Oaklawn Park: Arkansas Derby Stamps Kentucky Derby Ticket

The Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park is this Saturday. The race has produced a total of 7 Kentucky Derby winners including American Pharoah.

Arkansas Derby

Oaklawn Park Race 12

Post: 6:35 PM CT; Purse: $1,250,000 Arkansas Derby, 1 1/8 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 9

• #4 DOPPELGANGER (3-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's class & form. This will be the runner’s first chance under the care of a trainer that can earn Derby points. Until just recently the colt was trained by Bob Baffert.
• #8 CYBERKNIFE (8-1) will get “Flo” in the saddle for Brad Cox. This is a nice price to get on those connections
• #6 SECRET OATH (5-2) will look to do upset the boys as she is the lone filly in the race. She does look competitive in this spot and you have to like the connections willingness to take a shot here.
• #9 WE THE PEOPLE (7-2) could be on the engine early and may be the best of speed in the race.

Selections: 4-8-6-9

Saturday Undercard Analysis

Oaklawn Park Race 1

Post: 12:10 PM CT; Purse: $107,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 7

• #7 MANHATTAN UP (9-2) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & power rating.
• #4 SANTOS DUMONT (4-1) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & pace numbers.
• #6 SHORTLIST (5-2) gets Florent Geroux in the saddle and could get a nice trip.
• #3 STARRININMYDREAMS (2-1) is another that projects to get a really nice setup in this spot.

Selections: 7-4-6-3

Oaklawn Park Race 2

Post: 12:42 PM CT; Purse: $90,000 Maiden Special Weight, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 8

• #4 MEAN JAKEY (2-1) looks tough to beat here given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & class.
• #7 SPEED BIAS (7-2) goes out for Brad Cox who has been one of the country’s hottest trainers in the last couple of years.
• #2 OVERTAXED (6-1) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & pace numbers.
• #8 SPANKSTER (8-1) is a price horse that is eligible to outrun his odds based on the connections.

Selections: 4-7-2-8

Oaklawn Park Race 3

Post: 1:14 PM CT; Purse: $106,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 8

• #8 ALEJANDRO (3-1) merits consideration in this spot given edges in stamina & record at the distance.
• #6 LIFE IS HARD (5-2) is in with a great chance based on the horse's race flow & power rating.
• #5 HIDDEN PROMISE (9-2) has to be respected based on the connections.
• #7 RESTORING HOPE (12-1) should be competitive today based on the horse's speed & form.

Selections: 8-6-5-7

Oaklawn Park Race 4

Post: 1:46 PM CT; Purse: $108,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 1 Mile on Dirt; Entries: 8

• #2 GUN IT (5-2) is in with a great chance based on the horse's class & early pace numbers.
• #4 FACT FINDING (10-1) is in good form and has speed figures to be good here.
• #5 TITLE READY (7-2) is worth a look here given edges in stamina & power rating.
• #7 MY SIXTH SENSE (12-1) could sit a tactical trip at a nice price.

Selections: 2-4-5-7

Oaklawn Park Race 5

Post: 2:19 PM CT; Purse: $200,000 Carousel S., 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 6

• #2 FRANK'S ROCKETTE (8-5) looks tough to beat here given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & class.
• #1 WILDWOOD'S BEAUTY (8-1) goes out for the Becker barn which has been putting up solid numbers in 2022.
• #4 ACTING OUT (5-1) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.
• #6 JOY'S ROCKET (2-1) is in really good form of late.

Selections: 2-1-4-6 (Best Bet: #2 FRANK'S ROCKETTE)

Oaklawn Park Race 6

Post: 2:52 PM CT; Purse: $90,000 Maiden Special Weight, 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 9

• #4 PLAUSIBLE DENILE (7-2) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & form.
• #1 QUICK TO BLAME (5-2) is worth a look here given edges in class & connections.
• #7 WESTERN RIVER (4-1) has competitive speed figures and should be near the lead in the early stages.
• #6 RIDER'S SPECIAL (8-1) is trained by Steve Asmussen. He is one of the top trainers in the country at getting these young ones to fly early.

Selections: 4-1-7-6

Oaklawn Park Race 7

Post: 3:25 PM CT; Purse: $106,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 9

• #1 PHAROAH'S HEART (5-2) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & power rating.
• #8 WELL SPENT (7-2) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & pace numbers.
• #4 MUN LUV (6-1) comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future.
• #6 SWEET TEA (6-1) will likely have to win this one in gate to wire fashion. It wouldn’t be impossible, but I see this one as a more likely runner to hang on for minor placings.

Selections: 1-8-4-6

Oaklawn Park Race 8

Post: 4:00 PM CT; Purse: $106,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 10

• #5 DRENA'S STAR (4-1) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & power rating.
• #8 BREAKING NEWS (3-1) classes up well with this field and is a definite player.
• #7 WOBBERJOD (9-2) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.
• #9 A C EXPRESSWAY (7-2) has been running well enough in recent starts and could get the job done here.

Selections: 5-8-7-9

Oaklawn Park Race 9

Post: 4:40 PM CT; Purse: $400,000 Oaklawn Mile S., 1 Mile on Dirt; Entries: 10

• #4 CEZANNE (5-2) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & power rating.
• #10 LAW PROFESSOR (8-1) merits consideration in this spot given the current form.
• #8 FULSOME (4-1) will likely have the stamina to outlast these in the final jumps of the race.
• #7 DARK VADER (12-1) could get a perfect pace scenario today.

Selections: 4-10-8-7

Oaklawn Park Race 10

Post: 5:16 PM CT; Purse: $600,000 Fantasy S., 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 9

• #5 EDA (2-1) looks formidable here given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & class.
• #4 MAGIC CIRCLE (5-1) has run against good competition to this point, but seems a cut below the favorite.
• #7 YUUGIRI (4-1) has solid speed figures to be in the mix here.
• #9 BUBBLE ROCK (3-1) comes into the race cycling up in form.

Selections: 5-4-7-9

Oaklawn Park Race 11

Post: 5:56 PM CT; Purse: $106,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 11

• #8 MACRON (7-2) comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future.
• #11 SUPREMACY (8-1) is a major player based on speed figures.
• #1 STORM THE COURT (3-1) should be competitive today based on the horse's stamina & connections.
• #5 GAR HOLE (7-2) is in with a great chance based on the horse's record at the distance & power rating.

Selections: 8-11-1-5

Oaklawn Park Race 12

Post: 6:35 PM CT; Purse: $1,250,000 Arkansas Derby, 1 1/8 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 9

• Arkansas Derby Analysis provided above.

Selections: 4-8-6-9

Oaklawn Park Race 13

Post: 7:10 PM CT; Purse: $106,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 14

• #14 MRS. BEANS (7-2) is in with a great chance based on the horse's record at the distance & power rating.
• #3 CHICKEN HAWK (5-1) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.
• #7 BELLAMYS ROAN (3-1) is another one that seems to specialize at this distance and is probably a must use in the vertical exotics.
• #4 IMA BLING CAT (6-1) is worth a look here given edges in connections & pace numbers.

Selections: 14-3-7-4

Betting News Free Handicapping Tools

For more information on racing from all of the weekend’s cards, check out our free handicapping tools.