Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Mary Rampellini handicaps the Thursday, February 19 racing card at Oaklawn Park, including her projected 1-2-3 finishers. Her best bet of the day comes from Race 9.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Bourbon Society (9th race)
Ninth Race
1. Bourbon Society
2. City of Angels
3. Scottish Storm
BOURBON SOCIETY has speed and has been a consistent sort as a rule. CITY OF ANGELS was just edged last out at Del Mar. SCOTTISH STORM could be sitting on a peak race in the third start of his form cycle.
Here are Mary’s thoughts on the other eight races on Thursday’s Oaklawn Park card.
First Race
1. Kava
2. Bossoftheblock
3. Sweet Baby D
Oaklawn moves into a Thursday through Sunday raceweek for much of the remainder of the season. In the opener, KAVA is appealing for her racing experience and the fact that she might be sitting on a peak effort in the third start of her form cycle. BOSSOFTHEBLOCK ran a promising third in her debut, beaten less than a length for everything. SWEET BABY D was second against open foes last out and now gets an opportunity with Arkansas-breds.
Second Race
1. Hap Hot
2. Cape Trafalgar
3. Premium
HAP HOT can be closer to the pace than a number of these, and that might give him a tactical advantage. CAPE TRAFALGAR delivered as the favorite last out and could get a tracking trip off top choice. PREMIUM exits a key race. The winner came back in his next start to win a $7,500 claiming race at FG with a Beyer of 78; the runner-up, a $5K starter allowance at FG with a Beyer of 79; and the fourth-place finisher, a $15K claiming race at FG, with a Beyer of 75.
Third Race
1. Unauthorized
2. Coming Soon
3. Super Happy
UNAUTHORIZED is a February foal who cuts back to one turn, and his best finishes to date have come in this configuration. He also adds a set of blinkers, which is a high-percentage move for Brisset. COMING SOON is another turnback prospect. The last time he sprinted on the main track, he was third to a winner who popped a Beyer of 99. SUPER HAPPY shows some nice works for his debut. He’s the first foal from an unraced mare, according to available produce records.
Fourth Race
1. Capital Connection
2. Joewilly
3. Good News Rocket
CAPITAL CONNECTION returned from a layoff last out and ran a credible third against steeper. He is appealing for his consistent nature and would seem to have reason to move forward here, in his second start since June 2024. JOEWILLY was third against similar last out and is a logical choice back. GOOD NEWS ROCKET had notable trouble last out, in his first start off the bench.
Embed from Getty ImagesFifth Race
1. Swiss Guard
2. Underdressed
3. Drum Roll Please
SWISS GUARD draws a much-improved post over his last start, when he broke from the 12-hole going a mile and was just edged at this level. UNDERDRESSED is back on dirt, site of his best career Beyer Speed Figure. DRUM ROLL PLEASE is proven class as a stakes winner, while his dam was a multiple stakes winner of $772K. And, what is worth a drum roll, check out the company line from his Remsen start in 2023!
Sixth Race
1. Army’s Marauder
2. Mighty Nora
3. Sissy Sox
ARMY’S MARAUDER ran a promising second in her debut and has come back and worked a sharp half-mile. In addition, the third-place finisher from the race has come back to win. MIGHTY NORA has run races that would land her in the winner’s circle in this spot. SISSY SOX cuts back to one turn after showing speed around two, and that can be an effective move with a horse.
Seventh Race
1. Backside
2. Hard Circle
3. Bagg O Time
BACKSIDE goes sprint to route in what is a high percentage move for Cox, according to statistics from Daily Racing Form. HARD CIRCLE makes a rare appearance on dirt and has had a chance to work over the surface at Oaklawn. BAGG O TIME is well-versed at the mile and a sixteenth trip.
Eighth Race
1. Run Jalen Run
2. Ripped
3. Perfect Magic
RUN JALEN RUN is a five-time winner facing some less-experienced rivals, and he also draws a post that might give Bacon options. RIPPED co-owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Figure. He could get an ideal trip stalking the speed in this spot. PERFECT MAGIC is back at Oaklawn, where last year he placed in a pair of stakes. More on each of the entrants in the Closer Looks feature in Daily Racing Form.
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The post Horse Racing Picks Today at Oaklawn Park for Thursday, February 19 appeared first on VSiN.
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