Betting With, and Against, Charge It in the Oaklawn Handicap

A strong field of seven will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Oaklawn Park dirt on Saturday in the $1 million Oaklawn H. (G2). The well-matched field is led by Whisper Hill Farm’s homebred #7 Charge It (8-5), who was last seen finishing a solid second in the Gulfstream Park Dirt Mile (G2).

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Grade 1-placed four-year-old has run some big races in his lifetime and could be sitting on a peak performance while making his third run since the summer.

Charge It is equipped with natural early speed and figures to sit an advantageous trip while pressing the early tempo from the opening bell on Saturday. Regular pilot Luis Saez will be in the stirrups.

The Michael Stidham-trained #4 Proxy (4-1) made a fine late run when just missing in the Santa Anita H. (G1) at Santa Anita in his most recent outing and will be tough to hold off late with anything resembling that showing. The consistent son of Tapit has run well on numerous surfaces in the past, and he figures to perform well over this ground while making his local debut.

Proxy lands in a field with some speed signed on, and a swift pace will aid the Godolphin homebred with Joel Rosario taking the reins.

#3 Stilleto Boy (8-1) has won or placed in each of his four prior tries on the strip and comes off of a game score in the Santa Anita H. (G1) for conditioner Ed Moger. Purchased for $420,000 in November of 2021, the hard-trying five-year-old has held up well while facing the best in the division over the past two seasons, and he’s hard to ignore at a fine morning-line price. Kent Desormeaux retains the mount atop the win threat.

Trainer D. Wayke Lukas has #2 Last Samurai (2-1) in fine form at the moment with a pair of Grade 3 wins on the course in succession in advance of this tilt. By Malibu Moon, the chestnut five-year-old dominated the race in 2022 and has done some of his best work at Oaklawn Park in his lifetime. He has tactical speed combined with a stout late kick, and he is an obvious inclusion with Christian Torres in the silks. 

Charge It – With

• $8 trifecta: key 7 with 2, 3, 4 ($48)

Charge It – Against

• 50-cent trifecta: 2, 3, 4 with 2, 3, 4, 7 with all ($22.50)
• 30-cent superfecta: 2, 3, 4 with 2, 3, 4, 7 with 2, 3, 4, 7 with all ($21.60)