Oaklawn Park: Arkansas Derby Kentucky Derby Prep Analysis (4/1)

The final Kentucky Derby prep from Oaklawn Park takes place Saturday. The Arkansas Derby looks to provide a viable challenger to Forte on the 1st Saturday in May.

Oaklawn Park- Race 1

Post: 12:15 PM CT; $110k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 9

• #3 INTO LOVE (8-5) gets the top selection. She looks to be the class of the field. This one shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance.
• #8 BEAUTIFUL BOLT (4-1) should improve off the first start and should benefit from experience.
• #6 MARY'S BOON (6-1) has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #1 SHARP ATTITUDE (12-1) is well bred for this spot.

Selections: 3 – 8 – 6 – 1

Oaklawn Park- Race 2

Post: 12:44 PM CT; $125k Allowance Optional Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 10

• #5 ONE WAY OR ANOTHER (2-1) is the top pick. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #7 PATTERN BET (5-1) has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #3 GRAMERCY PARK (3-1) goes out for the Ortiz barn and gets Santana in the irons. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #8 CHOCTAW CHARLIE (15-1) seems to fit well enough here and have back races that could win this race.

Selections: 5 – 7 – 3 – 8

Oaklawn Park- Race 3

Post: 1:15 PM CT; $125k Allowance going 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #8 HYPERSPORT (9-5) looks best here. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one looks to be the class of the field.
• #2 VIOLENT POINT (2-1) has to be respected going out for the combination of Diodoro and Torres.
• #6 THUNDERS ROCKNROLL (12-1) should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #3 SILVIA (5-1) isn't without hope. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one comes into the race in really good form.

Selections: 8 – 2 – 6 – 3

Oaklawn Park- Race 4

Post: 1:45 PM CT; $110k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #7 MIRACLE WORKER (7-5) should improve off the first start and gets the top selection. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Cox and Prat.
• #3 RUNAWAY JACK (8-5) is well bred for this spot. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #2 KINGMAKER (12-1) will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #5 SPEAKINOFTHEDEVIL (5-1) has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run.

Selections: 7 – 3 – 2 – 5

Oaklawn Park- Race 5

Post: 2:17 PM CT; $400k Oaklawn Mile S. going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 7

• #7 HOPPER (7-5) is the top pick. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Baffert and Velazquez. This one looks to be the class of the field.
• #1 SMILE HAPPY (9-5) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #5 CADDO RIVER (4-1) makes sense on speed figures. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #2 NECKER ISLAND (15-1) is a price horse and seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 7 – 1 – 5 – 2

Oaklawn Park- Race 6

Post: 2:49 PM CT; $110k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 11

• #6 NGALA (9-5) should improve off the first start and looks best here. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Moquett and Prat.
• #5 NEXT THURSDAY (2-1) has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #1 MAGNOLIA MAE (10-1) makes sense on speed figures.
• #2 SASSY LASS (8-1) should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.

Selections: 6 – 5 – 1 – 2

Oaklawn Park- Race 7

Post: 3:23 PM CT; $125k Allowance Optional Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #4 OSBOURNE (5-2) gets the top selection. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Moquett and Bejarano. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #8 GAR HOLE (3-1) will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #6 STRAIGHT NO CHASER (7-5) has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #5 MUCH BETTER (12-1) will likely be out on or near the lead and will look to hold off the charge to the wire. This one goes out for the Asmussen barn and gets Asmussen in the irons.

Selections: 4 – 8 – 6 – 5

Oaklawn Park- Race 8

Post: 3:57 PM CT; $200k Hot Springs S. going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 7

• #6 CARMEL ROAD (3-1) is the top pick. He has the top overall power rating in the group. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #5 FROSTED DEPARTURE (9-2) is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #2 EYEING CLOVER (5-2) could be in with a shot in this race. He makes sense on speed figures. This one should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #3 GUN PILOT (7-2) shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance.

Selections: 6 – 5 – 2 – 3

Oaklawn Park- Race 9

Post: 4:31 PM CT; $110k Maiden Special Weight going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 10

• #5 SEEKING UNITY (2-1) looks best here. He comes into the race in really good form. This one should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #10 QUALITY CHIC (9-2) shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance.
• #8 ROUTE RUNNER (7-2) has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #3 JUILLIARD (15-1) is a price horse that comes into the race in really good form.

Selections: 5 – 10- 8 – 3

Oaklawn Park- Race 10

Post: 5:12 PM CT; $600k Fantasy S. going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 10

• #10 CONDENSATION (10-1) is a price horse and gets the top selection. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Hartman and Arrieta. This one will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #3 TOWHEAD (10-1) shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #2 GRAND LOVE (8-1) has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #7 PATE (20-1) is a price horse and should be competitive in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.

Selections: 10- 3 – 2 – 7

Oaklawn Park- Race 11

Post: 5:44 PM CT; $125k Allowance going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 12

• #12 FAVORITE OUTLAW (2-1) is the top pick. He shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Hartman and Arrieta.
• #1 GO WEST (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. He may benefit from a hot pace up front. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #9 ABSOLUTE CHAOS (12-1) is a price horse and has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #2 BRESLAU (6-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.

Selections: 12- 1 – 9 – 2

Oaklawn Park- Race 12

Post: 6:24 PM CT; $1250k Arkansas Derby going 1 1/8 miles on dirt; Entries: 11

• #7 ROCKET CAN (4-1) looks best here. He makes sense on speed figures. This one may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #4 TWO EAGLES RIVER (10-1) is a price horse and appears to be a major player in this race. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #8 REINCARNATE (5-2) has been in good form against some decent fields.. This one will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #6 ANGEL OF EMPIRE (9-2) has to be respected going out for the combination of Cox and Prat. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.

Selections: 7 – 4 – 8 – 6

Oaklawn Park- Race 13

Post: 6:58 PM CT; $125k Allowance going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 14

• #1 KNOCKER DOWN (5-2) gets the top selection. He could get the right setup in this race. This one shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance.
• #6 BACK RING LUCK (9-2) should be part of the early pace in this spot which has been the place to be recently at Oaklawn.
• #12 MEGAN'S HONOR (15-1) is a price horse and has to be respected going out for the combination of Becker and Arrieta. He should relish the distance.
• #2 FIFTY CENT DOLLARS (3-1) could get the right setup in this race. This one is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.

Selections: 1 – 6 – 12- 2

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