Win Willy Works for Oaklawn Handicap

Hoping for more quickness and a confidence boost, trainer Mac Robertson has been working Jer-Mar Stable's Win Willy in blinkers including his last major breeze Sunday morning ahead of Saturday's $350,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2), the start of Oaklawn Park's six-day Racing Festival of the South.

The 5-year-old son of Monarchos started the year winning the Fifth Season Stakes in January, but because of difficult pace scenarios the confirmed closer came up short in the Essex Handicap and the Razorback Handicap (G3). The 1 1/8th-mile distance is one thing that Robertson feels will help Win Willy, but the blinkers should play an important role strategically as the race unfolds. 

"Hopefully the blinkers will make him a little quicker," he said Sunday morning after Win Willy went a half-mile in 48 3/5 seconds. "He works quicker in the blinkers, but I'm not trying to change his style. I just want him to start passing horses a little sooner. If he can start getting by one horse, and then another, and another, he's like a human, he's going to start to swell up and get some confidence."