Ricky’s Rockets: Oaklawn Park Picks for April 16, 2020

Oaklawn Park is back in action as we try to continue momentum from last week! Today’s Pick 5 sequence is very difficult and is predicated on one major single in Race 8. We have been so close on many occasions and I’m extremely confident in my ticket today!

Best of luck!

Race 5: Allowance for Arkansas-bred 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the dirt. Purse $61,000

#1 Prospector Fever makes his first start at Oaklawn Park since 2017. He’s tried just about everything on the track including running on turf, running on a fast and sloppy track, sprints, and routes. His last dirt start came on a sloppy track on January 15 at Sam Houston. He takes a major step up in class today, but he’s been in great form as he looks for his third win in a row. My top choice will be ridden by Joe Talamo, #6 Lieutenant Powell. Talamo was aboard last time but after breaking well out of the gate, he struggled to pass horses on a sloppy track. This field will be much easier to navigate through as he looks to get back to his winning ways. #10 Souixper Charger is by far the most talented of the group, but the post position makes his task difficult. He stretches out today for Daniel Peitz whose runners finished in the money at 40% here at Oaklawn Park. Outisde of the post position, Souixper Charger is a very logical choice here in the opening leg of the Pick 5 sequence.  

Race 6: Claiming $8,000 for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt. Purse $17,500

Robertino Diodoro probably overestimated #2 Blushing Bella’s ability last time out in the Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Stakes. She couldn’t keep up with some of the best fillies here at Oaklawn Park. Matapan who finished second, and Georgia’s Reward who finished third, went on to win next time out. This is a very soft field compared to what she faced in that race. Another runner dropping in class for Diodoro is #9 Shaharazad. She didn’t fire that day as her running style is tough to employ on an off-track. There’s plenty of early speed to run into making her very dangerous from the nine post. One of the longshots that intrigued me is #10 Dichotomy for Chelsey Coady. She’s won two out of three career races here at Oaklawn Park. The outside post doesn’t pose an issue as she can close from the back of the pack.

Race 7: Starter Allowance Optional Claiming $16,000 for 4-year-olds and upward going 1 3/16 miles (9 1/2 furlongs) on the dirt. Purse $22,000

Both of the Chris Hartman entries #2 Frost or Frippery and #2B Overzealous come into this race with outstanding form. In most instances, one of the entries is better than the other, but both have a case to be strong runners without their running mate. I prefer Frost or Frippery to Overleazous as both step up in class and have great jockeys between Stewart Elliot and Ricardo Santana Jr. #7 Charlie’sarchangel lost out to Frost or Frippery last time out on February 17 here at Oaklawn. He broke out of the gate well but never could pass Red Again who finished a distant sixth. Charlie’sarchangel is my top choice as he batted the entire race but couldn’t find the winners’ circle after working effortlessly throughout. #10 Canadian Game is looking for his fourth win a row. He’s finished in the money in all three efforts at Oaklawn in his career and makes sense here. He gets an extra furlong and a half which making him an intriguing prospect. #12 Carlos Sixes will play a major role in how this race plays out. He is a speedster like Red Again who was discussed earlier. Carlos Sixes has shown great speed for Karl Broberg but he will be breaking from the far outside. If he gets into a speed-duel with Red Again, it may cost him in the end. His best effort might be to sit just off the pace and run down his competition in the stretch.

Race 8: Allowance Optional Claiming $50,000 for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the dirt. Purse $62,000

This is one of the best races on today’s card, but I only see one winner out of this group of fillies. #9 Nonna Madeline makes her Oaklawn Park debut for Todd Pletcher who is looking for his first win at this meet. He’s usually running at Aqueduct or Keeneland at this point in the year, but with both tracks closed, he enters his filly into this spot. She’s run against the likes of Jaywalk, Restless Rider and Sippican Harbor in the past. She’s never gone this distance before but Pletcher wouldn’t make this move if he didn’t think she could handle it. She should be a very short price at post-time.

Race 9: Claiming $30,000 for 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt. Purse $24,000

As I try to close out the Pick 5 sequence, I’ll look to the D Wayne Lukas trained, #2 Market King. He drops into this group after running at a much tougher level last time out. In every race he’s been in since his debut, he’s been 5/1 or higher at post-time. This indicates he’s been running against much better competition. As a 3-year-old he competed against horses on Kentucky Derby trail running against the lights of Omaha Beach and War of Will. This is the softest field he’s faced in a long time. #6 Jack Van Berg was a major disappointment at the Claiming $50,000 level last time out on a sloppy track. Two starts back he just missed by a neck at the Claiming $40,000 level. His performance in that race is more indicative of what we will see from him as he takes a drop in class. #11 Special Reserve was forced to the lead early as he drew the two post last time out. He will break from the far outside giving Declan Cannon a chance to position him early on. The speed in this group is toward the inside which sets up well for Special Reserve. A lot of bettors will throw him out off of his last race, but losing to good horses like Candy Cornell and Town Champ is no shame.

THE TICKET

$1 PICK 5 (Races 5-9) – 1,6,10 / 2,9,10 / 2/2B,7,10,12 / 9 / 2,6,11 – $108

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