Oaklawn Park hosts the $1,000,000 Rebel Stakes (Gr. 1) in Arkansas on Saturday afternoon. There is more racing ongoing as well. BetOnline has 14 racecourses for wagering under the thoroughbred section on Saturday.
Outside of Arkansas, the most lucrative stakes race is the $150,000 Royal Delta Stakes (Gr. 3) at Gulfstream Park. This is a day for Arkansas, but there are other options if you don’t care much for the Oaklawk Park card.
We have Oaklawn Park and the Rebel Stakes covered at TheSportsGeek. We’re also playing Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. Fair Grounds has $295,000 in prize money across nine races. Head below for our best Fair Ground Race Course picks on February 26, 2022.
Race 1
Post Time: 1:05 p.m. CST
Distance:1 Mile
Purse:$19,000
The first race at Fair Grounds Race Course covers a mile for a $19,000 purse. Look for Queeten and Greeley Went West to give this one a solid go.
Queeten is 8 for 56 in his career and finished 5th, 1st, 6th in his last three entries. The gelding put together a nice performance for a win on December 31.
Queeten got in with a 4 length win for $12,000 on New Year’s Eve, but couldn’t handle a $13,000 event at Delta Downs on February 11.
He regressed to 6th in a disappointing effort in that one. He will need more to beat Greeley Went West on Saturday.
Greeley Went West is 4 for 34 in his career and in good form recently. The No. 3 has finished 2nd, 1st in his last two races.
In his latest showing, Greeley Went West went well for a 3 length $19,000 win. This was after placing 2nd behind Thirtysix G’s by a head in the same grade.
Recent form suggests that Greeley Went West is going to have a big opportunity in this spot.
Race 2
Post Time: 1:35 p.m. CST
Distance: 1 Mile
Purse:$25,000
Race 2 is a $25,000 event covering a mile on the turf. Embarrassing and Vividly should be in good company in this one.
Embarrassing is 5 for 26 and she should run a strong race in this spot. She finished 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 4th in her previous four outings.
Three races back, Embarrassing won a $23,000 race by ¾ lengths on November 5. That was good work from him, but failed to do much else after that one.
Embarrassing most recently finished 4th on December 17 in a $24,000 assignment. That could have been better.
Vividly is a two-time winner in 15 attempts. She is 1st, 10th, 5th, 8th in her previous four entries. After a $92,000 win on October 1, she struggled up in class.
Vividly last appeared on February 13 and finished 8th in a $48,000 race. It’s wise to get down in grade to $25,000 on Saturday. Expect a good look for Vividly at the top prize in Race 2.
Race 7
Post Time: 4:05 p.m. CST
Distance:6 Furlongs
Purse:$53,000
Race 7 covers 6 furlongs for a $53,000 prize on Saturday afternoon. Com’ On Sweet Luv and Matareya should be big runners in this one.
Com’ On Sweet Luv is 2nd, 1st, 2nd in her career, with a win on November 27 for a $45,000 purse. That was a good 2 ¾ length win over Elle of the Ball, though couldn’t follow up on December 27.
She placed 2nd behind Girl With a Dream by 1 length in the $75,000 Letellier Memorial Stakes. It was still a very strong performance.
Matareya is 1st, 5th, 2nd, 2nd in four races, with a win as a rookie on August 20. In her win, Matareya beat Dreamalot by 4 ½ lengths for $51,000.
The filly placed 2nd behind Secret Oath on New Year’s Eve in a $120,000 race most recently. That effort would be well enough in this class. Look for Matareya to get home.
