Saturday’s late pick 4 at Oaklawn Park includes the featured Smarty Jones Stakes and our 1 Million 1/ST Reward Points Hit & Split promotion. The sequence starts in Race 8 at 4:25 pm ET. Let’s get to work.
Oaklawn: Race 8 | allowance
While there are several viable options in this race, a solid amount of pace gives the late-runners the preferred running style in my projection. #6 Super Cruise makes a second start of his form cycle, the one that created his maiden-breaking win in April over this track. His last was against First Division, who comes back in stakes company Friday at OP with a big shot (tab the result for more/less confidence). #5 Myra’s Boy gets a new pilot after a mist-timed move, one of my favorite jockey angles, and could surprise at a big number – at a minimum a good exotics use. I’ll limit with these 2, otherwise could make cases for too many others (#3, #8, #7, #11 of most additional interest).
Oaklawn: Race 9 | $135,000 Commodore Stakes
#2 Second ID comes out of a super-tough edition of the Ring the Bell Stakes that could double up as the meet’s top sprint, the Count Fleet, in the spring. He was solid that day and this easier task puts him at the head of my list. #6 Bourbon Bash offers double-digit odds and a bullet workout Dec. 11 from the gate is highly impressive for a Steve Asmussen barn whose horses rarely work fast. Long layoff concerns, but price will be right to find out. Favorite #5 Concrete Glory loves to win races, 17 of them, and while never at Oaklawn, this Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee is by 2012 Arkansas Derby dominator Bodemeister.
Oaklawn: Race 10 | $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes
#3 Boca Beach Club really caught my eye in his professional Hawthorne debut win and I was all in for his Advent Stakes sprint appearance Dec. 12 over this track. He missed the break, spent the race in make-up mode and ran on well and galloped out well enough. He’s by Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Beach, out of a Mineshaft mare, and should only get better routing. Our late, great handicapping brother Jeff Siegel used to preach the virtues of the sprint-sprint-route form cycle, and that’s where Boca Beach Club reside. Go time with a jockey change to money rider Luis Saez. #1 Universe is a classy sort who has chased with interest 3 straight stakes winners that are high only many Derby prospect lists (Napoleon Solo, Incredibolt and Further Ado). He should come running with a rail-saving trip. #5 Rancho Santa Fe deserves respect for his 2 wins in Kentucky, the last coming at Keeneland against a couple of next-out allowance winners who ran 2-3 for Brendan Walsh and Will Walden. I’ll settle on this favored trio with some confidence, but the play may be the best ML price in Boca Beach Club.
Oaklawn: Race 11 | allowance
#6 Vital Mind is a regally bred Into Mischief-She’s A Julie colt who hasn’t done much wrong in 2 career starts, though he’s obviously had plenty of physical issues given the light duty. Should be in the hunt throughout with legitimate upside. #1 Five O’Clock Somewhere is rail speed in sharp form and capable of the class rise. #4 Run Jalen Run also projects near the front and one of these 3 pace players likely holds off the modest closers.
The Ticket
6,5 with 2,5,6 with 3,1,5 with 6,1,4 = $27 for each $.50
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