Shapiro's Early Pick 4 play for Oaklawn Park on Apr. 30

The final week of racing at Oaklawn Park kicks off with a solid nine-race card Thursday. As always, there is a Pick 4 sequence over the first four races. Let's try to take advantage of a couple vulnerable favorites and build a bankroll for an outstanding final two days of the 2020 meeting in Hot Springs.

Race 1:

I like the chances of #2 James’s Moonshine in this 6-furlong dash for Arkansas-bred maiden claimers. The son of Moonshine Mullin ran a better than looks fifth on debut on Mar. 7 against better before disappointing as the 5-2-second choice in a race run over the muddy going earlier this month. With a jock upgrade to leading rider Ricardo Santana Jr. and a slight drop in class, it should be graduation day for the Chris Hartman trainee. A single to start the day.

Race 2:

#7 My Boy Lollipop drops into the conditional claiming ranks for the first time after a fourth-place finish as the 9-5 favorite on Mar.28. The son of Will Take Charge is capable of besting this modest bunch, but I do not trust him in his first start against older runners. I will fade him and use several of his rivals since he is likely to be the most popular single in the sequence.

#2 Young Hendrick was run down late in his lone Arkansas start on Feb. 7, and the California-bred could refuse to stop if loose on the lead here. #6 Campaign Spy cuts back to one-turn in his first try off the claim for trainer Ronald Westerman. The son of Yes It’s True has run well over this surface and should be finishing well under Joe Talamo. #3 Shoal Bay has been awful in his three starts in 2020, but can spring a huge upset if he can get back to his debut win last May. #9 Leo Del Reo has been a new horse since dropping into the claiming ranks for Ingrid Mason. He draws favorably outside of Young Hendrick. #10 Tiz McNamara drops in class and cuts back to one-turn. He should be much more competitive on Thursday afternoon.

Race 3:

I am not creative in this open $8,000 claimer at 6-furlongs.

#1 Lewys Vaporizer makes his second start off the claim for trainer Cipriano Contreras. The speedball missed the break on Apr. 2 costing him all chance. The 8-year-old gelding is not what he used to be, but if he sets a moderate early tempo, he will be tough to catch in the lane. #7 Big League drops in class in his third start of the form cycle for Chris Richard. He should get a nice stalking trip under jockey Alex Birzer. The deserving morning line favorite. #4 Roaring Rule failed to fire versus starter allowance foes on Mar. 28, but won two straight over this racetrack prior to that no show. He figures to bounce back in his final start of the meeting.

Race 4:

3-1-morning line choice #1 Cherokee Maiden has finished second in three consecutive races for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The pricey daughter of Distorted Humor is likely to hit the board, but is worth taking a shot against on top after losing twice in a row as the public’s top choice. I will lean on a pair of fillies that make their first start for two of the strongest barns in the region.

#10 Shazzy B has lacked a will to win in her first three tries, but those all came at one-turn under the handling of Dale Romans. After failing as the 2-5-favorite in a Florida-bred special weight event at Gulfstream Park, the daughter of Uncaptured has been given a two-month freshening and makes her initial try for Brad Cox. A move forward and she will be very tough to beat.

#7 Honorable Memory has failed to hit the wire first in her first five starts, but moves into the Steve Asmussen barn. The Honor Code filly has shown talent, but has been unable to get to the wire first thus far. Look for a career best performance off a trio of local drills.

Suggested Wager:

• 2 with 2,3,6,9,10 with 1,4,7 with 7,10 = $15