Contreras hoping to saddle two Oaklawn Handicap contenders
Trainer Cipriano Contreras already has one horse pointing for the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 13 in Rated R Superstar, who won last Saturday’s $350,000 Essex Handicap.
Contreras could have another for Oaklawn’s biggest two-turn race for older horses in Matrooh, who is scheduled to make his 9-year-old debut in Saturday’s fifth race, a $94,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles.
Contreras claimed Matrooh for $25,000 last March at Oaklawn and was immediately rewarded with victories in an April 6 allowance race at Oaklawnand the $100,000 Hanshin Cup Stakes (G3) May 12 at Arlington Park.
“I almost ran him in this race,” Contreras said, referring to the Essex. “Hopefully, we see him in the Oaklawn Handicap, too. That’s the plan. Run him this week. He’s ready to run. I didn’t want to match him against this guy (Rated R Superstar) because this guy is doing really good.”
Unraced since mid-September, Matrooh worked 5 furlongs in :59.60 last Saturday.
“He worked maybe the best I’ve seen him work so far,” Contreras said.
Also entered in Saturday’s fifth race are Hawaakom, winner of last year’s $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) for older horses at Oaklawn and M G Warrior, 10th in this year’s Razorback.
Contreras claimed Rated R Superstar for $62,500 Nov. 22 at Churchill Downs. The 6-year-old gelding was coming off a third-place finish in the Razorback. Nun the Less, a 7-year-old gelding, has become a multiple stakes winner for Contreras after being claimed for $40,000 last June at Arlington Park. Nun the Less ran seventh in the Razorback.