Hartman Saddles King Cotton Favorites

Despite the week’s delay and the addition of three other horses, trainer Chris Hartman still holds a strong hand in Saturday’s $100,000 King Cotton Stakes, originally scheduled for February 8 before inclement weather forced cancellation of the card. Hartman will send out the entry of Alsvid and Black Bear, listed at 3-2 on the morning line.

Alvsid, who finished second in the race last year behind defending winner Apprehender, will be making his first start since Nov. 23 when he finished sixth in the Delta Mile. Overall, he has proven quite the six-furlong specialist with six wins and three seconds in 10 starts at the distance. Black Bear most recently finished second in his seasonal debut at Oaklawn Jan. 19.

“I think he’ll be pretty tough,” Hartman said of Alsvid. “He had a spectacular work and he’s ready to go. He always runs well fresh.

“He (Black Bear) trains himself,” Hartman said. “You don’t have to do much with him. He’s looking good.”

A horse that could be dangerous for the Hartman duo is Anillo (pronounced ah-knee-oh), who will break from post No. 2 under leading rider Norberto Arroyo, Jr.

“He’s a quick horse and he tries real hard every time,” said trainer Jeff Bonde, who is back at Oaklawn with a string after skipping last year. “He’s consistent animal. We came before Christmas and we’re waiting to play. I’m happy to be there. It’s been very exasperating because they’ve had a rough winter, but it didn’t matter anyway because it’s been the same problem all over the east coast. It’s been snow, snow, snow.”

Last year’s winner Apprehender was one of three horses from the original nomination list that entered for Saturday’s race, but was not in the original field. He will be making his first start since being eased in last year’s Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3). The other two new shooters were Jasizzle and Bull Dozer, although trainer Bret Calhoun said Friday he was likely to scratch.

“This is a tough spot coming in off a long layoff,” trainer Chris Richard said. “I almost would’ve preferred an allowance race, but the timing wasn’t possible.”

The King Cotton is the first stakes in the meet’s sprint series, which concludes with the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) April 10, part of the Racing Festival of the South.

The complete list for the $100,000 King Cotton Stakes, in post-position order with riders and morning line odds: Mico Margarita, Ricardo Santana Jr., 9-2; Anillo, Norberto Arroyo Jr., 10-1; Wildcat Country, Alex Canchari, 30-1; Jasizzle, Channing Hill, 20-1; Picko’s Pride, Seth Martinez, 3-1; Heaven’s Runway, Jesus Castanon, 15-1; Bull Dozer, Luis Quinonez, 6-1; Apprehender, David Mello, 10-1; Black Bear, Cliff Berry, 3-2, and Alsvid, Ken Tohill, 3-2.