Oaklawn Park Picks: American Hero, a real one on April 7

Oaklawn Park is situated in the "university town" of Hot Springs ... a university town of horse racing, that is ...

The southern village near Central Arkansas is playing host to an extended festival with their customary welcome! Betting options are the best in the country! The celebrated home of Thoroughbred culture just hosted its own Derby Day ... But the Meet is not over yet! A 9-race card kicks things off this Thursday, and we are with you for all the great contests on the dirt!

At Horseracing.net/us we have the sport blanketed, 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 Thursday be sure to check out our free Horse Racing Picks via the gold button below. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter ... Horseracing_USA !!!

Most Likely Winner: (Race 2: American Hero #6, 3/1):

I think that Brad Cox has this colt by Constitution at the proper level, as he ships in from Turfway Park. Switching from the Tapeta to the dirt should not be too much of an issue, and neither should the cut back in distance. Back in early January, the newly-minted 3-yr-old broke his maiden against 8 others at a short price. Cox tried to accelerate his development by giving an OC50kn1x a go, but it didn’t result in a score. Still, ending up 3rd after that jump was not without its merits. That kind of experience can make a difference coming to Oaklawn. I like that Ricardo Santana gets the call, and he has the chance, before going to Kentucky, to make his presence known once again.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #6

Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 5: Alyanaabi #2, 12/1):

If you’re after a value play … and you should because it is Oaklawn … then, look no further than this colt by Nyquist. Bred by the experts at Shadwell Farm, he hasn’t had the chance to show very much in a couple of starts in Hot Springs for Dan Peitz. That could change in this spot … he gets an inside post, which should help with early placement. The switch to John Hiraldo, plus the class drop from MSW90k Co., look like just what this one needs. Having experience going 2 turns is always a tick to the positive, and the best news of all … the price … at odds on the M/L of 12/1, he is an overlay against a group that doesn’t exactly have a standout.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Bankroll, Graduated Wager WPS #2 ($10-W, $15-P, $75-S)

Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 8: Dirt, 6F, OC100kn1x, 3F):

The trick question in this “featured” Thursday afternoon sprint, is can you find an entry that can 1-up Brad Cox’s Warrior’s Battle #4? There is no doubt this classy, experienced OC racer is the one to beat. I will say that the filly by Khozan did not have her best fastball back on 13 March. She lost the lead that day, and Ricardo Santana ended up 8+ lengths behind the eventual winner. I am sure Cox and his able-bodied team at OP have made adjustments, but maybe we can take this as a sign that she is vulnerable. As usual, HOF trainer Steve Asmussen normally has an answer to Cox in situations like these, and it comes in the form of an uncoupled entry. Between Gimmick #1 (5/2) and Shared Future #6 (7/2), I much prefer the latter, especially after a nice score down in Houston against OC50kn2L Co. If this filly by Twirling Candy can build on that effort, then she could be the play in this spot. The wily Luis Quinonez gets the call, and the price should be right. One other entry besides the Cox/Asmussen choices, is Ron Moquett’s Massard #3. The Hot Springs-based trainer has also tried the SHRP track in H-Town throughout this season as a means to test some of his budding stock. In his debut, this filly by Nyquist was sharp rolling late towards the wire. She put up some nice numbers, breaking her maiden going 6 on the MT. Now, getting David Cabrera, she has a chance to take a step forward yet again. Can she raise her game enough to take on this tough crowd? We shall see … This is the bet I conjured …

Wagering Recommendation: $2 Superfecta Box, 1/3/4/6

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Enjoy a Thursday trackside in Hot Springs! Best of luck on another run at Oaklawn Park! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter … Horseracing_USA !!!