Oaklawn’s pick 6 carryover has reached a tempting $53,697 to start the racing week on Thursday. It coincides with the “Lucky Strides” promotion this March at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet – which offers a $10 bonus when you bet $100 or more at select tracks each Tuesday and Thursday. Oaklawn will be the track spotlighted for this Thursday.
A pick 6 carryover with a $1 base bet awaits. Let’s get to work.
Oaklawn Race 4: maiden claiming (3:03 pm ET)
Favorites win 35% this season in Oaklawn maiden claimers, and the morning line choices #11 Mr. Goodtime and #9 Wilberton both should factor – the former just missing vs. similar in his debut, the latter dropping in class to an appropriate level. But #2 A Wild Posse intrigues most at a 10-1 ML price. Trainer Ray Ashford Jr. is 8: 3-1-0 at the meet with maiden claimers and note this one’s debut fourth at Remington saw the runner-up come back to win 2 stakes and finish third in the Springboard Mile.
Oaklawn Race 5: allowance / optional claiming
#2 Zeus’s Echo and #5 Swung have been chasing Oscar’s Hope in separate starts and that stakes player gives them definite strength of schedule upon which to draw. Neither would be a surprise and both capable of being a threat to 6-5 morning line favorite #6 Stradale, who faced a couple of ballyhooed juveniles last year in Boyd and Napoleon Solo. Hard to get past this trio.
Oaklawn Race 6: maiden special weightX
Put extra replay study into this one with common rivals from Feb. 5 and Feb. 8 races in re-matches. The Feb. 8 appears decidedly stronger, and #2 Rockin Robin figures to move forward with a cleaner trip and great draw saving all the ground, while #9 Dare Gently should be finishing best from slightly farther back.
Oaklawn Race 7: Equibase ratings handicap
All eyes will be on even-money morning line favorite #1 Saudi Crown in his first start since June. The Grade 1 winner has run extremely well fresh in the past and has had 6 perfectly spaced workouts for the 2026 unveiling. He’s rail speed and if you’re going to beat him, look for a finisher to benefit from a potential duel and rust. That’s where I’ll try to separate from the public. #9 WInnemac Avenue got a big 102 BRIS late pace figure last out and is 6-12 in the exacta locally. He’s 12-1 ML and interesting in all the exotics as well. I also like 10-1 ML shot #3 American Law, who ran a bang-up third in the Fifth Season after the track had been closed and a Fair Grounds shipper took advantage to win it. Jockey Cristan Torres has been awesome at 1-1/16 miles this meet with 27% wins.
Oaklawn Race 8: allowance / optional claiming
#1 Stiglets (4-5 ML favorite) will be strongly backed off a blowout win Jan. 3. But he’s 2-15 lifetime and could get pace pressure. His best for in ’24 and ’25 can deeper into his form cycle, so I’ll try to beat him after a 2-month break. #2 Vital Mind is 4-1 ML and note jockey Erik Asmussen has been a plus-ROI jockey with a 22% win rate in 6-furlong sprints at the Oaklawn meet. This one was second-best to Stiglets in that Jan. 3 race, has since run back and won and could get pace help. He’s the play, but I’m including #4 Linzer, whose trainer Cipriano Contreras is a wicked 9: 5-0-2 over the last 2 weeks. That one’s 10-1 ML.
Oaklawn Race 9: maiden claiming
Arkansas-bred maiden claimers going 1-1/16 miles don’t inspire a lot of form. The Feb. 20 race won wire-to-wire by Markansas is where I settled on #1 Willy Cuts (2-1 ML) and #7 Gray Taps (10-1 ML). The former benefits from a more favorable draw after finishing second as the favorite. The latter was hard-used from the far outside last time and paid the price in the lane. Trainer Randy Morse has been red hot with a 17: 4-4-1 record the past 2 weeks and it would be no surprise to see this one improve. If budget allows or looking for a horse in the intra-race exotics, #4 Mandatory Mission is 15-1 ML and Cristian Torres’ 27% prowess in these 1-1/16 miles races makes for a major jockey improvement – albeit the horse has shown no speed to date.
The Ticket
2,11,9 with 6,2,5 with 2,9 with 9,3 with 2,4 with 1,7 = $144 for $1
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