Rick Lee’s Oaklawn selections and analysis

FIRST POST — 1:30 P.M.

LEE’S LOCK Good Scout in the sixth BEST BET Perfect Happiness in the

eighth

LONG SHOT Feeling It in the second SATURDAY’S RESULTS 4-10 (40%) MEET 85-239 (35.6%)

**** confident choice ***plenty to like

**things to like

*educated guess

1 Purse $42,000, 6 furlongs, 3-yearolds and up, maiden claiming $40,000 AGGRESIVITY*** has finished second in three consecutive sprint races, and the Steve Asmussen trainee has consistently earned the field’s fastest Beyer figures. WHITE WOLF shows a series of encouraging workouts leading up to his career debut, and trainer Brad Cox excels with young horses. FUDGE TOUGH raced competitively as a front-running route runner in 2019, and he is dropping into a maiden-claiming race for the first time.

2 Purse $26,000, 6 furlongs, 3-yearolds and up who have never won two races, claiming $16,000 FEELING IT** was a clear maiden winner last summer at Saratoga, and he is dropping to the lowest price of his career after contesting a fast pace. SCORING has raced well at a higher class level, and he figures to be closer to the early lead for winning connections. HIS GIANT holds a slight Beyer figure advantage, and he has enough speed to be in good position turning into the stretch.

3 Purse $23,000, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, maiden claiming $10,000

LIL RESPECT** was beaten only a neck at a higher claiming price two races back, but she was badly overmatched in her first start for current connections. ARKYARKYARKY was forwardly placed in an encouraging fourth-place debut, and typical second-out improvement will make her a contender. NIGHT’S MAGIC raced competitively in bottom-level maiden races at Remington, and she returns fresh with competitive Beyer figures.

4 Purse $26,000, 6 furlongs, 3-yearolds and up who have never won

two races, Arkansas-bred, claiming $16,000

JAPEDO** crossed the wire first in two of four races last season at Oaklawn, and he is dropping to a proper level after an even effort in his fist race after a lengthy vacation. RUSTY CAGE is an exceptionally quick sprinter who finished third in the 2019 Rainbow, and he is running for a tag for the first time after a deceptively good return to the races. IRISH OAK finished eighth in his return from a 15-month layoff. He is dropping in class and has competitive Beyer figures.

5 Purse $23,000, 1 mile, 4-year-olds and up, claiming $6,250 KAPELLMEISTER** has finished no worse than second in his last three races. He had a sharp recent work and picks up a leading rider. UNION SALUTE is dropping in price after a win and runner-up finish at Delta, and he has raced effectively around 1-mile ovals as well. CANADIAN GAME proved stubborn on the lead to defeat conditioned-claimers at Santa Anita, and he has the speed and class to repeat.

6 Purse $23,000, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds and up, maiden claiming $12,500

GOOD SCOUT **** was beaten less than 2 lengths in a $50K maiden race. He is taking a steep drop in price and figures to get a good tracking trip. MAJESTIC

DAY had to overcome early traffic trouble in a clear second-place finish, and the beaten post-time favorite is making his third start after a five-month layoff.

MOOSE GOT EVEN was a fast-closing second in his return from a freshening, and a contested pace may make him difficult to beat.

7 Purse $29,000, 1 1/16 miles, 4-year-olds and up, starter allowance

WICKETS WAY** is unbeaten in three races since being claimed by trainer Chris Richard, including a clear allowance victory Feb. 15 at Delta. CARLOS SIXES won a fast conditioned-claiming race in game fashion, and the 6-year-old is competitive on every kind of surface. MILLWOOD was a disappointing fourth, after consecutive wins, as a beaten posttime favorite. He drew a favorable post and is dangerous if he rebounds.

8 Purse $90,000, 6 furlongs, fillies, 3-year-olds, allowance

PERFECT HAPPINESS*** set a strong pace and kept on running in an 8-length maiden victory, and she is back at her best distance after setting a suicidal pace in a two-turn race. MY ITALIAN RABBI won a pair of restricted stakes as a juvenile in New York, and she may be stronger and faster as a 3-year-old. LEXI ON THE MOVE was a clear career debut winner for leading connections, and she appears talented enough to contend in her first race against winners.

9 Purse $51,000, 1 mile, 3-yearolds, maiden claiming $75,000 INSTIGATED*** lost a late lead in a clear second-place finish Feb. 16, and notice the third-place finisher came back to post a fast maiden victory. COLD SMOKE has recorded second-place sprint finishes at Fair Grounds and Keeneland, and he is a threat to wire this field if he can go this far. MY NAME IS PHRED had to overcome a slow start in a late-running third-place sprint finish, and he drew an advantageous two-turn post position.