Oaklawn Park best bet, Pick 3 play for April 3

Nine fillies and mares will contest Friday’s seventh race at Oaklawn Park, a 5 1/2-furlong conditional starter allowance, and I am keen on #7 Fully Aware.

Listed as the 7-2 third choice on the morning line, Fully Aware exits a spectacular, 8 1/2-length romp over $50,000 maiden claiming rivals in her career debut Feb. 2. The 3-year-old daughter of Violence was claimed by Hronis Racing, and she will make her first start for trainer John Sadler on Friday.

An $180,000 sale purchase and half-sister to stakes winner Zooming, Fully Aware must have surprised her previous connections. She was training at Louisiana Downs in late December, before she joined Brad Cox’s string at Oaklawn. The dark bay filly showed good speed from the start last time and contested an opening quarter-mile in :21 4/5, before she impressively drew away in the stretch.

Fully Aware received an 83 Brisnet Speed rating, which is tied for the best last-out number in the field, and she shows seven works in preparation. I like the draw in post 7, and Fully Aware can keep moving forward with another win.

I will wager $20 to win on Fully Aware, and single her in a late Pick 3 that begins in the seventh race.

Here are some quick thoughts on the rest of the sequence.

In the eighth race, #5 Pirate’s Punch looks formidable off a third in the Mineshaft (G3) at Fair Grounds. I will also use the in-form #8 Kurilov.

The ninth race appears wide open, with the potential for a high-priced winner, and I will spread seven deep with #2 Dancin in Paradise, #4 Kiss More, #6 Crystal Lake, #7 Gold Credit, #9 Shocking Fast, #11 Jo Marie, and #12 Eskendar.

$1 Pick 3 ticket: 7 with 5,8 with 2,4,6,7,9,11,12 ($14)