Oaklawn Park Picks: Key Kentucky Derby Prep Race (3/28/2026)

The racing action from Oaklawn Park on Saturday features the Arkansas Derby. @HandicappingT3 has all the Oaklawn Park picks for the entire card!

Be sure to check out all the races and odds provided at the best horse racing betting sites. Use promo code BNBOL55 at signup to get a 55% first deposit match when you bet with BetOnline!

Oaklawn Park Full Card Analysis

Oaklawn Park Picks: Key Kentucky Derby Prep Race (3/28/2026)

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 11:35 AM CT; Starter Allowance $40k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

• #2 ONE WAY OR ANOTHER (2-1): Top pick. Strong early pace figs.
• #7 TALKIN IN CURSIVE (5-2): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Trainer is having a great meet.
• #4 TELL ME WHEN (6-1): Fringe Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish.
• #6 MIRANDA'S ROCKY (9-2): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 2 – 7 – 4 – 6

The Plays

Win: #2 at 5-2

Exacta: 2/ 7,4

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 12:07 PM CT; Maiden Claiming $34k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners.

• #8 VINEY (6-1): Top pick. Race sets up perfectly. Favorable class relief in this spot.
• #11 MR FAHRENHEIT (3-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Productive recent form.
• #4 GIMME A CHANCE (5-2): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. May be able find the right setup.
• #7 FLAT OUT BLESSED (6-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.

Selections: 8 – 11 – 4 – 7

The Plays

Win: #8 at 5-1

Exacta Box: 8,11,4

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 12:39 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $110k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

• #6 VEKOMA'S DIVA (5-2): Prime Win Player. Favorable class relief in this spot.
• #1 STEVIE KICKS (7-2): Fringe Contender. Mendoza and Stuart team up on this one. Like this one if a stretch duel ensues.
• #9 SECRET SLEW (3-1): Fringe Contender. Likely in the mix early. This one's a fighter in the late stages.
• #8 ROOTS TOOTN (15-1): Underneath. Early pace figs should have this one involved from the start. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field.

Selections: 6 – 1 – 9 – 8

The Plays

Win: #6 at 3-1

Exacta: 6/ 1,9

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 1:11 PM CT; Temperence Hill Stakes $200k; 1 1/2 M Dirt; Field of 6 runners.

Best Bet of the Card

• #5 PARCHMENT PARTY (1-1): Best bet of the card. Stamina to outlast the competition.  Should be able to work out a trip. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
• #6 JOKESTAR (8-5): Contender. Running well of late. Good race flow for this runner.
• #3 TRACKING ERROR (12-1): Underneath. May be able find the right setup. Could wear these ones down late.
• #1 FORGED STEEL (9-2): Underneath. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance. Ran at this level last out.

Selections: 5 – 6 – 3 – 1

The Plays

Win: #5 at 1-1

Exacta: 5/ 6,1

Pick 3 (4-6): #5 with #4,7 with #6,4

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 1:43 PM CT; Allowance Optional Claiming $125k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

• #4 SWUNG (5-1): Top pick. Torres puts this one in with a chance. Stamina to outlast the competition.
• #7 NOBLE AFFAIR (1-1): Major Player. Stamina to be in the mix late. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
• #8 CANNED HEAT (15-1): Contender. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
• #3 SPECIAL OPS (10-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Vazquez and Atras team up on this one.

Selections: 4 – 7 – 8 – 3

The Plays

Win: #4 at 5-1

Exacta: 4/ 7,8

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 2:16 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $110k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

• #6 PRIME POWER (5-1): Longshot play of the day. Should be able to work out a trip. Solid breeding for this spot. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
• #4 DAWN AT NORMANDY (3-1): Contender. Top connections on the circuit with Esquivel and Contreras.
• #5 BILOBA (9-2): Fringe Contender. Potential to have this pace fall just right. Could wear these ones down late.
• #2 SUPER HAPPY (20-1): Underneath. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.

Selections: 6 – 4 – 5 – 2

The Plays

Win: #6 at 4-1

Exacta: 6/ 4,5

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 2:50 PM CT; Allowance $125k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

• #5 RUN CLASSIC (4-1): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Looks good based on the 100 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
• #3 MISH (9-5): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Good race flow for this runner.
• #1 PRACTICALLY DARK (2-1): Major Player. Top connections on the circuit with Ortiz and Joseph.
• #4 HOLA JOEY (6-1): Major Player. Race conditions fit this one well. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint.

Selections: 5 – 3 – 1 – 4

The Plays

Win: #5 at 9-2

Exacta Box: 5,3,1

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 3:24 PM CT; Allowance $125k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

• #9 SHAPE NOTE (9-5): Prime Win Player. Could be ready for a top effort. Barn has been solid.
• #7 PERFECT MAGIC (6-1): Contender. Looks fast enough off previous efforts. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
• #5 HEART N SOUL (15-1): Contender. Hard to argue with the recent races. Has experience at this level.
• #1 RISK IT (8-1): Contender. Could be griding down the competition late.

