Thursday’s Early Pick 4 at Oaklawn Park

The first four races at Oaklawn Park on Thursday, February 28 make up the early pick 4 wager (base bet 50 cents). The sequence includes three races over six furlongs and one over 1 1/16 miles, all for fillies and mares.

Race 1 (leg 1) is a starter allowance that drew a field of eight. #1 Sheza Handfull broke her maiden two back at Churchill Downs then wheeled into the Martha Washington Stakes here over a mile. She was sixth of seven at long odds that day, but the daughter of Into Mischief drops in class and distance for this. #2 Summer Storm broke her maiden by four lengths at the $40,000 level at Churchill two back, and was second here over the trip against similar on February 7. #8 Sweet Tatum was third in that event; she hasn’t won since May 2018. #4 Skamania has not raced since June; that was a two-length victory at Churchill over this distance.

Race 2 is a waiver maiden claiming event for $10,000. All are in for the tag save for #3 Ghosted, who will have Calvin Borel up. #4 Dragon Dragon is a daughter of Take Charge Indy making just her second start, she goes for Channing Hill and trainer Wayne Catalano. #5 Lil’ Shopper was a dull tenth in her debut, that was last summer at Ellis Park. #7 Cactus Cheque is debuting for Kenny Smith; she last worked February 15.

Race 3 is a $30,000 claimer, a non-winners of two lifetime. Joe Sharp sends out the #1 Wosie, who was ninth against similar last out here February 8. #2 Marvella just broke her maiden here on the same card. She is a daughter of Jimmy Creed racing for John Ortiz. Ron Moquette send out the #4 Almyra, who won against maiden special weight company at Remington Park December 6but ran sixth here in the same race Wosie is exiting. Also out of that race is #9 Indicating, who has been on the board in three of her last four starts and in four of seven starts lifetime.

The sequence rounds out with race 4, a two-turn event for straight maidens carrying an $83,000 purse. On the rail is an Orb filly, #1 Ready Orb Not, who has had four straight five furlong workouts since the end of January. Steve Asmussen sends out a decent sort in #5 Giant Blossom, a Giant’s Causeway filly out of $700k earner Cotton Blossom. This will be her first start at the distance; she was third over a mile in December.

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