Rick Lee’s Oaklawn selections and analysis

FIRST POST — 12: 35 P. M.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS 2-9 (22.2%) MEET 135-456 (29.6%) LEE’S LOCK Decision Maker in the ninth BEST BET Navy Seal in the eighth LONG SHOT Wartime Hero in the fifth

CONFIDENCE RATINGS

****confident choice ***plenty to like **things to like *educated guess

1 Purse $27,000, 1 mile, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, claiming $8,000

WEST SIDE GIRL** has been racing well at a significantly higher price, and she is adding blinkers and switching to the leading rider. MUMBLEBEE was a clear winner at a similar condition two races back, and the class dropper may not have cared for a wet track March 10. LIL’S TURN finished second behind Mumblebee last month, and she is making the third start of her current form cycle.

2 Purse $26,000, 6 furlongs, 3-year-olds and up, Arkansas-bred, maiden claiming $16,000

HACKER** has had an excuse in two races against open maidens, and a return to her races against state-bred rivals should be good enough to graduate. ALL IN GOOD TIME battled for the lead for six furlongs before tiring in a useful route, and he is cutting back to a preferred distance and dropping in class. SINGING GROOM is a finisher who is adding blinkers and switching to a leading rider.

3 Purse $90,000, 1 mile, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, maiden special weight

OPENING NIGHT** has not raced in 10 months, but she appears to be working well for high percentage connections, and she is a two-time runner-up. AWESOME ALLY VEE had to overcome traffic issues on the second turn in a strong second-place finish. RATIFIED is stretching out following two useful sprints, and she is bred top and bottom to improve at route distances.

4 Purse $30,000, 6 furlongs, 4-year-olds and up, starter allowance

ESPIONAGE** is a consistently competitive sprinter who exits a strong second-place finish, and this is his third start after a seven-month vacation. COLTONS DREAM has led from gate to finish line in four of his past five, including his most recent at this same class level. JUNIOR BUG is an effective sprinter on all surface, and he ships from Kentucky in good form.

5 Purse $29,000, 1 mile, 4-year-olds and up, starter allowance

WARTIME HERO** once again showed an inability to handle a wet track earlier this month, but he was a clear winner of his previous race on a fast surface and fits well at this level. TRUMPENCE contested the pace and scored a determined sprint victory last month, and he has trained smartly since for a top California stable. POLTERER dominated conditioned claiming rivals in front-running fashion, but may have to work harder to get to the front in this spot.

6 Purse $30,000, 6 furlongs, 4-year-olds and up, starter allowance

SPEND BENJAMINS*** was a fast-closing second behind a recent repeat winner, and he easily earned the field’s fastest last race Beyer figure. CHAPEL BARN was an upset winner at a slightly higher level in January, and he switches from an apprentice to a leading rider. VIOLENT GIGI has hit the board in the three consecutive wet track races, and he was a seven-length winner in his most recent fast track race.

7 Purse $65,000, 6 furlongs, 3-year-old fillies, maiden special weight

DAWNY*** finished second behind a recent allowance winner in her debut, and she had a less than ideal trip in a second runner-up finish last month. GOING THE DISTANCE raced close to a fast pace in a clear second-place debut at Fair Grounds, and she is adding blinkers and picks up the leading rider. WAR SAVER earned the field’s fastest Beyer figure in a third-place finish two races back at New Orleans, and she is adding blinkers after a disappointing local bow over a muddy track.

8 Purse $105,000, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds and up, Arkansas-bred, allowance optional claiming

NAVY SEAL**** was stake-placed in open company at Hawthorne, and the 5-year-old has put two powerful races in succession. TWISTED DIXIE finished second behind a heavily-favored winner in the Nodouble Breeders’. BANDIT POINT rallied to third in the Nodouble, and he looms a consistent late threat.

9 Purse $48,000, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds and up, starter allowance

DECISION MAKER**** won all three of his races last season at Oaklawn, and he appears to be sitting on a win on the heels of a narrow defeat. SILVER DUST has earned competitive Beyer figures in his past two races, and he may be overlooked since he is winless since 2021. ZOOMER crossed the wire just one position behind the top selection March 4, and the 11-time winner has natural speed.