Carve On Track for Oaklawn 'Cap
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Photo:
Coady Photography
Trainer Brad Cox said late last month that he believed Carve could reach $1 million in career earnings this year and so far, so good. Carve boosted his bankroll to $772,415 with a powerful 3 ½-length victory over Code West in the $100,000 Fifth Season Stakes for older horses Friday afternoon at Oaklawn.
A 5-year-old gelded son of First Samurai, Carve ran 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:42.44 to earn a career-high preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 106.
Cox said Carve, a multiple stakes winner, emerged from the victory in good order and will be pointed for the $250,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) March 14.
“Yesterday’s performance, that was his best effort, for sure,” Cox said. “I just liked the way he did it. It looked like, to me, he even had a little bit left.”
Under Jesus Castanon, Carve chased Zee Bros through a :47.01 half-mile and 6 furlongs in 1:11.10. He took command on the outside in the upper stretch, passed the mile in an eye-catching 1:36.04 and completed the fastest Fifth Season since Spanish Empire (1:42.40) in 2004.
“I think Castanon kind of kept that other horse in range,” Cox said. “The way he chased him, I thought he might be a little flat down the lane. That really didn’t happen. Just when he took over, he took over.”
Cox said Carve will be nominated to the $100,000 Essex Handicap Feb. 14, but the 1 1/16-mile race probably comes back a little quick since the Fifth Season was originally scheduled to be run Jan. 10. Oaklawn rescheduled the Fifth Season after losing its first three racing days to winter weather.
Cox said last month that Carve would likely contest three of Oaklawn’s four two-turn stakes races for older horses this year, with the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 11 the major target. He ran third in last year’s Oaklawn Handicap.
Cox said he “likes the timing” between the Fifth Season and Razorback, which is also 1 1/16 miles.
“He seems like a horse that appreciates a little time in between spots,” Cox said.
Carve is owned by Mike Langford of Jonesboro, Ark. On behalf of Langford, trainer Steve Asmussen claimed Carve for $30,000 out of his career debut victory in January 2013 at Oaklawn. Carve, who moved to Cox’s barn approximately a year ago, closed 2013 with a sixth-place finish in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) Oct. 31 at Santa Anita.
Source: Oaklawn Park
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