Oaklawn H.

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

LAWYER RON (Langfuhr) is the top draw in Saturday’s $500,000 Oaklawn H. (G2).
He thrived in Hot Springs, Arkansas, last winter, winning the Southwest S.,
Rebel S. (G3) and Arkansas Derby (G2) in succession before exiting a 12th in the
Kentucky Derby (G1) with an ankle chip. The colt made a few more starts at three, ending 2006 with a ninth in the
Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) after being transferred to Todd Pletcher, and he returned to the races with a sharp score in a
one-mile allowance/optional claiming event at Gulfstream Park, drawing clear to
a 3 1/4-length decision while notching a 103 BRIS Speed rating.

Lawyer Ron rated nicely off the pace that afternoon, and he could be very
effective this year if capable of harnessing his early speed. He shouldn’t have
any trouble with nine furlongs at Oaklawn, and we expect to see Lawyer Ron up
close stalking the pace with Edgar Prado before seizing command.

BOBOMAN (Kingmambo) rallied late to be a good third while making his dirt
debut in the Santa Anita H. (G1) last out, and he’s eligible to keep improving on the
main track for Richard Mandella. A Grade 1 winner, the six-year-old horse
registered an excellent 102 Speed figure for his dirt bow, and Boboman will be running
late here under Alex Solis.

SMOKEYJONESSUTTON (You and I) finished a decent third in the New Orleans H.
(G2) last time and has earned strong BRIS Late Pace numbers (114, 97 and 104) in
his three career stakes appearances, where he finished a close second to Lawyer Ron in
the St. Louis Derby and third in the Indiana Derby (G2) last year. The
four-year-old will be making his third start this season for Dallas Stewart, and Smokeyjonessutton has experience at Oaklawn, opening his racing career
at the track last year. The improving colt remains unproven at this level,
but he could make a dent in the top three with his late kick.

MCCANN’S MOJAVE (Memo [Chi]) isn’t easily dismissed given his present form. A
back-to-back winner over sloppy tracks in Northern California in December, the
seven-year-old stepped up in class to capture the Sunshine Millions Classic S.
in late January, tracking the pace before taking over into the stretch. McCann’s
Mojave followed that effort with a solid fourth in the Big ‘Cap, missing third
by only a nose to Boboman. The Steve Specht charge will likely be up close to
the pace with his tactical speed, and we won’t be surprised to see McCann’s
Mojave in the thick of things turning for home.

BROTHER BOBBY (Out of Place) will make his graded debut after capturing an
allowance/optional claiming event over this oval. The chestnut gelding should
save ground from the rail and can’t be dismissed from exotics consideration
given his good current form (3-1-0 last four starts), but he is facing a
significant class hike.

JONESBORO (Sefapiano) recorded a fine score in the Essex H. (G3) two starts
back, but we can’t envision him duplicating that effort here. The likely
pacesetter faded to third after setting a slow, uncontested pace in the Razorback
Breeders’ Cup H. (G3) last time, and he’ll have to stretch out an additional
sixteenth of a mile off that disappointing effort. We’re concerned that he might
be headed in the wrong direction. PAPI CHULLO (Comeonmom) earned some big Speed
ratings last year, but he’s very inconsistent and we didn’t like his effort in
the Sunshine Millions Classic last time.