McGee: How I'll play Oaklawn for Saturday, March 17

Saturday
Oaklawn Park
Pick-4, races 7-10

This pick-4 to close out the terrific Rebel Day card at Oaklawn looks tricky at best and impossible at worst, but I’ll give it a gallant try by riding the Brad Cox wave, using only his two Steve Landers-owned contenders in the Essex (R8) and building a ticket around them.

Race 7: Mitole (9) has been 2-5 in his last two starts and surely won’t be that low today when facing much tougher at this 1x alw. level, but it’s hard to ignore that two-back 96 Beyer, and victory goes through him today. I’ll include him with a couple of other contenders, Ike (5) and Infinity Squared (10) while tossing in a live longshot in Grade One (3).

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Race 8: Dazzling Gem (5) always has had tons of potential and has done solid work at Oaklawn (3 for 6), and in an Essex filled with early speed, he could benefit from early rating under Gary Stevens before moving along. Rocking the Boat (6) is extremely well regarded by Team Valor and trainer Kellyn Gorder and is a live possibility to blow it all up.

Race 9: I’ll take a calculated risk in the Azeri by throwing out Farrell and Terra Promessa when otherwise covering bases with the quartet of Actress (1), Tiger Moth (4), Streamline (6), and Blue Prize (8).

Race 10: Hopefully the Rebel will boil down to one of the talented newcomers to this circuit, Solomini (3) and Magnum Moon (4), or one of the Southwest returnees, Sporting Chance (7) and Combatant (10), both of whom may’ve been compromised that day.

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Here’s the straight-A play:
R7: 3, 5, 9, 10
R8: 5, 6
R9: 1, 4, 6, 8
R10: 3, 4, 7, 10
50-cent ticket = $64

Here’s the DRF TicketMaker™ link.