Thoroughbred racing: A Pick 3 play at Oaklawn Park on Saturday

The Saturday card at Oaklawn Park is packed with competitive races, and the Pick 3 that kicks off in Race 7 looks particularly enticing.

Let’s tackle the sequence on a $30 budget.

Race 7: $12,500 starter allowance (1 1/16 miles, 5:02 p.m. ET)

#4 Slick Silver has won five straight races since he was claimed by Brittany Vanden Berg, even while steadily ascending the class ladder. The speedy son of Kantharos most recently nabbed a 1-mile and 70-yard optional-claiming allowance at Hawthorne on Jan. 3, when he led all the way to win by a neck, and Saturday’s starter allowance looks like the perfect spot for Slick Silver to keep his win streak rolling.

We’ll also include #2 Rocko’s Wheel, a former Californian who won for a $12,500 claiming tag at Oaklawn last month, and #7 Ghostly Who, who steps up in class off a $6,250 starter allowance victory for the super-hot jockey/trainer combo of David Cohen and Robertino Diodoro. Together they’ve compiled a 34% strike rate at Oaklawn this winter.

Race 8: Allowance (1 1/16 miles, 5:34 p.m. ET)

The 3-year-old #8 Magic Dance is the 5-2 morning-line favorite, but though she showed promise as a juvenile — she won the Debutante S. and placed in the Adirondack (G2) — she hasn’t run since August and will stretch out beyond a sprint distance for the first time Saturday.

Rather than count on Magic Dance to prevail off the layoff, we’ll favor her older rivals, #3 Ready Orb Not and #4 Getridofwhatailesu, who are capable route runners that hail from the high-percentage barns of Diodoro and Brad Cox.

Race 9: Nodouble Breeders’ S. (6 furlongs, 6:08 p.m. ET)

#6 Hoonani Road won his first seven starts at Oaklawn Park, including the 2019 edition of this race. But the 5-year-old gelding hasn’t been quite as sharp this winter. He was beaten two lengths by #3 K J’s Nobility over this track and distance Feb. 22.

K J’s Nobility has cracked the trifecta in his last seven runs for hot trainer Cecil Borel, who is 5-for-10 at Oaklawn this winter. A late runner, K J’s Nobility overcame a troubled trip to beat Hoonani Road and brings five consecutive 90+ Brisnet Speed ratings to the mix.

We’ll single K J’s Nobility and trust him to end our Pick 3 on a winning note.

$5 Pick 3: 2,4,7 with 3,4 with 3 ($30)

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Good luck!