Oaklawn Picks: Lady Shaman conjures a win on March 18

Oaklawn Park is nestled in a cozy "university town" ... a university town of horse racing to be exact ...

The southern village of Hot Springs is boarding an extended festival with some superb racing. Betting options are tops in the country! The celebrated home of Arkansas Thoroughbred culture is switching gears and moving to 4 days of racing in-a-row to make-up for lost time due to cancellations last month. What a treat!

As we points towards Arkansas Derby Day in early April, a Kentucky Derby "Points" race, let us be your guide. 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. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter ... Horseracing_USA !!!

Most Likely Winner: (Race 4: Lavender #2, 5/2):

Owner George Sharp races his Thoroughbreds throughout the Southwest Circuit, and now his trainer, Shawn Davis, brings this 6-yr-old mare by Born To Sea (IRE) up to Oaklawn. She was last seen down at Sam Houston during the Houston Racing Festival in the Jersey Lily S. $75k back in late January. Her last 2 attempts were on the grass, but I think she will make the surface switch quite nicely. Handling this company will not be a cinch by any means ... but her speed figs and class should make her very dangerous. Ramon Vasquez is a quality rider, and he draws the assignment of trying to get her into position to strike from off-the-pace at the top of the lane. With her main challenger right next door in Gate 3, it will be essential that she keeps an eye on that router.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #2

Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 3: Lady Shaman #5, 5/1):

In a spot like this one … Claiming Game 16k, non-winners of 3 … I am on the lookout for an entry that has a strong back class, some attempts over the track, and has 1 race with her current establishment ... which is always a good sign. This mare by Proud Citizen fits the bill, and Wayne Potts is sitting on a winner. He claimed this 5-yr-old for River Card Stable back in December, and she debuted for her new outfit with a solid 4th place performance at the level that she is competing today. Geo Franco already has a try aboard her, and I think she will remain around 4/1 or 5/1. If she does, then this is going to be a juicy wager. In a speed test like this one, she doesn’t have to make the lead … Franco just needs a quality stalking trip.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Bankroll, Graduated Wager WPS #5 ($10-W, $15-P, $75-S)

Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 8: Dirt, 1 1/16th, OC62.5kn3L, 3+):

There are salty races, and then there is this OC street fight … With so many directions to go in, I suppose it is lucky that we have only 9 drawn-in here. Any more, and this would be a stakes contest. Of course, most betting eyes will immediately fall on Brad Cox and his uncoupled entry. Fan Club #2, owned by Gary and Mary West, has not done much wrong after a pair of stellar starts in Hot Springs. The 4-yr-colt by Street Sense graduated from MSW Co. into the deeper waters of ALLW Co. last time. He passed with flying colors. Once again, Cox’s go-to OP guy, Florent Geroux, gets the call, and if you want to back this one, I am not going to talk you off of him because he is certainly logical. I am not sure there will be much value when the tote flickers for the final time, but in my opinion, he is the one to beat. As for the other Cox entry, Caddo River #5, this Short Leaf homebred has had quite a Meet already. After a DQ, some erratic running, and a poor showing (3rd) last out on 19 Feb., I honestly have no idea what this colt by Hard Spun is going to do either before loading in the gate or after. I do not envy Ricardo Santana because he is going to have his hands full again. Maybe the plan is … use this one, but not at the top of all your tickets. As for others that will take money, I would not be surprised to see Rudy Brisset’s entry, Harvard #7, be highly-thought-of. It’s academic … the son of Pioneerof the Nile really outran his odds last time in an OC50kn2x, and Francisco Arrieta guided his mount to a 2nd place ending. If Brisset has him ready to go, then he could be a player. Based on his PPs, I am not sure if making the lead is what he wants to do, or he prefers to come from off of it. When it comes to a top selection, I am all-in on Mike Maker’s colt by Into Mischief, Wayakin #4. Here is an entry from a solid barn that is making only his 2nd start of the year. Even though he is lightly-raced, I think he has the fitness level and the class to tackle this group. Maker has 5 wins at the OP Meet so far, so he should not be discounted in lieu of larger establishments with more starts. Ramon Vazquez is riding well right now, and I like his flowing confidence. This will probably be one of my top picks of the day … Let’s use all these runners, and see if the exotic market is ready to be relieved of some coin!

Wagering Recommendation: $2 Trifecta Wheel, 4 w 2/5/7 w 2/5/7, or 2/5/7 w 4 w 2/5/7

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Enjoy another fab Friday trackside! Best of luck on another run at Oaklawn Park! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter … Horseracing_USA !!!