Spot Plays for Friday card at Oaklawn Park

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Friday's card at Oaklawn is relatively low key compared to what awaits fans on Saturday, but there are few potential plays on the nine-race program which is highlighted by a decent N2X allowance for fillies and mares.

3rd race -- #7 AFTER PARTY (10-1) has to be looked at a little more closely in light of what happened on Thursday. Trainer Norman McKnight saddled two winners on the card that paid $9.60 and $15. What they both had in common were unusually fast works since their respective last starts. This gelding seemingly worked in company with the $9.60 winner, Cadillac Red, as both finished with the same time and were credited with a bullet four furlongs on March 8. Though up the track in all three starts earlier this meet, this one might finally be ready to follow his stablemates into the winner's circle.

7th race -- Fifth-place finish in a tougher allowance February 15 was just the get-fit run #6 CHANTMEUPBABY (5-1) might have needed following a layoff that nearly stretched to nine months. Has knocked on the door at this level before and could pick up a lot of pieces in the stretch.

8th race -- #1 MYTHICAL TALE (4-1) doesn't have the stakes background that some of these do, but improving filly could be better for her run last month when she finished third in her first start for the Brad Cox barn, less than two lengths behind #3 OUR MAJESTY. Last two works look sharp on paper.

9th race -- Though she rises in class off three straight losses in maiden claimers, #10 PRINCESSOF THE NYL (4-1) still fits in this spot, a modest field for the class level. Stretchout to a mile but be what she's been wanting all along, and her finish behind Cosmic Burst in her debut looks much better following the latter's win in the Honeybee (G3) last week.

Good luck!