Oaklawn Park Picks: Oaklawn Handicap Stakes (04/18/2026)

Chris Adams

Written by: Chris Adams

Published: Sat Apr 18, 2026, 9:00 am ET

Read Time: 8 minutes

Statue at Oaklawn Park

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

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Oaklawn Park Full Card Analysis

Oaklawn Park Picks: Oaklawn Handicap Stakes (04/18/2026)

Oaklawn Park Picks: Oaklawn Handicap Stakes (04/18/2026)

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 12:45 PM CT; Maiden Claiming $60k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

  • #1 HELENE'S POWER (7-2): Top pick. Strong early pace figs. Barn has been solid.
  • #5 IF IF IF (5-2): Major Player. Looks fast enough off previous efforts. May be able to take advantage of the pace.
  • #6 SHE'S HONED IN (2-1): Contender. Speed figs match up nicely. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #3 COMMAND THE STARS (3-1): Underneath. Trainer's horses have been running. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 1 – 5 – 6 – 3

The Plays

Win: #1 at 2-1

Exacta: 1/ 5,6

Pick 3 (races 1-3): #1,5 with #8,9,7,1 with #5

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 1:18 PM CT; Claiming $31k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

Longshot Play of the Day

  • #8 J T'S IMAGINATION (10-1): Longshot play of the day. Race may setup for this runner. Races competitive with the top contenders. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
  • #9 ONE GIANT LEAP (2-1): Major Player. May be able to take advantage of the pace.
  • #7 EASTSIDE COOL (8-1): Major Player. Likely in the mix early. The 92 speed rating is among the best in the field.
  • #1 LITTLE STEVEN (7-2): Major Player. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 8 – 9 – 7 – 1

The Plays

Win: #8 at 4-1

Exacta Box: 8,9

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 1:51 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $110k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

Best Bet of the Card

  • #5 WHITLEY (7-2): Best bet of the card. Proven competitor at this configuration. Should be able to work out a trip. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
  • #7 INSTAMANIA (4-5): Fringe Contender. Potentially cycling to a top performance. Speed figures match this group well.
  • #4 AMORE (20-1): Underneath. Potential to have this pace fall just right. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #1 ARCO THUNDER (15-1): Underneath. Potential to get the pace of the race flow. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.

Selections: 5 – 7 – 4 – 1

The Plays

Win: #5 at 1-1

Exacta: 5/ 7

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 2:23 PM CT; Allowance $125k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

  • #3 BEAUTY REIGNS (8-5): Top pick. Race sets up perfectly. Strong early pace figs.
  • #7 UNTAMED MOMENT (5-2): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition. Should take a liking to the race shape.
  • #4 BEAUTIFUL TWICE (4-1): Contender. Hard to argue with the recent races. May be able find the right setup.
  • #5 TRUE PASSION (7-2): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint.

Selections: 3 – 7 – 4 – 5

The Plays

Win: #3 at 2-1

Exacta Box: 3,7

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 2:55 PM CT; Maiden Claiming $38k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #5 LIKE A DIAMOND (8-5): Prime Win Player. Looks good based on the 80 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Race sets up perfectly.
  • #3 ROYAL B (3-1): Underneath. Should take a liking to the race shape.
  • #2 CUTENCLASSY (20-1): Underneath. Mendoza puts this one in with a chance. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
  • #4 PAROLI (12-1): Underneath. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong.

Selections: 5 – 3 – 2 – 4

The Plays

Win: #5 at 8-5

Exacta: 5/ 3

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 3:27 PM CT; Bathhouse Row Stakes $200k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

  • #6 HONEY'S TO BLAME (3-1): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Race may setup for this runner.
  • #2 WESTERN WARRIOR (8-5): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
  • #4 KHON HAN (10-1): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #7 CRUPPER (20-1): Contender. Recent races are solid. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 4 – 7

The Plays

Win: #6 at 5-2

Exacta: 6/ 2,4

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 3:59 PM CT; Maiden Claiming $38k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #6 HIGHLIGHT SHOW (9-2): Top pick. Should be able to work out a trip. Shouldn't have trouble getting the distance.
  • #8 RAGING CURRENT (5-2): Major Player. May be able to take advantage of the pace.
  • #1 LEGAL LIGHTNING (8-1): Major Player. Likely in the mix early.
  • #10 COLD CASE (3-1): Major Player. Recent races are solid. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong.

Selections: 6 – 8 – 1 – 10

The Plays

Win: #6 at 3-1

Exacta Box: 6,8

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 4:31 PM CT; Allowance Optional Claiming $125k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #7 POKERKNIGHTATVEES (8-5): Top pick. Torres puts this one in with a chance. Barn has been solid.
  • #1 PERFECT MAGIC (5-1): Major Player. Speed figures match this group well. May be able to take advantage of the pace.
  • #3 DAWN AT NORMANDY (8-1): Major Player. Could wear these ones down late. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #4 DAPPER MOON (6-1): Major Player. Arrieta puts this one in with a chance. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 7 – 1 – 3 – 4

The Plays

Win: #7 at 2-1

Exacta: 7/ 1,3

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 5:07 PM CT; Valley Of The Vapors Stakes $200k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

  • #8 KNICKLEANDIME (5-2): Top pick. Fits well with this group.
  • #6 STICKER SHOCK (9-5): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch.
  • #4 MISS CALL (9-2): Major Player. This one's a fighter in the late stages. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance.
  • #5 SCOT'S LAW (2-1): Major Player. Recent races are solid. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 8 – 6 – 4 – 5

The Plays

Win: #8 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 8,6

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 5:40 PM CT; Starter Allowance $70k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 12 runners.

  • #5 GOLD SWEEP (3-1): Top pick. De and Haran team up on this one. Should still have something in the tank late.
  • #4 SEE THROUGH IT (4-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Good race flow for this runner.
  • #7 WILDATLANTICSTORM (15-1): Major Player. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race. The 95 speed rating is among the best in the field.
  • #11 DEVIL'S TOWER (12-1): Major Player. Race conditions fit this one well. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 5 – 4 – 7 – 11

The Plays

Win: #5 at 3-1

Exacta: 5/ 4,7

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 11

Post Time: 6:20 PM CT; Oaklawn Handicap $1250k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 6 runners.

  • #5 JOURNALISM (5-2): Top pick. Strong early pace figs. Stamina to outlast the competition.
  • #3 SOVEREIGNTY (4-5): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition. Speed figures match this group well.
  • #1 WHITE ABARRIO (7-2): Major Player. Should sit a good trip. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #6 PUBLISHER (15-1): Underneath. Trainer's horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 5 – 3 – 1 – 6

The Plays

Win: #5 at 2-1

Exacta Box: 5,3

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 12

Post Time: 6:52 PM CT; Allowance Optional Claiming $125k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #2 SERAPHIA (8-5): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Asmussen and Asmussen team up on this one.
  • #10 THESTRAL (4-1): Major Player. Looks fast enough off previous efforts. Seems to be up against the right competition.
  • #6 KERRY'S KISS (7-2): Major Player. Likely in the mix early. Hard to argue with the recent races.
  • #4 BOW DRAW (20-1): Major Player. Ran at this level last out. Could be ready to hit a peak performance.

Selections: 2 – 10 – 6 – 4

The Plays

Win: #2 at 2-1

Exacta: 2/ 10,6

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Chris Adams
Chris Adams

Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.

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