Oaklawn Park Picks & Betting Selections for Saturday February 12
Hot Springs is the site for some fabulous racing on Saturday ... featured will be both the Bayakoa Stakes and the Razorback Handicap!
Oaklawn Park Picks - Saturday, February 12, 2022
Race 1: 10-5-4-9
Race 2: 6-5-3-8
Race 3: 4-2-5-8
Race 4: 13-4-2-12
Race 5: 8-1-9-5
Race 6: 6-3-1-8
Race 7: 10-4-2-5
Race 8: 2-7-1-6 (Leg C: Cross Country Wager)
Race 9: 10-2-5-11
Race 10: 9-2-5-3 (Leg E: Cross Country Wager)
Race 11: 2-7-4-11
**Most Likely Winner: Miss Bigly #2 (Race 8)**
**Best Value: Pharoah's Heart #10 (Race 9)**
Celebrated Oaklawn Park is like a college town ... a college town of horse racing ... Hot Springs is celebrating some glorious racing with some betting options are the best in the country!
This Saturday we have before us another Cross Country bet. If you are not familiar, this combines 2-3 racetracks (and their key races) in one Pick 5 wager. This Saturday we have ... Leg A: Tampa-Race 8 (3:49 pm EST), Leg B: Aqueduct-Race 8 (4:30 pm EST), Leg C: Oaklawn-Race 8 (4:47 pm EST), Leg D: Tampa-Race 10 (4:54 pm EST), Leg E: Oaklawn-Race 10 (5:56 pm EST). For a 50 cent minimum, that is quite a deal!
Most Likely Winner: (Race 8: Miss Bigly #2, 9/2):
Agave Racing Stable owns this daughter of Gemologist, and I think it is time to get behind her—she exudes class. Well-travelled, she has contested leads at Churchill, Santa Anita, Del Mar, and most recently, at Oaklawn. The last time we saw her was in the slop back on 8 Jan. in the Pippin S. $150k. She faced a tough group that day, including her rival that is back to face her again in the G3 Bayakoa S.—Brad Cox’s Coach #7. Phil D’Amato, a conditioner based in SoCal, is making a jockey switch, and going with Ramon Vazquez over Martin Garcia. I think that is a solid move, and I like the aggressive tactics of this rider. With 3 works under her belt, she should be able to win the day! If we could somehow get 9/2, I actually believe that qualifies as an overlay. It’s time …
Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #2
Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 9: Pharoah’s Heart #10, 5/1):
Jockey Joel Rosario caught a flight to SoCal Thursday, and graciously accepted the Eclipse Award for the Best Jockey in the Land. He is right back at Oaklawn, and gets the call aboard this runner that used to be in Mark Glatt’s keep. There is much to like about this 5-yr-old mare, and it starts with her Triple Crown-winning sire. Even though we have not seen her since 2021, I think Asmussen has a nice winner on his hands. Little Red Feather and Glatt broke up, and it is going to be to the benefit of North America’s All-Time Winningest Trainer. This is a perfect spot for her to return to the racetrack, and the choice of Rosario is a great one.
Wagering Recommendation: $100 Bankroll, Graduated Wager WPS #10 ($10-W, $15-P, $75-S)
Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 10: Dirt, 1 1/16th, Razorback H. (G3), $600k, 4+):
One of the highlights of the Oaklawn Meet, and there are many to choose from, is this race, the Razorback Handicap. Last year, the contest saw Mystic Guide romp home, and we all know that he went on to score in the Dubai World Cup. This time around, we have a strong field of 9, with most of the entries coming from stakes competition that has already taken place in Hot Springs. A local favorite that should take quite a bit of money is Robertino Diodoro’s Lone Rock #3. Since coming over from Bill Mott and Paradise Farms, this one has done nothing but win in 7/9. As the favorite in the inaugural running of the Tinsel S. 200k, he was strong in the end with regular rider Ramon Vazquez at the controls. Don’t get me wrong, this is an impressive deep router, but I am frankly interested in others. I think the same could be said for Steve Asmussen’s charge, the reigning Arkansas Derby Champion—Super Stock #2. Back on 11 Dec., the colt by Dialed In just missed in the Poinsettia S. $150k. He was well-bet that day, and with Ricardo Santana riding once again, will be tough to best. This race is so deep … you could back Todd Pletcher’s layoff runner from last year, Promise Keeper #5 … or Brad Cox’s Cigar Mile alum Plainsman #8 … or Danny Caldwell’s prize claim Rated R Superstar #4 … or horse-for-the-course runners like Thomas Shelby #6 and Last Samurai #7. These are some formidable routers, but instead, I am going to the extreme outside, and choose Steve Asmussen’s other half of his uncoupled entry—Silver Prospector #9. The Orrs own this sturdy horse (who once won the SW Stakes) by Declaration of War, and last year he came in 2nd to Mystic Guide in this race. Making his 1st of his new campaign in the 5th Season $150k, he did not end up coming off-the-bench with much success … no matter. Horses need one, and Asmussen’s is no different. If you go back and look at that “BT” it was a tough go for this 5-yr-old, as he had to travel wide on both turns. With a much better trip this time around, new jockey Luis Contreras will be visiting the Larry Snyder Winner’s Circle. I like the price on the M/L … 15/1! Time to go prospecting … here is the wager …
Wagering Recommendation: $2 Superfecta, 9 w 2/5 w 2/3/6 w 3/5/6
