Fires Tries to Plan Workout for Discreetness
Trainer Jinks Fires of Hot Springs had planned to work multiple stakes winner Discreetness Wednesday morning at Oaklawn, but called an audible after the track was sealed because of rain Tuesday. The surface was rated good for workouts Wednesday.
Fires is pointing Discreetness for the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) March 19, the final major local prep for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 16. The trainer said he will monitor track conditions before deciding when to breeze Discreetness.
“If worse comes to worse, I’ll see if they’ll let me work him between races,” Fires said.
Discreetness, who trained after the renovation break Wednesday morning, is coming off a seventh-place finish in the $500,000 Southwest Stakes Feb. 15 at Oaklawn. He has yet to breeze since the Southwest.
Discreetness won the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 18 at Oaklawn in his 3-year-old debut. His closed 2015 with a victory in the $250,000 Springboard Mile Dec. 13 at Remington Park.
Untapable Works
Champion Untapable moved closer to her 5-year-old debut by working 5 furlongs in 1:00.80 over a sloppy surface Tuesday morning at Oaklawn. Six-time Oaklawn training champion Steve Asmussen said Untapable is targeting the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 19 at Oaklawn.
Untapable, who arrived Thursday at Oaklawn after previously being based this winter at Fair Grounds, finished second in last year’s Azeri in her 4-year-old debut. The Tapit filly has been breezing every six days the last month.
The Azeri is the final major local prep for the $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 15, a race Untapable won last year.
Untapable won an Eclipse Award as the country’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2014.
Other horses pointing for the Azeri include Call Pat, High Dollar Woman, Theogony and Kiss Moon. Call Pat won the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) Feb. 14 at Oaklawn in her last start.
Back to Work
Cosmic Evolution, under Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel, worked 6 furlongs in 1:12.80 after the renovation break Wednesday morning at Oaklawn in preparation for her two-turn debut in the $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) March 12. The 1 1/16-mile Honeybee is the final major local prep for the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) April 9.
“She worked really, really good,” trainer Lon Wiggins said. “I think the track’s really fast this morning. Couple I had went quicker than normal, but I loved the way she finished her last quarter. She had her belly down on the ground.”
Cosmic Evolution broke her maiden in the $100,000 Debutante Stakes last year at Churchill Downs and was an entry-level allowance winner in her Feb. 6 3-year-old debut at Oaklawn.
Wiggins said Cosmic Evolution will have a slow 3-furlong or half-mile breeze next week in advance of the Honeybee.
Finish Lines
Argentina Horse of the Year Idolo Porteno moved closer to his American debut by working 6 furlongs in 1:12.20 Wednesday morning at Oaklawn for trainer Ignacio Correas. … Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg moved into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time list of leading trainers in North America after Cy Seven won the ninth race Friday night at Sam Houston Race Park. According to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization, Cy Seven represented Van Berg’s 6,466th career victory. Van Berg tied King Leatherbury (6,465) when Apocalypse won Thursday’s third race at Oaklawn. Van Berg is Oaklawn’s sixth-leading trainer this year with nine victories. … Girl Power, a 3-year-old full sister to multiple stakes winner Now I Know, recorded a half-mile bullet from the gate (:47.40) Tuesday morning at Oaklawn for trainer Don Von Hemel of Hot Springs. Von Hemel said Girl Power will make her career debut Sunday at Oaklawn. … Trainer Randy Morse said next-race plans are still pending for multiple stakes winner Cougar Ridge and stakes-placed Durango. Cougar Ridge finished fifth in the $100,000 Essex Handicap for older horses for Feb. 13 at Oaklawn in his last start. Durango finished fourth in the $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Feb. 6 at Oaklawn in her last start.
Source: Oaklawn Park