Trainers like to tell riders “don’t take away what comes easily.” Sometimes handicappers need to adhere to that same logic. If there is any issue with V.K. Star (3-1) in Wednesday’s finale in Oldsmar is that Gerard Ochoa’s filly might look a tad too good for the claiming price, given her latest effort.
She made a solid mid-race run going 1-1/16 miles, took the lead but just failed to stay. With today’s mini-turn back to one mile, she should find herself a bit farther back and with the same well-timed moved made in her last race, her conditioning should take her the rest of the way.
She owns a clear margin on the Thoro-Graph scale, the look of a horse that can regress but still win, such is her edge. This barn is hot, batting 23% and profitable over the last three months and it’s 27% with Ronald Ordonez in the boot, the case today. Check out her effort on MAR 19, RACE 7, and see if you agree.
We’re taking V.K. Star to win, no price restrictions, and will box an exacta with Horse to Watch Table One (10-1).