Ricky’s Rockets: Oaklawn Park Picks for April 4, 2020

Once again I missed out on a single leg in the Pick 5 sequence at Oaklawn. One of these days, we are going to cash a big ticket and it’s going to pay off! There are a lot of single opportunities toward the back end of the ticket as Frank’s Rockette looks to continue her dominance in the Purple Martin Stakes (Race 8). A big performance from her can help propel her to bigger and better as the year progresses. I expect big pools are in store as the horse racing world looks to Oaklawn Park as their go to racetrack for the time being!

Best of luck!

Race 6: Claiming $50,000-$45,000 for 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt. Purse $35,000

Brad Cox brought #4 Metropol back to the track after a long layoff to the Fair Grounds on January 26, He ran a distant fourth, which was to be expected after so much time away from the track. Joe Talamo is aboard for Cox, who must be pleased with the horse’s progress up to this point, as he takes a step up in class. #5 Belews Gold had no business running in his last start here at Oaklawn Park. He took a few steps up in competition going from Waiver Maiden Claiming to Non-Winners of two races lifetime. His debut performance here at Oaklawn showed speed and should perform much better here. #8 Jack Van Berg is a very logical horse and is my top choice. He ran well last time out in similar conditions for Ingrid Mason and off that performance, should be very dangerous. #9 Exultation has performed admirably here at Oaklawn Park. Since coming to Oaklawn, he’s shown the ability to close into quick paces and make things very interesting in the stretch. Peter Eurton’s runners have finished in the money 80% of the time here at Oaklawn and his horses always pose a threat no matter the race.

Race 7: Allowance for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt. Purse $61,000

#2 Inthemidstofbiz ran a very impressive race last time out in the same class here at Oaklawn Park. She beat fellow competitor Portal Creek by a neck after going three-wide in the stretch. She is a logical choice and a performance similar to her last race makes her a viable candidate to win her first race at Oaklawn. Jeremiah Englehart brings #3 Maryanorginger back to the track for the first time since winning her debut in the Astoria Stakes back on June 6 at Belmont Park. She beat Perfect Alibi who finished 2019 as one of the best 2-year-old fillies in the country. Englehart has been good with horses coming off extended layoffs which gives me confidence in her. Another horse coming off a lengthy layoff is #9 Cardamon, for Bill Mott. This will be her first start in Arkansas after making all three of her career starts at Churchill Downs. She showed supreme early speed in his last start and will need will need that once again to win her second race of her career.

Race 8: Allowance Optional Claiming $80,000 for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the dirt. Purse $61,000

#1 Finnick the Fierce won his debut at Indiana Grand on June 14 by a little over a length. Since then, he raced against Kentucky Derby contenders: Modernist, Enforceable, Silver Prospector, Mr. Monomoy and Tiz the Law. He drops into a field that suits his talents and figures to be a major player in this spot. #3 General Trev made the most of his debut win here at Oaklawn Park on February 29. He’s only making his second start of his career for Steve Asmussen but he proved he can handle the distance with ease. It’s interesting to note Ricardo Santana Jr. was not chosen to ride back and Tyler Baze will get the nod instead. The horse to beat is #5 Answer In for Brad Cox. He ran a respectable third to Silver Prospector in the Southwest Stakes (G3) as the post-time favorite. With the Kentucky Derby pushed back four months, it’s not entirely out of the question for Answer In to get back on the trail with a monster performance here.

Race 9: Purple Martin Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going 6 furlongs on the dirt. Purse $100,000

#4 Edgeway made her debut for John Sadler on February 29 here at Oaklawn Park. I’ve watched the replay of that race a few times, and every time it’s more and more impressive. She’s put up ridiculously fast fractions in the mornings as of late and looks primed for a big performance. It’s difficult to know whether or not if she can take a major step forward as the competition will much better than what she faced in her debut. There is one filly who we all know is battle tested and that’s #8 Frank’s Rockette.  She will certainly be the post-time favorite in this spot after she blew the field away in the Any Limit Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Bill Mott will be happy to know Perfect Alibi and Wicked Whisper are not in this field, as those are the only two fillies to beat her. I feel confident in saying there will be many bettors who will use Frank’s Rockette as a single on their multi-race tickets.

Race 10: Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the dirt. Purse $60,000

Ron Moquett has been on fire here at Oaklawn Park with Subiaco winning on Friday and Rockshaw on Thursday. #4 Aztec Empire ran a decent third in his first start for Moquett after the connections moved on from Chad Brown. He’s a logical choice in a field that has a ton of worthy competitors. #5 Wild Union has tried just about everything on the racetrack. Whether he’s been on dirt or turf, he consistently finishes in the money but hasn’t done enough to graduate from this class. His consistency alone has him on my ticket but he’s not my top choice. This 3-year-old colt by Bayern has talent but it’s time for him to put everything together out on the track. One of the other runners that is a logical choice coming out of the same race as Aztec Empire, is #7 Copper King. He didn’t put his best foot forward against fellow runners On d’Oro and Aztec Empire but I’m willing to give him a pass. He drew an inside post that day which didn’t help his cause. He does not have a ton of early speed and an outside post position should help this horse tremendously. Look for him to be in the 6/1-8/1 range at post-time which makes him a great value play in the last leg of this Pick 5 sequence.

THE TICKET

$0.50 PICK 5 – 4,5,8,9 / 2,3,9 / 1,3,5 / 4,8 / 4,5,7 – $108

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