Oaklawn Park stakes spot plays for Jan. 30

Fillies and mares will take center stage in a pair of stakes races at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, Jan. 30.

The $200,000 Martha Washington S. for 3-year-olds is the highlight of the afternoon, as the Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifier will award 10 qualification points to the winner. But the $150,000 American Beauty S. for older mares might be the more competitive contest.

Let’s play both races on a $75 budget.

Race 5: Martha Washington S. (1 mile, 4:06 p.m. ET)

#1 Joy’s Rocket is bound to be a popular play for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. A three-time stakes winner, Joy’s Rocket enters off back-to-back victories against quality competition in the Songbird S. and Letellier Memorial S. In the latter race, Joy’s Rocket easily defeated Charlie’s Penny, who came right back to win the Silverbulletday S. on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

But Joy’s Rocket’s lone run beyond 6 1/2 furlongs yielded a fourth-place finish in the Frizette (G1), racing a mile at Belmont Park. Granted, Joy’s Rocket was facing elite competition, as the top two finishers came back to run 1-2 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). But Joy’s Rocket was weakening significantly down the stretch and finished 14 3/4 lengths behind the winner.

Since Joy’s Rocket is making her two-turn debut in the Martha Washington, I’ll try to beat her with #3 Coach. Racing for the hot team of jockey Florent Geroux and trainer Brad Cox, Coach won her first three starts by a minimum of 2 1/2 lengths, including the 1 1/16-mile Rags to Riches S. at Churchill Downs. Furthermore, she wasn’t badly beaten when last seen in the Golden Rod (G2), finishing third in the Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifier after battling for command down the stretch.

Coach and Joy’s Rocket have posted similar Brisnet Speed ratings, so Coach’s proven ability to handle two turns tips the scales in her favor. We’ll play Coach on top of exacta and trifecta tickets.

$25 exacta: 3 with 1
$5 trifecta: 3 with 1 with 5,6 ($10)
Total: $35

Race 8: American Beauty S. (6 furlongs, 5:40 p.m. ET)

#6 Amy’s Challenge has always shown an affinity for Oaklawn Park, compiling an 8-3-3-1 record over the Arkansas oval. Twice placed at the Grade 1 level, Amy’s Challenge has been freshened since posting a gate-to-wire win in the Nov. 6 McConnell Springs S. at Keeneland and is training sharply for her return.

But Amy’s Challenge is a pure front-runner, and she’ll be facing several speedy rivals in the American Beauty. #9 Lady’s Island, for instance, has set the pace in each of her last 10 starts, and may force a hot pace to unfold.

Such a scenario would benefit #7 Frank’s Rockette, who combines excellent front-running speed with the ability to settle off the lead, if necessary. The daughter of Into Mischief was among the top sophomore sprinters of 2020, rattling off victories in the Victory Ride (G3), Prioress (G2), and Gallant Bloom H. (G2) before finishing 11th against males in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

Frank’s Rockette will face easier competition in the American Beauty, and figures to sit a perfect trip stalking Amy’s Challenge and Lady’s Island. From there, I think she’ll be tough to beat under Florent Geroux.

$20 to win on #7 Frank’s Rockette
$10 exacta: 7 with 6,9 ($20)
Total: $40

Good luck!