Oaklawn Picks: Dixie Bell S. with a strong field on February 19

Celebrated Oaklawn Park is like a college town ... a college town of horse racing, that is ... Hot Springs is hosting a festival with some superb racing. Betting options are the best in the country! We are facing 4 days of racing from the celebrated home of Arkansas Thoroughbred culture!

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! 

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Most Likely Winner: (Race 4: Zitman #3, 5/1):

Trainer Karl Broberg has less than a handful of wins at the Meet so far, and that is rather astounding, especially considering how accomplished this Southwest-based conditioner has been over the years. This gelding by Big Brown was a claim off of Wayne Potts. Broberg put him in a Clm10k, and the result was not terrible on the step-up. The miler encountered some traffic, and probably could have given Capture the Glory a run. Now, he comes back into this condition, which should be an easier spot. The switch to Cristian Torres is not a bad play either. Let’s take the Zitman ... he pops!

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #3

Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 2: Fort Ridge #11, 10/1):

Here is the “cheapest” of levels in the Oaklawn “Claiming Game” structure, and it brings together a sizable group of older males. I am on the hunt for value, and stumbled upon a nice one from the barn of Ingrid Mason. A strong conditioner, who gets her charges ready, and does it the “right way,” To put it more bluntly ... I like this dropper very much. This gelding might be aged, having run in 56 career races, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have ability moving forward. A recent work gives me confidence, and the Muddy Waters-owned son of Fort Prado looks like he is going to be a wonderful price at double-digit odds.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Bankroll, Graduated Wager WPS #11 ($10-W, $15-P, $75-S)

Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 9: Dirt, 6F, Dixie Bell S., $150k, 3F):

Most of the focus for bettors will be on the stakes action at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, but I would not overlook Oaklawn’s contribution … the Dixie Bell S. is loaded! In this dirt sprint, with so many directions to go in, I would open you mind to the possibilities. Of course, when it comes to forecasting what will register tops on the tote, I am sure Wesley Ward’s Happy Soul #5 will take money. I am decidedly against this one because I think we have little idea how she is going to run, as she makes her ’22 debut. I am not spurning Ward’s preparation abilities, nor the riding history of John Velazquez … I just prefer to key another entry. The filly I want is one half of Brad Cox’s uncoupled entry … Icy Stare Down #1. Ridden by Ricardo Santana, this daughter of Frosted is stepping up into tougher company. She broke her maiden for Cox back on 18 Dec. @OP, and it was an impressive score down the lane. The “Place” horse that afternoon, Steve Asmussen’s Hot and Sultry, already came back and posted a strong speed fig. enroute to a win in a MSW Co. contest. I realize this is a tougher race than those, but let’s not forget that we are talking about the 2x Eclipse Award-winning Cox here. He gets them ready … spots young fillies very well … and now, they add Ricardo Santana, the Meet’s “Leading Rider.” Watching this one work was a true pleasure, and I think she has the requisite gears to get the job done. As for filling out the rest of a ticket, I want to also use Cox’s other entry, Com’ On Sweet Luv #6, and Ingrid Mason’s Hypersport #4. The former already has a stakes try at the Fair Grounds, while the latter is a budding local favorite with a win over the track. In the end, I think Cox’s young filly wins this one … with a resounding noise of victory!

Wagering Recommendation: $2 Superfecta, 1 w 4/5/6 w 4/5/6 w 4/5/6

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