Oaklawn Park: Exotics plays for the Razorback H. on Feb. 12

An especially competitive field of nine will go postward in the lucrative $600,000 Razorback H. (G3) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile event features numerous graded stakes winners, as well as multiple runners who have enjoyed local success, in one of the more intriguing handicapping assignments of the weekend.

#6 Thomas Shelby (6-1), one of two major contenders in the cast for conditioner Robertino Diodoro, will be included in all of my wagers. The chestnut son of Curlin has never been better, and while he lacks the overall class of some of his foes, the gelding has superb form and also looks like the speed of the field.

The Kentucky-bred comes off of a pair of narrow stakes defeats on the course as of late, but he can turn the tables in this one under a savvy ride by regular pilot David Cohen.

Todd Pletcher’s #5 Promise Keeper (4-1) will make his four-year-old debut in a tough spot, but he could be poised for a big season. The chestnut colt flashed considerable talent last campaign, led by a facile score in the Peter Pan S. (G2) at Belmont Park, and he is training in swift fashion in anticipation of his return. Florent Geroux taking the reins is a major positive.

#3 Lone Rock (3-1) is the top stayer in the states for Diodoro, but the versatile bay also proved capable of cutting back in distance with success following his Tinsel S. tally at 1 1/8 miles most recently. The gelded son of Majestic Warrior has been first or second in each of his nine performances since being claimed in 2020, and the classy bay is an exotics must use in my opinion.

Steve Asmussen’s #9 Silver Prospector (15-1) is another I will dabble with in the gimmicks at a big morning-line number. The gray son of Declaration of War is a graded winner on the surface, and I expect him to take a big step forward in his second outing since May. He looms a danger if he can avoid a wide voyage throughout under Luis Contreras.

Razorback exotics wagers

• $2 exacta box 3, 5, 6, 9 ($24)
• $1 trifecta box 3, 5, 6, 9 ($24)
• 20-cent superfecta 5, 6 with 3, 5, 6, 9 with 3, 5, 6, 9 with all ($14.40)