Oaklawn Park Picks for Saturday 1/28/23

The Oaklawn meet continues and Saturday's card features 11 races including the headliner and Kentucky Derby prep, Southwest Stakes. Post time is at 1:00 p.m. ET.

As always, check the program for scratches and changes. Monitor the weather with rain in the forecast in Hotsprings, AR, and keep an eye on the track conditions.

(I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races after adjusting for track, distances, and conditions).

Oaklawn Betting Picks

According to Horse Racing Nation racing projections, these are the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing today.

1. Defining Purpose and Olivia Twist, Race 5

RanDuel Racing Odds: 6/5 and 2/1
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 5 is the $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. Just six runners, and it will be decided between the two favorites, Defining Purpose (6/5) and Olivia Twist (2/1), who is 3-for-3 and tries a longer distance for the first time. Hot jockey on Olivia Twist Cristian Torres has won 9-of-19 starts in the past seven days.

Defining Purpose has won at this distance, and also a 5-length win at 1 mile.

2. TorontotoroRace and Absolute Chaos, 8

RanDuel Racing Odds: 5/1 and 4/1
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 8 is the the $150,000 King Cotton Stakes for older horses sprinting 6 furlongs. A full field of 12, and Torontotoro (5/1) can rise up off his fastest race last out and 4-length win at this distance. He's the son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Absolute Chaos (4/1) is a Mineshaft colt with proven speed returning off a 9-month layoff.

3. Hit Show and Arabian Knight, Race 10

RanDuel Racing Odds: 10/1 and 1/1
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 10 is the $750,000 Grade 3 Southwest Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. The Kentucky Derby points race drew 9 entries, and trainer Brad Cox has three - Jace's Road (4/1), Corona Bolt (6/1), and Hit Show (10/1). Bob Baffert-trained Arabian Knight (1/1) will try to live up to the hype, as the son of Uncle Mo was an impressive 7-length winner in his only race at Keeneland in early Nov.

Hit Show (10/1) moves up in class. He has a classic distance pedigree, also for the mud, and improved speed ratings.