Oaklawn: Exotics plays for the 2022 King Cotton Stakes

A sharp field of nine sprinters will dash six panels at Oaklawn Park in Saturday’s $150,000 King Cotton S.

I was super impressed with the allowance victory by #1 Hollis (4-1) last time out and will come right back with the seven-year-old gelding to key some of my wagers in this one.

Hollis has always flashed considerable early foot for conditioner John Ortiz, but the way he tracked a swift early tempo prior to driving home with a powerful turn of foot last time out left a fine impression on me. The seven-year-old son of Street Sense ran one of the better races that I have seen at the current meeting in his December tally, and a repeat of that showing will make him super tough in this dash.

The gelding shows four solid drills since that score to avoid a regression, and I will put him on top of most of my plays with Ricardo Santana retaining the mount.

Steve Asmussen’s #6 Nashville (5-2) is fleet from the gate and rates as the one to catch and beat in this. A daylight winner of his first trio of lifetime tries, the son of Speightstown has lost two in succession but he could easily rebound on Saturday. The bay is expected to move forward some in his second run in 13 months with Florent Geroux in the stirrups atop the stakes hero.

I am also interested in the Larry Jones-trained #7 Bob’s Edge (5-1) as a key exotics piece. The Competitive Edge gelding has never missed the board from four lifetime tries at Oaklawn Park, and the bay has the running style to rally into a wicked pace and make some noise late. He has been training in swift fashion and will be doing his best work in the lane with Luis Quinonez riding.

Grade 1 victor #4 Collusion Illusion (3-1) is one I will take a stand against at a short price. The bay is more than capable with something resembling his top performance, but he is off form currently and the blinkers have been taken off following a try with the hood on last time out. I may be wrong, but I feel that the son of Twirling Candy might have his best days behind him.

King Cotton Exotics Wagers

• $5 exacta key box 1 with 6,7 ($20)
• $1 trifecta 1 with 6, 7 with all ($14)
• 50-cent superfecta 1, 6 with 1, 6 with 7 with all ($6)
• 50-cent superfecta 1, 6 with 1, 6 with all with 7 ($6)