OAKLAWN
SPOT PLAYS
Race 6
#1
Thebabeslayer
Plus
exacta box with #2 Western Warrior
#1
Thebabeslayer comes into this race off a 5 ½-length stakes win in the
restricted $110,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Derby. The win yielded the
highest last-race Beyer Speed Figure in this field, and when you combine that
with the trainer Steve Asmussen’s past success in this race (3 wins in seven
past runnings of this race), you have a solid top selection at a potential
overlay price.
Play in
exacta box with #2 Western Warrior, who has been one of the top horses at the
2025-26 Oaklawn meet with three wins in three races this season including a
seven-length allowance optional claiming win last time out. He’ll be a big
favorite and should be included in all of your exacta boxes.
Race 11
#5
Journalism
This is a headline
match-up between last year’s Derby and Belmont winner Sovereignty versus
Preakness winner Journalism, and while Sovereignty has had the head-to-head
advantage in their meetings so far, this race will represent Journalism’s best
chance to defeat last year’s 3yo champion. Journalism’s trainer Mike McCarthy sought
out this match-up as soon as he heard Sovereignty’s plans to make his return race
off an eight-month layoff, perhaps recognizing that he’d never have a better
chance to beat him. Journalism finished fourth behind three older horses in a
loaded Breeders’ Cup Classic when last seen in November and makes his 4yo debut
off a seasonal layoff after winning 3 Grade 1 races as a 3yo. Both Journalism
and Sovereignty look superior to the other horses in this race including the inconsistent
White Abarrio.
SATURDAY, APRIL 18
OAKLAWN
RACE 1
1 Helene’s Power 7-2
5 If If If 5-2
6 She’s Honed In 2-1
RACE 2
9 One Giant Leap 2-1
1a Global Empire 7-2
5 Khozy My Boy 9-2
RACE 3
7 Instamania 4-5 Best Bet
3 Our Vekoma Ride 4-1
5 Whitley 7-2
RACE 4
5 True Passion 7-2
3 Beauty Reigns 8-5
7 Untamed Moment 5-2
RACE 5
5 Like a Diamond 8-5
4 Paroli 12-1
6 Highway Seventy 8-1
RACE 6
1 Thebabeslayer 6-1 Upset special
2 Western Warrior 8-5
4 Khon Han 10-1
RACE 7
9 She’s an Earner 7-2
8 Raging Current 5-2
10 Cold Case 3-1
RACE 8
3 Dawn at
Normandy 8-1 Live Longshot
7 Pokernightatvees 8-5
1 Perfect Magic 5-1
RACE 9
6 Sticker Shock 9-5
5 Scot’s Law 2-1
4 Miss Call 9-2
RACE 10
1 Otto the Conqueror 7-2
3 Goodasiwonswas 5-1
5 Gold Sweep 3-1
RACE 11
5 Journalism 5-2
3 Sovereignty 4-5
1 White Abarrio 7-2
RACE 12
10 Thestral 4-1
2 Seraphia 8-5
5 Miswoman 15-1
6 Kerry’s Kiss 7-2
