Oaklawn Handicap guide: Odds, analysis, PPs for Saturday race
There are only two more Saturdays until Kentucky Derby 2024, and the action isn't slowing down in Arkansas, which plays host to the Grade 2, $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap.
A field of 11 was signed on for this lucrative 1 1/8-mile event with Razorback Handicap (G3) winner Octane encountering some familiar faces in the older-male division in Red Route One, Reincarnate and race favorite Skippylongstocking.
The Oaklawn Handicap is the 11th of a scheduled 12 races at the Hot Springs track on Saturday with a scheduled post time of 6:52 p.m. EDT. The race may be seen live on FS2 and FanDuel TV.
Check out Horse Racing Nation’s free past performances page for downloadable PPs for the Oaklawn Handicap and more courtesy of our partners at Brisnet.
We also have Super Screener picks and analysis for the Oaklawn Handicap as well as recent top speed figures for each contender.
Oaklawn Handicap best speed figures
| Post | Horse | ML | Beyer | TimeformUS | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Highland Falls | 9-2 | 96 | 119 | 102 |
| 2 | Double Crown | 30-1 | 94 | 119 | 106 |
| 3 | Magic Tap | 10-1 | 96 | 119 | 102 |
| 4 | Octane | 5-1 | 98 | 122 | 111 |
| 5 | Red Route One | 7-2 | 101 | 122 | 102 |
| 6 | Reincarnate | 4-1 | 96 | 120 | 100 |
| 7 | Guntown | 20-1 | 92 | 113 | 104 |
| 8 | Last Samurai | 20-1 | 105 | 125 | 107 |
| 9 | County Final | 15-1 | 101 | 124 | 113 |
| 10 | Skippylongstocking | 3-1 | 102 | 122 | 109 |
| 11 | Instant Coffee | 15-1 | 92 | 113 | 98 |
Looking at the pace
Octane is expected to have company up front in the form of morning-line favorite Skippylongstocking, with County Final close behind that pair. However, the pace isn't anticipated to be all that fast.
Pace projector appears courtesy of TimeformUS.
HRN picks for the Oaklawn Handicap
This week's Super Screener covers all stakes races taking place at Oaklawn this Saturday, including the Valley of the Vapors. The race has "high-payoff potential" thanks to 10-1 shot Under the Palms.
"What has been most impressive about this filly is how she had moved forward in each start since her debut," Super Screener creator Mike Shutty said. "Form-cycle analysis is revealing yet another move forward here with a prediction of a Brisnet Speed Rating in the low 90s, which would easily give her victory. Adding confidence is this filly's penultimate work, which was razor sharp."
Get the early edition of the Kentucky Derby Super Screener now for just $57.
Oaklawn Handicap contender Highland Falls is one of J. Keeler Johnson's Horses to Watch, and he explains why this Brad Cox trainee could be sitting on a big race on Saturday.
Ed DeRosa took a crack at the other major handicap race taking place at Keeneland on Saturday with his Ben Ali fair odds. He sees Kingsbarns as a potential underlay, and War Campaign as an appealing price play.
National Horseplayers Championship winner Mike Gillum joined the Ron Flatter Racing Pod to discuss his top five Kentucky Derby contenders.
Here's the field for the Oaklawn Handicap: