Oaklawn/Purple Martin Picks

As the number of tracks running continues to drop, we're seeing less "big" races, but Oaklawn has a very interesting and challenging late Pick 4 available today (Races 7-10) that is a fun one to handicap and features the Purple Martin for three year old fillies in Race 9. 

Two six-furlong sprint affairs and two mile-and-a-sixteenth races make up the sequence. I'm not really sure how I'm going to "attack it" just yet, but Pick 4 players could reap a nice reward if they can afford to go a little deep in their pockets for the wager. The sequence has two Pick 3's as well, and they've been pretty good to me lately, so...we'll see. 

Today's picks will feature my top pick to win at the top of the picks today and then others I feel have a shot. 

Here we go: 


RACE 7 -- ALLOWANCE 61k -- SIX FURLONGS -- (DIRT)

3 -- MARYANORGINGER
2 -- INTHEMIDSTOFBIZ
4 -- TAKE CHARGE ERICA
10 -- SUPERWONDERGIRL
5 -- SAVVY ALLY

Comments:  Maryanoginger took a stakes race in New York back in the summer, even after stumbling badly at the start. The lack of racing since then worries me a bit but the works look sound, and hot Oaklawn jock David Cohen jumps on. My top pick. Let's look at Inthemidstofbiz. I can't complain about how she's run at Oaklawn in three outings, a win and two finishes less that two lengths behind. She'll contest the early pace, can she hang on? Take Charge Erica was hot at Ellis Park in the summer, closed in here last at Oaklawn and rates a look. Superwondergirl finished second her last two times out at Keeneland and Churchill. Can't ignore her. Savvy Ally comes in from FairGrounds, jumps off the turf to dirt and has been no worse than second in three of her last four. Cardamon could show up. 

RACE 8 -- OPTIONAL CLAIMING 80K -- 1-1/16 MILE -- (DIRT) 

5 -- ANSWER IN
1 -- FINNICK THE FIERCE
3 - GENERAL TREY
7 -- FORT KNOX

Comments:  Answer In has run third or better in all four lifetime starts. Ran third in the Southwest here behind powerhouse Silver Prospector and won't see anything as strong today. Answer In is my top pick. Finnick the Fierce ran second in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes this fall at Churchill and if he can return to that form rates a chance. Leaves the FairGrounds and picks up Martin Garcia as the rider. General Trey won her maiden race at Oaklawn with a strong, three wide move and it's a Steve Asmussen runner who could continue to improve. Fort Knox has gotten strong each time out, won convincingly at Fairgrounds despite a bump at the break and could surprise at a price. 

RACE 9 -- PURPLE MARTIN STAKES 100K -- SIX FURLONGS -- (DIRT)

8 -- FRANK'S ROCKETTE
2 -- RING LEADER
7 -- LADY GLAMOUR
1 -- KIMARI
4 -- EDGEWAY 

Comments:  Frank's Rockette destroyed the competition at Gulfstream last out and has been first or second in five lifetime starts (including three graded stakes races). She's the top pick. Ring Leader is the speed here, was three for three before stretching out to a distance, goes back to six furlongs today, drops in class and had a nice, last workout. Could be dangerous on top. Lady Glamour ships in from Churchill, had the misfortune of finishing behind Finite twice and  should find the going easier than she did in Churchill's Goldenrod Grade II stakes. Kimari  finished third in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint at 5/2 odds and returns to dirt today with Mike Smith on board. I gotta use her, she's four for five lifetime first or second. Edgeway makes a huge jump from her first start, a maiden win, where she blew out the competition at Oaklawn by five furlongs. She'll be sent early and will try to wire these and we'll see how she handles the class jump. 


RACE 10 -- MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT 60K -- 1-1/16TH MILE -- (DIRT) 

7 -- COPPER KING
5 -- WILD UNION
8 -- MO AND GO
4 -- AZTEC EMPIRE
12 -- ON D' ORO

Comments:  Copper King is purely a hunch here for me. She's 0-8 lifetime and run behind a couple of these today at Oaklawn. Is today the day? Drops in class, is a closer, should get a fast track today and is a Asmussen horse, so I'll nervously make her my top pick. Wild Union has been second or third in seven of his eight lifetime starts. Joe Talamo returns for Brad Cox, Mo and Go drops in class in his second try at Oaklawn. The New York invader as seen better and has a shot. Aztec Empire puts on blinkers today for new trainer Ron Moquett and gets Calvin Borel aboard. Calvin gets them to the rail, this one shows a bit of closing ability and has a chance in a wide open race. On d' Oro gets the horrible post, but Stewart Elliott will try to get her to the lead and see what happens. This one runs better, it seems, on a off-track, so..buyer beware.   A VERY wide open race.

19 horses is a bunch to give you, I know, but it speaks toward the competitive nature of the fields today. I fooled around with a .50 cent Pick 4 that costs $50, and I'll share it, despite my lack of confidence in it: 

2.3.4.5.10
1,5
2,8
4,5,7,8,12 


Good luck today in a very competitive card. Bet 'em anyway you like and remember what we say here, don't put the mortgage on a mudder. 


paulie
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