Knock Em Out Roy Finishes Second

Incredible Cut, at 21-1,  rallied on the outside  and beat the 3-5 favorite  Knock Em Out Roy in he  seventh  race at Tampa Bay on Friday.

Knock Em Out Roy has been on our  Horses to Watch list.

The race was an  $8.000 maiden  claimer at seven furlongs  for 3-year-olds  and up. 

Incredible Cut won in 1:27.02 with Samy Camacho riding for  trainer Juan Gotera. 

 

Horse to Watch --Knock Em Out Roy in 7th at Tampa Bay

Knock Em Out Roy, on  of  our handicapper Bob Bauer's recent "Horses to Watch", is in the seventh race today at Tampa Bay Downs.

Scheduled post is at 4:06 p.m. The race is an $8,000 maiden  claimer  for  3-YOs  and and up at 7 furlongs on dirt.

Knock Em Out Roy is  dropping from a  $16.000 maiden claimer at Tampa  on April  2. He finished fourth in that race  after  a stumble at the start.

Edwin Gonzalez has the return mount  for trainer  Gerald Bennett.

All of the other horses are  at least 20-1.

For  an exacta box we suggest Knock Em Out Roy (5)  with  the  well-bred  Country Warrior (7) and class dropping Judge Hudson (8).
 

Bob Bauer's Picks-Kentucky Oaks

Kentucky Oaks Selections

By Bob Bauer

These selections were made with the expectation of a fast track.

However, the Churchill Downs track is sloppy today as rain continues to fall.

A “mud lark” is included as a fourth selection, as none of the other 3 fillies has experience over a wet surface.

#4 PARADISE WOODS- This lightly raced Miss (only 3 starts) certainly appears to be a filly with a bright future. She ships to Kentucky off a spectacular 11 length rout of a tough field in the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks, on April 8. That was her first try against winners and going a route of ground around 2 turns. The speed figure she earned is several lengths better than the rest in here and makes her the one to beat.  The only question is, can she run well outside of her home track in California and can she stretch out another half-furlong? We’ll find out on Friday afternoon.  Ace trainer Richard Mandella is one of the best in the business and her only rider Flavian Plat will be in the irons.

#10 MISS SKY WARRIOR- Daughter of First Samurai boasts classy credentials, having won 5 straight races (including 4 Graded Stakes) since her only loss in a Maiden bow last September at Belmont. She is a prefect 2 for 2 at the 9 furlong distance and should be the one to fear if the top choice isn’t up to the task. Regular jockey Paco Lopez returns for 25% trainer Kelly Breen. In her last race, (2nd back after a 3 month break) the Grade II Gazelle Handicap at Aqueduct, they wired the field by 13 lengths under a hand ride. May be in best form now, has had a pair of OK works on Churchill dirt.

#13 ABEL TASMAN- Another California shipper, ran second in the Santa Anita Oaks in her first try for the always-dangerous (40% 2d start winners) Bob Baffert. The bay filly has a 3 for 6 lifetime record, including taking the Grade I Starlet Stakes last December. After that, she was freshened until March and has since garnered a pair of place finishes vs. Graded Stakes rivals. Mike Smith, one of racing’s elite jockeys, takes the return call.

#7 FARRELL- This hard-hitting filly is 5 for 7 lifetime and moves up when the going gets soggy, taking 2 races in 3 attempts on off tracks. She broke her Maiden condition in the wet at Churchill, so there should be no problems here. Rider Channing Hill and Trainer Wayne Catalano bring her back to Louisville after an impressive (3 for 3) campaign at Fairgrounds this winter, capturing a pair of Grade II events, the Fairgrounds Oaks and the Rachael Alexandra. A tough customer in top form.

Eight Belles: Look for Cajun Delta Dawn

The Eight Belles, at seven furlongs on dirt for 3-YO fillies is coming up at Churchill Downs.

We are looking for  Cajun Delta Dawn  (14) to run a big race, based on her three wins in four starts on off tracks.