Oaklawn: Swinging for the Fences in Tinsel Stakes
Seize the Night (Photo by Coady Media/Oaklawn Park)
December 27th, 2024
A total of nine will go postward in the $175,000 Tinsel S. at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, and I’m siding with the co-longest shot on the board to make a lot of waves in the feature.
The Eddie Milligan-trained #9 Seize the Night (15-1) was fourth in the race last campaign against a better bunch, and despite drawing widest in the contest, I think that the son of Carpe Diem chestnut will receive a great trip under Julien Leparoux. This Kentucky-bred gelding will show marked improvement in his second run since March at a big price in a winnable spot.
Tinsel Stakes Wagers
Tinsel Stakes Analysis
The event features a trio of runners who will be trying for the early edge, as well as multiple one-run closers, while my top pick is likely to be somewhere in the middle of the cast while getting first run turning for home.
Three-time local winner #1 Frosted Departure (5-1) will be sent from the break from the fence by Walter de la Cruz while receiving pressure from Steve Asmussen’s #3 Unload (6-1) and morning-line choice #4 Horace Mann (2-1). The early splits will be lively for a race of this distance, and I expect each of the trio to be a bit leg-weary in the closing stages of the tilt.
Red Route One trains at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Photography/Oaklawn Park)
#5 Red Route One (5-2), second of the morning-line, is a one-run closer who will be unhurried in the early going for Asmussen. 2023 Street Sense (G3) winner #2 Liberal Arts (12-1), the late-running #6 Hurry Hurry (10-1), Kenny McPeek’s #7 Creative Minister (15-1), and Cherokee Mile S. third #8 Quality Chic (12-1) will also be reserved going into the first turn on Saturday.
Seize the Night is not the most talented contender in the cast, but he has some class to him, and a repeat of his effort in the contest in 2023 will make him very dangerous. The top pick will get the jump on the deep closing types turning for home and is surely worth a play at his number.
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