How to bet the Iowa Oaks Thursday at Prairie Meadows

Plays for the Iowa Oaks Card tonight!

Prairie Meadows kicks off its three day Festival of Racing with the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks. Ed DeRosa lays out his plans for betting tonight's Oaks; it's Race 9 on the ten race card, post time is 10:21 p.m. ET.

The Iowa Oaks attracted a deep field, and the Plum Pretty exacta of Thrilled (#2) and Family Tree (#11) are likely to attract the most wagering dollars, but we’re going to look for a better price in this 1 1/16-mile contest on Thursday night at Prairie Meadows.

The Plum Pretty was the best race of Thrilled's career by far, and as the favorite against a talented group we’ll bet against her to run back to that Sunland Park form. Family Tree entices a bit more at a slightly longer price, but she’s marooned in post 11, and posts 8 and beyond are winless in 7 races at the distance.

Both Thrilled and Family Tree are two of the as many as seven three-year-old fillies who could show speed in this race, which is another reason we’ll try to beat the favorites here, and we’ll try to do it with Alotta Skirt (#7), who began her career winless in five starts before breaking her maiden and winning an entry-level allowance race this spring. Alotta Skirt’s last win came over next-out winner Faithfully, and jockey Corey Lanerie ships in for the mount. It’s also worth noting that she was favored in her debut, and though she finished fifth that day, the top three horses all won their next start, and she also counts future graded stakes winner Terra Promessa in her company lines.

Alotta Skirt will have to improve some Speed Rating wise to contend with the top fillies here, but a favorable pace setup and 3-6 pounds from the top contenders makes us willing to take the risk at this price (10-to-1 morning line)

Don't miss the Friday and Saturday races from Prairie as well. The Grade 3 Iowa Derby and the Grade 3 Cornhusker are on deck and offer great betting to end the day right. Get Brisnet's Profit Line report for Friday's card for FREE HERE!