Oaklawn Park Picks & Betting Analysis for December 17

Celebrated Oaklawn Park is like a college town ... a college town of horse racing. Hot Springs is not only celebrating the Christmas Season, but also some glorious racing. It should be an absolute blast!

At Horseracing.net/us we have you covered, including all of the action! It is a good time for some of the best that North American racing has to offer. Stay tuned! 

If you're looking for picks elsewhere around the country this Friday be sure to check out our free Horse Racing Picks via the gold button below.

Most Likely Winner: (Race 5: Run the Tap #2, 3/1):

Right now, as breeding operations prepare for the spring, there are few sires that are hotter than Gun Runner. His offspring ran well over the course of 2021, and as the year comes to a close, we would expect that to continue. Walking L Thoroughbreds paid $210k for this filly back at the Keeneland 2020 September Sale, and Kenny McPeek had her progressing well over the past few months. Her debut at Churchill Downs on 20 November was a “good” 1st try (MSW120k 4th) … she figured out this was a racetrack and horses were competing around it. Part of a McPeek uncoupled entry, I think she can win @OP, under the guidance of David Cohen. Time to break her maiden … if she scratches, due to a wet track, you could go with the other McPeek runner that is drawn. An idea …

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #2

Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 6: Magnolia Midnight #6, 5/1):

Trainer Dallas Stewart is a willy veteran conditioner, and he comes to Oaklawn with a string that has to be considered dangerous. His colt by Midnight Storm looks capable, and is coming off a 5th place finish in a high-level ALLW Co. race back at Churchill in mid-November. Thumbing through this one’s form you will see that the Iroquois S. (G3) under the Twin Spires was just too much for him. Part-owner West Point Thoroughbreds sure believes in him, and that was shown in his hefty purchase price … OBS Spring 2021, $320k. David Cabrera gets the call, and maybe this one will drift towards 6/1 or higher on the tote. One can hope …

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Bankroll, Graduated Wager WPS #6 ($10-W, $15-P, $75-S)

Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 8: Dirt, 1 1/16th, AOC62.5k, F&M 3+):

Depending on the weather that could be rolling in on Saturday, this race will have 7 tough-looking females coming to the post. No short stretch finish today at Oaklawn, since this will be a 1 1/16th. My top selection is a hero from last season’s KYOaks run by the name of Coach #7. She was solid through Hot Springs, even though she missed wins in the Martha Washington 200k, Honeybee (G3), and Fantasy (G3) … Cox watched her progression, and had her cranked up for the Oaks in April. If you recall, she was a popular pick with pundits at odds of 24/1. I think she has naturally matured since coming back to the work tab in October, and I think the addition of Ricardo Santana will end up being a great move. Let’s use this one off-the-bench, and roll under a pair of better-priced runners like Genaro Garcia’s Wellington Wonder #5 and Tom Amoss’ Hypernova #6. Both of these fillies are “on the make,” and should add value to any ticket. An Exacta is just the play, and I am hoping that many bettors will shy away from Cox’s charge, since she doesn’t have the recent form that many gravitate towards. What a bet!

Wagering Recommendation: $2 Exacta Wheel, 7 w 5/6

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Enjoy another fab Friday trackside! Best of luck on another run at Oaklawn Park!