Ivan Fallunovalot Breezes For Count Fleet Sprint

 

Multiple stakes winner Ivan Fallunovalot completed major preparations for next week’s $300,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn with an easy half-mile work over a fast-rated surface Friday morning. Ivan Fallunovalot, who breezed about 30 minutes after the track opened for training, cruised home in :49.20 under Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.20.

 

“That ought to tide us over,” trainer Tom Howard said following the work. “That ought to get us there.”

 

Post positions for Thursday’s Count Fleet will be drawn Saturday. In addition to Ivan Fallunovalot, the six-furlong race is also expected to attract, among others, Gentlemen’s Bet, Picko’s Pride and Speechify.

 

Ivan Fallunovalot won the $100,000 King Cotton Stakes Feb. 7 before running second to Gentlemen’s Bet in the $100,000 Hot Springs Stakes March 7. Picko’s Pride and Gentlemen’s Bet ran second and third, respectively, in the 2013 Count Fleet.

 

Speechify won the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) Dec. 27 at Gulfstream Park for trainer Ralph Nicks, a former Oaklawn regular.

Barring any physical setback, Race Day will be returning to Oaklawn for the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 11, owner Matt Schera said. Race Day, who is trained by Todd Pletcher, won the $250,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) March 14, the final local major prep for the Oaklawn Handicap. … Oaklawn Handicap candidate Street Strategy worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 shortly after the track opened for training Friday morning under regular rider Calvin Borel. … Unbeaten Indian Brava worked a half-mile in :48.20 Friday morning in preparation for the $100,000 Instant Racing Stakes April 11. … Luis Quinonez ($1,047,333) became the fourth jockey at the meet to surpass $1 million in purse earnings Thursday. Quinonez, Oaklawn’s leading rider in 2007, is tied for eighth in the standings with 18 victories this year. … Trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel said Quinonez will ride at Churchill Downs following the Oaklawn meet. Quinonez is Von Hemel’s go-to rider. … Trainer Tim Ice said Comic Bird, second in his career debut in Sunday’s $75,000 Rainbow Stakes for 3-year-old Arkansas-bred colts and geldings, could run again before the meeting ends April 11. “He’s a nice horse,” Ice said. Ice said he will be based at Delaware Park after the Oaklawn meeting ends. … Unbeaten Rainbow winner Weast Hill returned to the track Thursday and looked “awesome” jogging a “couple of miles,” trainer Brad Cox said. Future plans are pending for Weast Hill, Cox said.