RICK LEE’S selections for today’s Oaklawn card.

FIRST POST — 1:05 P.M.

LEE’S LOCK Taraz in the sixth

BEST BET Flatoutandfoxy in the third LONG SHOT Ruler of the Nile in the first FRIDAY’S RESULTS 4-9 (44.4%)

MEET 8-36 (22.2%)

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

**things to like

*educated guess

1 Purse $29,000, 6 furlongs, 4-yearolds and up, starter allowance RULER OF THE NILE** has crossed the wire first in three of his past four races around one turn, and he did win an allowance race last summer at Saratoga. DRC ALL INCLUSIVE proved determined to the wire defeating second-level allowance runners at Remington, and he is a good finisher in a field with plenty of early speed. SCRUTINIZER has not raced since September, but he is riding a three-race winning streak, which includes a restricted stake victory at Prairie Meadows.

2 Purse $24,000, 1 mile, 4-year-olds and up, claiming $8,000 TITOCHIP** is taking a significant drop for new and winning trainer Norman McKnight, and the Woodbine shipper appears to be better on dirt than synthetic surfaces. LADDIE BOY was narrowly defeated in a $32,000 claimer only two races back at Churchill. The veteran has early speed and represents a stable having a good meeting. ELITCH has finished with energy in six consecutive in-the-money finishes, and he is one-half of an entry with the top selection.

3 Purse $86,000, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, Arkansas-bred, allowance FLATOUTANDFOXY*** defeated $30,000 claimers only two races back at Churchill, and she has worked smartly since arriving at Oaklawn. She is dropping into a race restricted to state-bred mares. JOY IN THE JOURNEY recorded a debut victory and second-place finish in two races last winter at Oaklawn. She owns the field’s fastest Beyer figure and is a logical threat if she is brought back fit and ready. PROUD VICTORIA scored a determined victory from off the pace in her career debut at Remington, and the 3-year-old filly picks up top rider Ricardo Santana.

4 Purse $46,000, 6 furlongs, 3-yearolds, maiden claiming $50,000 FAIR CATCH*** led past every pole but the last one in a strong third-place debut at Fair Grounds. The speedy colt benefits from a race and is also wearing blinkers for the first time. VAYA CON DIOS is dropping into a maiden-claiming race after a second-place turf-sprint at Churchill. He has been working fast at Oaklawn, and trainer Robertino Diodoro is off to a quick start. ADHHAR showed improved early speed when second best in his second start in Louisville, and the lightly raced gelding appears an overlay at morning-line odds.

5 Purse $47,000, 1 1/16 miles, 4-year-olds and up, claiming $40,000

LOOKIN FOR EIGHT** won a third-level allowance route last season at Oaklawn, and he ships from Woodbine after a second-place finish at this level. A strong case can be made that he prefers dirt over synthetic or turf. MALIBU PRO was a clear winner at Keeneland when last dropping into a claiming race. He is training well and figures near the lead throughout. HAWAAKOM raced competitively in stronger allowance races at Churchill, and the strong late-runner is a two-time winner at Oaklawn.

6 The Martha Washington. Purse $150,000, 1 mile, fillies, 3-yearolds

TARAZ **** followed a dominating career debut victory with an 11-length stake win at Fair Grounds. The unbeaten filly possesses excellent speed, and she is bred to carry her speed this far and beyond. O SERAPHINA broke her maiden in her first try around two turns by 4-widening lengths. She has early speed and drew a favorable post. SHEDARESTHEDEVIL was graded stake-placed last summer at Del Mar, and she is working well for

7 Purse $88,000, 6 furlongs, 4-yearolds and up, allowance optional claiming

CURATE*** won an exceptionally fast allowance race in his 2019 debut at Oaklawn, and he has won four of 10 races at this distance. He is dropping in class after consecutive third-place allowance finishes at Churchill. PRINCIPE GUILHERME was bet down to favoritism and did not disappoint while defeating $50K claimers at Churchill, and he is a late threat if able to hold form for new connections. FLUMINENSE has easily won his past two sprint races, but his strong sprint form is clouded by several disappointing route races.

8 The American Beauty. Purse $125,000, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up AMY’S CHALLENGE*** dominated rivals in the Spring Fever and American Beauty last winter at Oaklawn, and she is unbeaten at 6 furlongs and fits well here after closing 2019 in Grade I races. IRISH MISCHIEF improved greatly with an addition of blinkers last season, and the graded stake-placed sprinter is very good right now. She was scratched last Saturday in favor of this race. MT. BRAVE won the $50K Flashy Lady at Remington Park, and she is lightly raced and improving.

9 Purse $86,000, 6 furlongs, 4-yearolds and up, allowance AMERICAN MANDATE** ships from Turfway on the heels of a photo-finish loss, and he has been better on dirt than turf or synthetics. His local breezes have been strong. CANDY CORNELL has recorded five in-the-money finishes at this entry-level allowance condition while competing on the strong Southern California circuit. SIGALERT was beaten just over 1 length in his return from a layoff of 16 months, and the Santa Anita shipper is a big late threat with any improvement.