Tips to playing Oaklawn Park's Presidents' Day Pick 4

Monday's Southwest Stakes sets up an interesting Late Pick 4 sequence at Oaklawn Park that includes the aforementioned 2018 Kentucky Derby prep race, along with the Razorback Handicap for older male route runners. 

Once again, I will use my favorite budget Pick 4 wagering strategy, the spread ticket formula, to make a wager. It would cost $150 to lump all of my contenders on one ticket, but the spread ticket formula knocks the price down to a very reasonable $37. 

Pick 4 Contenders for Monday

OP 7 (OC-62.5k/1x, 6f) 

Primary - #9 SWORN SILENCE, #5 Miz K

Secondary - #4 Three Chords, #6 Shanghai Tariff, #1 Bo Peep, #2 Getupbabygetup

Comments: Sworn Silence is 2-for-2 and owns early/pressing versatility. She drew outside the other speed. Miz K might sit the garden spot trip under Gary Stevens.  

OP 8 (G3 Razorback, 8.5f) 

Primary - #4 J BOYS ECHO, #10 Futile, #6 Sonneteer

Secondary - #5 Leofric, #7 Shotgun Kowboy

Comments: J Boys Echo missed by a nose in a key race at Gulfstream last time. Futile is sharp and should be forwardly placed in a race without much pace. Sonneteer added blinkers and ran well in his last pair. Kent Desormeaux was aboard for his maiden turf win last summer.   

OP 9 (G3 Southwest, 8.5f)

Primary - #10 COMBATANT

Secondary - #4 Mourinho

Comments: Combatant owns ascending speed figures and gets pace to chase this time. Mourinho had everything his own way in the Smarty Jones Stakes and looked good defeating my top choice that day.  

OP 10 (OC-62.5k/1x, 8.5f) 

Primary - #10 PLAINSMAN, #8 Zulfikhar

Secondary - #6 Transgress, #2 Dream Baby Dream, #5 New York Central

Comments: Plainsman improved his numbers in all three starts and can move up in his second route attempt. Zulfikhar is a highly regarded shipper for Bob Baffert.  

OP Late Pick 4 Spread Tickets (races 7-10, Total Cost - $37):