Selections: 9 – 7 – 5 – 1

The Plays

Win: #9 at 2-1

Exacta: 9/ 7,1

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 4:02 PM CT; American Pharoah Overnight Stakes $135k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

• #4 PUBLISHER (3-1): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Race may setup for this runner.
• #7 PRINCE OF POWER (10-1): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition. Likely to get forward position.
• #3 ECHO AGAIN (12-1): Major Player. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Has experience at this level.
• #8 CLASSIC CAR WASH (2-1): Major Player. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 4 – 7 – 3 – 8

The Plays

Win: #4 at 7-2

Exacta Box: 4,8,7

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 4:42 PM CT; Allowance $125k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

• #1 MOE EIGHTY EIGHT (8-5): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Strong early pace figs.
• #3 DR. STORM (3-1): Major Player. Can run with these. Likely to get forward position.
• #7 DANCE SOME MO (6-1): Major Player. Could wear these ones down late.
• #6 VIKING (4-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Bejarano puts this one in with a chance.

Selections: 1 – 3 – 7 – 6

The Plays

Win: #1 at 9-5

Exacta Box: 1,3,7

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 11

Post Time: 5:22 PM CT; Oaklawn Mile Stakes $500k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

• #5 FULL SERRANO (2-1): Top pick. Odds suggest this one is ready to fire on debut. Barn has been solid.
• #8 AWESOME AARON (10-1): Major Player. Vazquez puts this one in with a chance. Likely to get forward position.
• #7 NU WHAT'S NEW (3-1): Major Player. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race. This one's a fighter in the late stages.
• #2 NEOEQUOS (12-1): Contender. Ran at this level last out. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.

Selections: 5 – 8 – 7 – 2

The Plays

Win: #5 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 5,7,8

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 12

Post Time: 6:02 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $110k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 11 runners.

• #4 MR FANCY PANTS (12-1): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Torres puts this one in with a chance.
• #2 BANKSY'S (2-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #7 SILVER SHOT (9-2): Major Player. Ortiz and Asmussen team up on this one. Previous success in similar race types.
• #3 FLEEK (12-1): Contender. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch. Bejarano puts this one in with a chance.

Selections: 4 – 2 – 7 – 3

The Plays

Win: #4 at 5-1

Exacta Box: 4,2,7

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 13

Post Time: 6:48 PM CT; Arkansas Derby $1500k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

• #9 LITMUS TEST (5-1): Top pick. Could be ready for a top effort. Top connections on the circuit with Arrieta and Baffert.
• #7 NAPOLEON SOLO (6-1): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
• #6 RENEGADE (3-2): Contender. Previous success in similar race types. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
• #2 SILENT TACTIC (5-2): Contender. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 9 – 7 – 6 – 2

The Plays

Win: #9 at 5-1

Exacta Box: 9,7,6

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 14

Post Time: 7:24 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $110k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners.

• #2 WHITLEY (7-5): Prime Win Player. Looks good based on the 78 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Proven competitor at this configuration.
• #10 INSTAMANIA (5-2): Fringe Contender. Like this one if a stretch duel ensues. Trainer is having a great meet.
• #4 WOLF TOOTH (15-1): Underneath. May be able find the right setup. Barn has been sending out runners.
• #6 SEVENTIES MUSIC (6-1): Underneath. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 2 – 10 – 4 – 6

The Plays

Win: #2 at 8-5

Exacta: 2/ 10,6

More Horses News

Horse Betting News

Santa Anita Picks: Grade 3 Summertime Oaks (6/13/2026)

Chris Adams 2 hours ago

Horse Betting News

Monmouth Park Picks: Grade 3 Salvator Mile (6/13/2026)

Chris Adams 3 hours ago

Horse Betting News

Delaware Park Picks: Grade 3 Delaware Oaks (6/13/2026)

Chris Adams 4 hours ago

Horse Betting News

Churchill Downs Picks: Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes (6/13/2026)

Chris Adams 5 hours ago

Betting News Kentucky Derby Horse Racing Coverage

Don't miss all the horse racing action covered by Betting News each and every week. Coverage includes free handicapping tools, comprehensive guides, and in-depth analysis of the week's biggest cards. Check out our full card analysis for this week's upcoming big races including all of the upcoming Kentucky Derby prep races!

Thursday Analysis

• Oaklawn Park Parks featuring the Hot Springs Stakes

Friday Analysis

• Oaklawn Park Parks featuring the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes

Saturday Analysis

• Gulfstream Park Picks featuring the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby (Kentucky Derby Prep Race)
• Oaklawn Park Picks featuring the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby (Kentucky Derby Prep Race)
• Santa Anita Picks featuring the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes