Oaklawn Picks for Friday, December 12:
TRACKING MR. ED: “The change will do you good,” is one of Mr. Ed’s favorite axioms as a public handicapper and lifelong horseplayer. Today and Saturday offer him the chance to dig for winners at a track he has never set hoof on. Several racing fans whom he respects refer to Oaklawn Park, located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, as the Saratoga of the South. I thought this might be a good opportunity to try handicapping a couple of cards and measure its racing product (and my success) vs. the more familiar tracks now open, i.e. BIG A, Gulfstream, Tampa Bay and Santa Anita. A visit to Oaklawn remains on my shrinking bucket list, which also includes trips to Del Mar (where the surf meets the turf in San Diego, CA) and Ascot in England — talk about a longshot!
OPENING DAY AT OAKLAWN PARK: The $150K Advent Stakes headlines the season-opening 10-race card. A number of top riders, including Luis Saez and Joel Rosario, as well as well-known trainers, including Brad Cox, Tom Amoss and Dave Asmussen will be on hand throughout the meet, which runs through April 18, 2026. First post on Opening Day is 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT. The forecast calls for sunny skies with a high in the upper-50s. Here’s a look at Mr. Ed’s exclusive VSiN selections.
Mr. Ed’s Selections for Oaklawn Park, Friday, 12/12
Race 1 (1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 3YO fillies going 1 1/16-mile
Nothing quite like a winning early DD to start the day. Mr. Ed likes a pair in the first leg: #3 JOLLY JOLENE (7-2 morning line) for under-rated trainer Lindsay Schultz with Francisco Arrieta riding, and #7 MY GLENDA FAYE (5-2) for sharp trainer Dallas Stewart with big jockey upgrade to Joel Rosario. Two tough ladies.
OAKLAWN PARK SELECTION: $5 Daily Double of 3,7/1,6. ($20)
Race 2 (1:58 p.m. ET/10:58 a.m. PT) — $32K MAIDEN CLAIMING FOR AR-bred fillies and mares, 3YOs & Up going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes either of two to complete DD: #1 DEVLISH GAL (5-2 morning line) for Rudy Brisset’s barn with new rider Cristian Torres, and #6 AIR CASTLE (9-2) for low-key trainer John Prather and young Assael Espinoza in the saddle.
Race 3 (2:25 p.m. ET/11:25 a.m. PT) — $60K STARTER ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & Up going a mile
Mr. Ed is betting Mark Casse gelding #7 DETERMINEDLY (3-1 morning line), with Cristian Torres returning to ride, to improve on second start back from break.
OAKLAWN PARK SELECTION: $10 to Win & Place. ($20)
Race 4 (2:55 p.m. ET/11:55 a.m. PT) — $31K CLAIMING for 3YOs & Up going 6 furlongs
I like two of three to pay off: #2 BEN FRANKLIN (3-1 morning line) for excellent trainer Chris Hartman, who hires jockey Rafael Bejarano; #8 JACKMAN (4-1) for HOFer Steve Asmussen with Ramon Vazquez riding — Hugh for the money! And #13 SUNCROFT (2-1) for the powerful team of David Jacobson and Ricardo Santana, Jr.
OAKLAWN PARK SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Rage 6 (3:53 p.m. ET/12:53 p.m. PT) — $45K STARTER ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & Up going 1⅛-mile
Mr. Ed likes two of three for the money: #2 KEEN CAT (3-1 morning line) for Randy Morse with Francisco Arrieta riding; #4 MY NOBLE KNIGHT (5-2) for Tom Amoss barn with Luis Saez riding, and #12 MONEY RUN (9-2) for sharp West Coast trainer Peter Miler and Ramon Vazquez in saddle.
OAKLAWN PARK SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 7 (4:22 p.m. ET/1:22 p.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YO fillies going 6 furlongs
Steve Asmussen’s debuting filly #2 COGNIZANT (7-2 morning line) gets Mr. Ed’s money. Johan Rosado is in the saddle. Mr. Ed’s well aware of his excellent works.
OAKLAWN PARK SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 8 (4:52 p.m. ET/1:52 p.m. PT) — $150K ADVENT STAKES for 2YOs going 5½-furlongs
Mr. Ed likes trio: #4 BOCA BEACH CLUB (3-1 morning line) for trainer Jimmy DiVito with big rider upgrade to Ricardo Santana, Jr.; #6 SPUN D M C (5-2), fan favorite for Randy Morse and Luis Saez, and #7 STRONG POTENTIAL (8-1) with new rider Joel Rosario.
OAKLAWN PARK SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 9 (5:20 p.m. ET/2:20 p.m. PT) — $115K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs going 1 1/16-mile
Mr. Ed closes out the opening day card with a DD: #8 CRISIS MANAGER (9-2 morning line) for Amoss barn, and #10 UNCLE CAESAR (3-1) for Brad Cox outfit.
OAKLAWN PARK SELECTION: $5 Daily Double of 6,10/5,7. ($20)
Race 10 (5:47 p.m. ET/2:47 p.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for AR-bred 3 YOs going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes either of these to cash a winning ticket: #5 BRUNIA (5-2 morning line) for Lindsay Schultz, and #7 SECRET SLEW (3-1) for Donnie Von Hemel outfit.
TOTAL WAGERS: $170
SATURDAY AT OAKLAWN PARK: Headlining Day 2 of the annual meeting is a 6-furlong sprint, Race 8 — The $150K RING THE BELL STAKES for 3YOs & Up with $2 million-earner #4 SKELLY (5-2 morning line), the expected post-time favorite. First post for the 10-race card is 2:20 p.m. ET/11:20 a.m. PT. Mr. Ed will be on hand with his exclusive VSiN selections. And never forget, “The best thing in the world is to win money at the track, and the second best thing is to lose money at the track.”
