The Pippin

- It’s the Pippin Stakes at Oaklawn, 50K at a mile and a 1/16 and Island Sand (Tabasco Cat) is 3-5; she’s been out since November and last May, she won the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont, defeating Society Selection; her form had tailed off a bit since that win. In an interview right before the race, Cindy Jones, who is somehow related to trainer Larry Jones, says she’s never trained better and that she loves Oaklawn. But the TVG guys are skeptical, as am I. Todd Schrup likes La Reason, Carrothers likes Catboat, and Lyons picked the favorite despite his misgivings. I agreed with Schrupp, but it was Casual Attitude (Formal Gold), a late betdown to 5-2, who was a pretty easy winner over the favorite. It’s the 8th stakes winner for Formal Gold (Black Tie Affair), who in 1997 defeated defending Horse of the Year Skip Away in the Woodward, Donn, and Iselin. Casual Attitude is a 5yo mare who now has 9 wins in 19 starts.