigger and better things.  If you believe in the trainer's past results, he might be on top of this?

#5 Bold Conquest(12-1, Jockey-Ricardo Santana; Trainer-Steve Asmussen) Took a step to the side from the Triple Crown trail, after meeting up with American Pharoah, chasing him in the two  Oaklawn Derby preps.  His race-before-last numbers could prove to be enough to handle this competition.  His last race at Churchill was a no-show.  Let's put a line through it.  Let's go with this one, for the upset. 

#6 Island Town(3-1, Jockey-Julien Leparoux; Trainer-Ian Wilkes)  This horse dominated my selection Bold Conquest in the last effort at Churchill, but is journeying for the first time away from Kentucky after six races.  Regular rider, Leparoux, is back for his fourth excursion with this one.  Though I'm not siding with this one, he could stand to reason.

#7 Far Right(12-1, Jockey-Corey Lanerie; Trainer-Ron Moquett)  Early in the Oaklawn meet, he took the first two Derby preps, before taking a back seat to American Pharoah.  If you could believe that he might return to his original form, then this would be a race to pick it back up with him.  I just can't see him getting back to his winning ways.  Without me.

#8 Deliverance Day(20-1, Jockey-Albin Jimenez; Trainer-Tim Glyshaw)  Comes into this race off a two-race win streak, winning both at Churchill.  Maybe he's figured out this game, but the fact that a new jock is acquiring the riding assignment, makes me think that now is not the time to be finding new riders.

Picks - Taking #5, with #2 on the bottom side.   Also, would be curious to see if #4 has a big performance, since trainer is bringing him back for a second Graded race.  Throw him on the bottom.  $3 Exacta box, 2-4-5.  50 cent Trifecta partwheel, 2-4-5/2-4-5/All.