By Tom Quigley

Oaklawn Mile at Oaklawn Park: The lightly raced (17 career starts) seven-year-old TOM’S D’ETAT ($3.80) earned his seventh consecutive triple digit Beyer Speed Figure at a distance shorter than where he may be at his best and can now be certainly considered one of the top older handicap horses in the country. I whiffed on the race as I tried to beat IMPROBABLE in the exacta, so when he finished second, I was ok not cashing the chalky exacta.

Oaklawn Stakes at Oaklawn Park: The key to deciphering this race was knowing in advance that the Risen Star (G2), which was run at the Fair Grounds on February 15^th, was the key race to focus on as both MR. BIG NEWS ($95.60) and second place finisher FARMINGTON ROAD both exited that race. Unfortunately, I was not that astute in my analysis.

$46K Allowance Optional Claiming (Race 11) at Gulfstream Park: One of the main benefits of playing large field races is the chance of hitting a home run when you’re right and that’s exactly what happened here as I was able to connect the dots three times on a $1 exacta that paid $64.80 when CONVICTION TRADE ($33.60) won with BATTLE OF BLENHEIM finishing second.

$48K Allowance Optional Claiming (Race 12) at Gulfstream Park: When a 8% trainer wins with a 1% jockey, it’s unlikely I’ll tab the winner, and that’s what happened here when PRINCESS CAUSEWAY ($13.40) crossed the wire first.