Oaklawn Park Picks for Friday, March 27:

MR. ED’S DIRTY DERBY DOZEN: The field of legitimate contenders continues to narrow to a maximum of 20. With the Run for the Roses (May 2) merely five short weeks ahead, here is Mr. Ed’s current Top 12+1 (trainer/probable jockey), in no particular order:

  1. PALADIN (C. Brown/T. Gaffalione)
  2. NEARLY (T. Pletcher/J. Velasquez)
  3. COMMANDMENT (B. Cox/F. Prat)
  4. CLASS PRESIDENT (T. Pletcher/J. Velasquez)
  5. BRANT (B. Baffert/F. Geroux)
  6. CHIEF WALLABEE (B. Mott/J. Velasquez)
  7. RENEGADE (T. Pletcher/I. Ortiz, Jr.)
  8. CHIEF HONCHO (S. Asmussen/L. Saez)
  9. LITMUS TEST (B. Baffert/F. Geroux)
  10. EMERGING MARKET (C. Brown/F. Prat)
  11. SILENT TACTIC (M. Casse/J. Torres)
  12. BLACKOUT TIME (K. McPeek/R. Hernandez)
  13. NAPOLEON SOLO (C. Summers/K. Carmouche)

(The herd of expected starters is expected to thin further over the next few weeks following final prep races, including the Arkansas and Florida derbies tomorrow.)

FRIDAY AT OAKLAWN PARK: The challenging 12-race card features a pair of excellent stakes for the ladies, R9 $250K MATRON sprint & R11 $1 MILLION G2 THE FANTASY at 1 1/16 mile. Several top trainers (Baffert, Cox, Casse) and riders (I. Ortiz, Jr., Prat, Velasquez) have signed on to compete. Post time for the first race is 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT. Here’s a look at Mr. Ed’s top picks.

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Mr. Ed’s Selections at Oaklawn Park for Friday (3/27)

Race 3 (2:34 p.m. ET/11:34 a.m. PT) — $32K CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & Up going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes a trio: #1 WHAT’S HER NUMBER (7-2 morning line) for the Asmussen family (Steve and son Erik); #3 BEE BLUFF (6-1), trained by Dan Ward with Ramon Vazquez up, and #7 NANDINA (3-1) for trainer Tim Dixon with Cristian Torres riding. My three for the money.
OAKLAWN PARK SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box of 1,3,7. ($30)

Race 4 (3:06 p.m. ET/12:06 p.m. PT) — $125K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & Up going a mile
Mr. Ed is betting on lightly raced #6 FAVORITE DAY (8-5 morning line), trained by Kenny McPeek, with rider switch to Emmanuel Esquivel. Expensive gal capable of stepping up while cutting back to a mile. Queen for a day.
OAKLAWN PARK SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)

Race 7 (4:32 p.m. ET/1:32 p.m. PT) — $65K CLAIMING for 4YOs & Up going 1⅛ mile
Mr. Ed is counting on the Asmussens (Steve and son Keith) to spring an upset with longshot #4 QUALITY CHIC (8-1 morning line) on class drop and shorter trip. 
OAKLAWN PARK SELECTION: $5 to Win, Place & Show. ($15)

Race 8 (5:13 p.m. ET/2:13 p.m. PT) — $68K CLAIMING for 4YOs going 6 furlongs 
Mr. Ed likes #9 EGLISE (4-1 morning line) for trainer Mike Maker with top jock Flavien Prat seeking to repeat last. Gelding loves the outside post.
OAKLAWN PARK SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)

Race 9 (5:48 p.m. ET/2:48 p.m. PT) — $250K MATRON STAKES for fillies and mares, 4YOs & Up going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed’s BEST BET OF THE DAY is classy, older mare #3 ZEITLOS (8-1 morning line), who takes a steep drop while picking up Irad Ortiz, Jr. for Steve Asmussen. Gal gets back to her winning ways for top connections.
OAKLAWN PARK SELECTION: $30 to Win, $10 to Place. ($40)

Race 11 (6:54 p.m. ET/3:54 p.m. PT) — $1 Million G2 FANTASY STAKES for 3YO fillies going 1 1/16-mile
Mr. Ed likes three: #1 SEARCH PARTY (6-1 morning line) for HOF trainer Mark Casse with Cristian Torres back in the saddle: #5 STICKER SHOCK (2-1) for Brad Cox and Irad Ortiz, Jr., and #6 EXPLORA (1-1) coming east for Bob Baffert, who retains Flavien Prat for a repeat win. Class prevails in a competitive contest.
OAKLAWN PARK SELECTION: $10 Exacta Box. ($60)

TOTAL WAGERS: $175

HORSING AROUND AT GULFSTREAM PARK: Saturday is Florida Derby Day! The 14-race program, featuring the $1,000,000 G1 FLORIDA DERBY, is chock full of quality stakes, allowance and maiden special weight contests. Who could ask for anything more? Mr. Ed plans on a night burning through a quart of coffee in search of winning wagers for VSiN patrons (getting fired up for the upcoming Masters). First race post is 11:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. PT.

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