Pick 3 of the Week: Oaklawn Park Saturday

The $1 million Southwest S. (G3) leads the Saturday card at Oaklawn Park which will play host to six black-type races in total. I will make the Pick 3 of the Week consisting of the trio of races that lead up to the marquee race of the afternoon. 

Race 7 Wager

$1 Pick 3: 4,5,7,8,9 with 8,11 with 1,4 ($20)

Race 7 – Fifth Season S. 

The one-mile contest for the boys attracted a talented field of nine. I don’t see a single in the group and will spread with five runners that can get it done in my opinion. #4 Patriot Spirit (15-1) is the long shot of my quintet for conditioner Michael Campbell. This multiple stakes hero ran some big ones as a sophomore, and with good natural speed, the four-year-old son of Constitution could sit a nice trip throughout the race. Christian Torres inherits the mount. 

#5 The Wine Steward (5-2) will make his first appearance since a try in the Belmont S. (G1) in the summer for Mike Maker. The son of Vino Rosso had been first or second in five consecutive stakes races prior to his 2024 finale, and he will be a menacing figure in the lane with his best showing. 

Two-time stakes star #7 Henro (9-2), who was a smart allowance winner on the oval last time out, as well as 2023 Street Sense (G3) victor #8 Liberal Arts (3-1), Perryville S. (G3) upsetter #9 Brunacini (6-1), will make the ticket. 

Race 8 – Bugler S. 

The middle leg of the sequence is a six-furlong dash for fillies and mares and a full field of 14 will go postward. I’m not in love with #8 Royal Spa (3-1) as the morning-line favorite, but the Rodolphe Brisset trainee has run well on the surface and comes off a nice third behind Spirit Wind in the Poinsettia S. Christian Torres has the assignment, and she is the most logical contender in the event. 

#11 Pharoah’s Heart (20-1) is a flier, but I like her current pattern and envision her taking a nice step forward off of the long layoff. The eight-year-old mare was a smart second with allowance foes most recently and she has run well enough in the past to figure in this type of dash. The gray will stalk the action under Samy Camacho. 

Race 9 – Martha Washington S. 

The Kentucky Oaks qualifying affair attracted a compact field of six and I will side with the two most logical fillies in the group. #1 Quietside (8-5) placed in the Spinaway S. (G1), Alcibiades S. (G1), and Golden Rod S. (G2) as a juvenile and the John Ortiz pupil lands in a logical spot to commence her sophomore season. The Malibu Moon homebred gets a perfect draw on the fence and will always be in range with Ricardo Santana, Jr. taking the reins. 

Whitworth Beckman’s #4 Her Laugh (2-1) is 2-for-2 following a daylight tally in the Untapable S. at Fair Grounds on December 21. The chestnut daughter of Practical Joke will always be prominent in the heat with Axel Concepcion in the silks.