How to bet the Hot Springs

A cast of seven sophomores will travel a two-turn mile in Thursday’s $200,000 Hot Springs S. at Oaklawn Park. The Bob Baffert-trained #1 Desert Gate (6-5) will run with blinkers on for the initial time and gets the rail for his local debut. By Omaha Beach, the $260,000 juvenile purchase was very good as a two-year-old with a Grade 3 victory and two Grade-1 seconds to his credit, and his fourth in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita was a nice effort for his seasonal bow, as well. The Kentucky-bred has posted a steady string of swift drills leading up to this second run of 2026 and has the gate presence to be involved from the break. He will be sent when the gates open, with Flavien Prat coming in for the ride. 

Hot Springs Wagers

• $20 exacta 1 with 7 ($20)
• $10 exacta box 1-7 ($20)
• $5 trifecta key 1 with 2,7 ($10)

#7 Soldier N Diplomat (8-1) was outrun in the Rebel (G2) on the oval last time but finished a nice second in the Southwest (G3) two prior and fits well in this field at a generous price. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the Army Mule colt has the right running style to take advantage of his post with his good tactical speed, and I expect the Kentucky-bred to be in the hunt at the top of the lane while making his third run off the layoff with Irad Ortiz, Jr. on board. He could upset the cast with his best performance. 

The Phil Bauer-conditioned #2 Lincoln’s Law (7-2) overcame a poor break to graduate like a good one at Gulfstream Park at first asking and appears to have a bright future. The bay son of Liam’s Map, who is a half-brother to 2024 Hopeful (G1) and Champagne (G1) star Chance McPatrick, upended a very nice field of prospects in his unveiling and came back with a pair of maintenance morning drills in the interim. He is stepping up in class to face a strong group, but I like the aggressive move by his connections and will include the Rigney Racing homebred with Luis Saez in the irons.