Oaklawn Park Picks: Essex Handicap (3/21/2026)

Chris Adams

Written by: Chris Adams

Published: Sat Mar 21, 2026, 7:00 am ET

Read Time: 7 minutes

Oaklawn Park

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The racing action from Oaklawn Park on Saturday features the Essex Handicap. @HandicappingT3 has all the Oaklawn Park picks for the entire card!

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Oaklawn Park Full Card Analysis

Oaklawn Park Picks: Essex Handicap (3/21/2026)

Oaklawn Park Picks: Essex Handicap (3/21/2026)

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 12:30 PM CT; Claiming $32k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

  • #3 MO SENSE (8-5): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Asmussen and Asmussen team up on this one.
  • #1A BOLTORO (5-2): Major Player. Likely to get forward position. Seems to be up against the right competition.
  • #1 SARANAC LAKE (5-2): Major Player. Cabrera puts this one in with a chance. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #4 SALAGADOOLA (8-1): Contender. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint.

Selections: 3 – 1A – 1 – 4

The Plays

Win: #3 at 9-5

Exacta Box: 3,1A,1

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 1:08 PM CT; Maiden Claiming $32k; 5 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #8 SWEET LEXUS (7-5): Top pick. Solid breeding for this spot. Race sets up perfectly.
  • #7 ROYAL B (4-1): Major Player. Should take a liking to the race shape. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #3 HIGHWAY SEVENTY (9-5): Major Player. May be able find the right setup.
  • #10 PRONE TO GREATNESS (20-1): Contender. Potential to get the pace of the race flow. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 8 – 7 – 3 – 10

The Plays

Win: #8 at 8-5

Exacta: 8/ 7,3

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 1:39 PM CT; Starter Allowance $60k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

Longshot Play of the Day

  • #2 BOURBON SOCIETY (5-1): Longshot play of the day. Proven competitor at this configuration. Shouldn't have trouble getting the distance. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
  • #5 GOOGOL JOKE (2-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Torres and Medina team up on this one.
  • #6 YOU AIN'T POPPN (5-2): Contender. Potential to have this pace fall just right. Could wear these ones down late.
  • #3 GLOBAL QUOTE (12-1): Contender. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field.

Selections: 2 – 5 – 6 – 3

The Plays

Win: #2 at 4-1

Exacta: 2/ 5,6

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 2:11 PM CT; Lapatourel Overnight Stakes $135k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 5 runners.

  • #2 PEIGNOIR (2-1): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Race sets up perfectly.
  • #4 SUGAR FISH (7-2): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #5 IN JUST MY HEELS (9-2): Contender. Should sit a good trip. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #1 SHE'S LOOKIN LUCKY (4-1): Contender. Recent races are solid.

Selections: 2 – 4 – 5 – 1

The Plays

Win: #2 at 5-2

Exacta: 2/ 4,1

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 2:43 PM CT; Claiming $34k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #8 TASK (2-1): Top pick. Barn has been solid.
  • #1 GETOUTYOURWALLET (10-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Should take a liking to the race shape.
  • #10 TIME ANDBEYOND (5-2): Contender. Likely in the mix early. Has experience at this level.
  • #2 HOLUS BOLUS (5-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.

Selections: 8 – 1 – 10 – 2

The Plays

Win: #8 at 5-2

Exacta: 8/ 1,10

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 3:14 PM CT; Claiming $30k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners.

  • #8 ETERNALLY GRATEFUL (3-1): Top pick. Looks good based on the 87 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #11 DR. SOULFIRE (7-2): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Asmussen and Asmussen team up on this one.
  • #9 JIMMIES BIG DAY (8-5): Contender. Hard to argue with the recent races. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #3 COME OUT FIGHTING (10-1): Contender. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.

Selections: 8 – 11 – 9 – 3

The Plays

Win: #8 at 7-2

Exacta Box: 8,11,9

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 3:45 PM CT; Maiden Claiming $32k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #5 DREAMOFYOU (2-1): Prime Win Player. Shouldn't have trouble getting the distance. Should be able to work out a trip.
  • #6 RAZOR TAP (4-1): Contender. May be able to take advantage of the pace. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #2 ASHBURNER (3-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #9 LOOKIN AT MAC (9-2): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 5 – 6 – 2 – 9

The Plays

Win: #5 at 5-2

Exacta: 5/ 6,2,9

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 4:17 PM CT; Claiming $37k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #1 CITY OF ANGELS (2-1): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #5 STOKE THE FIRE (9-2): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
  • #9 LEBOMBO (12-1): Contender. Has been running well enough recently.
  • #3 CHAPERONE (8-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Competitive enough in recent efforts.

Selections: 1 – 5 – 9 – 3

The Plays

Win: #1 at 5-2

Exacta: 1/ 5,9

Pick 3 (races 8-10): #1,5 with #5,7 with #4

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 4:51 PM CT; Essex Handicap $500k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

  • #5 SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING (4-5): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Race may setup for this runner.
  • #7 DOC SULLIVAN (8-1): Major Player. Should still be running strong in the closing stages. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
  • #3 GOULD'S GOLD (12-1): Contender. Hard to argue with the recent races. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #8 SAN SIRO (6-1): Contender. Recent races are solid. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 5 – 7 – 3 – 8

The Plays

Win: #5 at 6-5

Exacta: 5/ 7,8

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 5:22 PM CT; Allowance Optional Claiming $125k; 5 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners.

Best Bet of the Card

  • #4 GETTINBY (7-2): Best bet of the card. Fits well with this group. Race sets up perfectly. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
  • #11 TIZMARKUS (8-5): Contender. Speed figures match this group well. Good race flow for this runner.
  • #2 ROCKET SANDERS (4-1): Fringe Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous.
  • #3 BOSSOFMI (20-1): Fringe Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.

Selections: 4 – 11 – 2 – 3

The Plays

Win: #4 at 1-1

Exacta: 4/ 11,2

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 11

Post Time: 5:54 PM CT; Claiming $31k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 13 runners.

  • #2 HAYES STRIKE (6-1): Top pick. Should be able to work out a trip. Vazquez puts this one in with a chance.
  • #9 SPEIGHTSTER RED (8-1): Major Player. Potentially cycling to a top performance. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #4 SOUND OF VICTORY (9-2): Major Player. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish.
  • #8 MOWINS (30-1): Contender. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.

Selections: 2 – 9 – 4 – 8

The Plays

Win: #2 at 5-1

Exacta Box: 2,9,4

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Chris Adams
Chris Adams

Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.

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