Free: Cross-country plays for Thursday, April 16, 2020

Oaklawn Park carded a deep, competitive program on Thursday. Gulfstream Park also has racing. It was tough to find decent-priced contenders at either track. Even the best plays – Oaklawn’s second and Gulfstream’s fourth – are moderately priced. Here goes:

OP, race 2 (1:35 CT) – A rock-solid favorite, Cold Smoke (3) finished second last out in a highly rated maiden-30. Claimed by red-hot trainer Robertino Diodoro, up one level to maiden-40, Cold Smoke seems like a standout. Expect lower than his 7-2 program odds.

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GP, race 4 (2:39 ET) – If she repeats her maiden-claiming win, Luxe Diamond (10) can win right back in this non-winners two $6,250 claiming sprint. ’Diamond ran fast last out, drew an outside post here, has speed and meets weak rivals. Not sure if her 6-1 program price will hold, but if Luxe Diamond runs two alike, she can win her second straight.

OP, race 4 (2:35 CT) – This $16k claiming route is light; high-fig favorite Laddie Boy (1) is up in class off successive seconds vs. $8k claiming stock. Perhaps the class hike by Five Star Kip (7) is not that severe. Claimed from a runner-up finish for $6,250 by solid first-off-the-claim trainer Karl Broberg. Five Star Kip figures for a forwardly placed trip. Expect him to outrun his 8-1 morning line.

OP, race 6 (3:36 CT) – Diodoro entered two in this $8k claiming sprint – dubious class-drop favorite Shaharazad (9) and Blushing Bella (2). Shaharazad was claimed last out for $25k; she is entered back for one-third the price. Pass. Blushing Bella, claimed from a runner-up finish two back for $8k and overmatched last out, returns to her claim level. Can we really get 9-2 on Blushing Bella? Fair enough.

OP, race 8 (4:38 CT) – For the sake of action, a 20-1 bomber is not impossible. Rahway (1) could be spent; she finished next-to-last in both recent starts. But one was her comeback, and the next was a Grade 2. She drops to $50k claiming; she was fast enough for this level last summer. Rahway is an action-bet flyer only, worth a small win bet at a big price.