BetAmerica’s horse racing pick of the day: April 9, Oaklawn Park

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Thursday, April 9

Oaklawn Park, Race 8: $50,000 maiden claiming (6 furlongs, 6:09 p.m. ET)

The finale on the Thursday card is a competitive maiden claiming race for 3-year-old fillies, and the stats suggest trainer Kelly Von Hemel has a chance to reach the winner’s circle with #9 Cavatica (10-1 on the morning line).

An unraced daughter of Grade 1 winner Paynter, Cavatica has posted sharp workouts at Oaklawn Park. She most recently carved out a half-mile from the starting gate in :48 flat.

Von Hemel wins at a 27% rate with first-time starters and strikes 30% of the time with horses debuting in maiden claiming races, so Cavatica should be poised for a sharp effort right out of the gate. Her dam, Full Figure, has produced seven winners and two stakes victors from nine foals, so Cavatica has the lineage to be a capable runner.

We’ll bet Cavatica to win and play her for second place in the exacta, behind logical favorite #13 Shazzy B, assuming the latter draws in off the also-eligible list.

$10 to win on #9 Cavatica
$10 exacta: 13 with 9

Good luck!