Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Mary Rampellini handicaps the Thursday, March 26 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: Expensive Game (9th race)
Ninth Race
1. Expensive Game
2. Arkansas Dave
3. Tims
EXPENSIVE GAME has the look of a runner on the improve and he gets the services of Vazquez, who won five races Sunday at Oaklawn. He also has an age edge on some of these. ARKANSAS DAVE should be sharp for the move to two turns off the series of sprint races. The winner of the race he exits was to have run back earlier on the card, in the fourth race. TIMS fits with these.
Here are Mary’s thoughts on the other eight races on Thursday’s Oaklawn Park card.
First Race
1. Bolt’s Treasure
2. Joewilly
3. Amentum
The annual Racing Festival of the South opens Thursday with the running of the $200K Hot Springs Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile. The $1M Fantasy runs Friday and the $1.5M Arkansas Derby is Saturday. In the Thursday opener, BOLT’S TREASURE cuts back to one turn and he’s been effective going route to sprint in the recent past. JOEWILLY has been in some quick maiden races. AMENTUM is a consistent performer who looks like a strong fit with these.
Embed from Getty ImagesSecond Race
1. Bourbon’s Fault
2. Aerate
3. Go West Go
BOURBON’S FAULT exits a key race, with the runner-up coming back to win for $40K at OP with a Beyer of 86 and the sixth-place finisher, a $16K conditioned claimer at OP, with a Beyer of 74. AERATE was fourth last out in race that went quite quick. GO WEST GO gives up recency to these, but has seen steeper.
Third Race
1. Knickleandime
2. Spitfire
3. Tearin’up My Heart
KNICKLEANDIME is a multiple stakes-placed runner who last out faced Explora, one of the top candidates for this year’s Kentucky Oaks. SPITFIRE also is stakes-placed. The winner of the allowance she exits is scheduled to run back Friday at Oaklawn in the $1M Fantasy. This one is a half-sister to stakes winner Two of a Kind ($301K). TEARIN’UP MY HEART gets in light under apprentice Mendoza.
Fourth Race
1. Perfect Audible
2. Western Warrior
3. Highly Connected
PERFECT AUDIBLE ran a credible third in his two-turn debut last out and it came at this mile trip at Oaklawn. The newly-turned 3-year-old will be first Lasix. WESTERN WARRIOR is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Blazing Sevens. HIGHLY CONNECTED is well-versed at two turns.
Fifth Race
1. Honey’s to Blame
2. Two Dollar Eddie
3. Afleet Sky
HONEY’S TO BLAME faces older rivals for the first time, but also is returning to the Arkansas-bred ranks off a start in the Grade 2 Rebel, and the last time he ran with statebreds, he was a dominant winner. An up-and-coming sort. TWO DOLLAR EDDIE was a sharp winner in his two-turn debut last out. AFLEET SKY hooked a tough crowd last out, including past winners of the Arkansas Breeders’ Championship.
Sixth Race
1. Hern
2. Bernin Tune
3. Slip Mahoney
HERN seems like one who might make good use of the bit of added real estate he picks up in this spot. BERNIN TUNE might be better served if the strip is fast. SLIP MAHONEY has some back class to call upon as an earner of more than $500K.
Seventh Race
1. Dare Greatly
2. Army’s Marauder
3. Pretty Dang Fast
DARE GREATLY is admirable for her consistent nature. She seems due to graduate soon. ARMY’S MARAUDER makes the move to two turns and there are aspects of her pedigree that support her at this distance. PRETTY DANG FAST is well-versed at the two-turn trip. HOLLY’S HOLIDAY is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Velocity and exits a race that has produced two next-out winners.
Eighth Race
1. Desert Gate
2. Soldier N Diplomat
3. Strategic Risk
DESERT GATE was a Grade 3 winner over Pavlovian last August and since that time, Pavlovian has won the Sunland Derby and finished a close second in the Louisiana Derby. SOLDIER N DIPLOMAT might get an ideal tracking trip off top choice, who starts from the rail. STRATEGIC RISK won the Smarty Jones over Silent Tactic, who came back in his next start to capture the Southwest and just miss in the Rebel. More on each of the starters in the Closer Look feature in Daily Racing Form.
Daily Racing Form is the most trusted source for horse racing news and information. Get an edge when you play the races with DRF.com.
For complete Derby Watch Top 20 rankings, visit DRF.com – Derby Watch analyzes top Kentucky Derby contenders each week. For odds, past performances and expert picks, visit DRF.com
Put yourself in position to win big this year with DRF’s Kentucky Derby Package. Top data and trusted picks all in one place.
Get more Daily Racing Form horse racing picks on a daily basis on our VSiN Horse Racing page.
The post Horse Racing Picks Today at Oaklawn Park for Thursday, March 26 appeared first on VSiN.
Leave A Comment