‘Brilliant sprinter’ No Parole cutting back at Oaklawn Park
Whether it was the distance, class of competition or sloppy conditions on March 14 at Oaklawn Park, owner Maggi Moss says “time will tell” what led to the first defeat of No Parole’s career.
Off an eighth-place finish in the Rebel Stakes (G2), the Louisiana-bred son of Violence will cut back to six furlongs next out in the allowance optional claiming finale Friday at Oaklawn.
“I have always felt he’s a brilliant sprinter,” Moss said, and No Parole will begin getting the chance to prove it.
The Tom Amoss trainee drew the rail in an overflow field of 3-year-olds set to go postward at 6:38 p.m. ET in Race 10.
While No Parole opened 3-for-3 before hitting the Kentucky Derby trail, Friday’s race includes a condition allowing state-bred stakes winners.
Maiden and allowance victories at Fair Grounds came by a combined 27 3/4 lengths before connections stepped No Parole up to added-money events. He led at every call going around two turns in the Feb. 8 Premier Night Prince, a state-bred event at the Delta Downs bullring.
From there, it was on to the Rebel, in which No Parole was up to challenge eventual winner Nadal early but dropped out of competition through the far turn.
“I have no less confidence in the horse,” said Moss, who campaigns No Parole in partnership with Greg Tramontin. “I think he deserved a shot.”
Since then, No Parole has returned to work with Amoss’ string at Fair Grounds, where on Saturday morning he breezed a half mile in 48.20 seconds, the 15th-best clocking of 112 at the distance.
“He needs to run. He’s doing fabulous,” Moss said. “He’s just been brilliant since that race, so that’s the good news. He’s worked great. He’s doing great.”
This allowance spot was in the absence of the first option for connections, the Pat Day Mile (G3) traditionally run on the Kentucky Derby undercard. It, as with other Derby weekend stakes, was recently postponed to September.
“Just like the rest of the country,” Moss said, “we’re taking the opportunities available, which are pretty limited right now.”
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