Oaklawn news: Super Steed, Gray Attempt back to work for Rebel
{{monthName}} {{day}}, {{year}} {{hour12}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}}{{dayPeriod}}
Photo:
Coady Photography
Super Steed and Gray Attempt returned to the track Sunday morning for the first time since finishing first and 11th, respectively, in the
$500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Monday at Oaklawn.
Trainer Larry Jones said before training hours that Super Steed “would just stretch his legs a little bit” as he begins preparations for the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles March 16, Oaklawn’s third Kentucky Derby points races. Super Steed earned 10 points for his three-quarter length Southwest victory under Terry Thompson.
Gray Attempt, who galloped after the renovation break, is under consideration for the Rebel after encountering early trouble in the Southwest, trainer Jinks Fires of Hot Springs said, adding the colt returned with a minor abrasion on a front leg but was otherwise fine physically. Gray Attempt was coming off a front-running victory in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 25, Oaklawn’s first major Kentucky Derby prep and his first start around two turns.
“We’re thinking about the Rebel,” Fires said. “We’re going to see how he comes out of this.”
Trainer Paul Holthus said Sunday morning that Six Shooter, fourth in the Southwest, is under consideration for the Rebel and the $125,000 Gazebo Stakes at six furlongs March 23. Six Shooter was beaten 3 ¼ lengths in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest.
“He came back good, doing good,” Holthus said. “It’s going to be kind of a week-by-week thing and figure out who is coming. If the race comes up with one different horse than the last time or something, we’re probably going to run. If there’s three really tough shippers, it looks like we don’t even have a shot to hit the board, we’re going to pass.”
Six Shooter finished fourth in the Smarty Jones, beaten 1 ½ lengths.
The Rebel will offer 85 points to the top four finishers (50-20-10-5) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. Oaklawn’s final major Kentucky Derby prep is the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 13.
On the Work Tab
Several prominent horses worked over a fast track Sunday morning in advance of upcoming stakes events.
Breezing moments after the track opened were 2018 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint champion Shamrock Rose and Power Gal, winner of the $125,000 Martha Washington Stakes Feb. 2. They shared the five-furlong bullet (1:01) for trainer Mark Casse after posting splits of :12, :24.20 and :36.60 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.40. Power Gal worked on the rail under David Cohen.
Casse said Shamrock Rose is pointing for the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares March 16. The 1 1/16-mile Azeri is the final major local prep for the $700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 14. Power Gal is scheduled to make her next start in the $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies March 9. The 1 1/16-mile Honeybee is the final major local prep for the $500,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) April 12.
Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Whitmore worked a half-mile in :48.60 under Greta Kuntzweiler in preparation for his 2019 debut in the $150,000 Hot Springs Stakes for older sprinters March 9. Whitmore, unraced since finishing second in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs, has won the Hot Springs the last two years. The Hot Springs is the final major local prep for the $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) April 13, another race Whitmore has won the last two years. Whitmore breezed in company moments after Shamrock Rose and Power Gal for co-owner/trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs.
Breezing after the renovation break toward the Hot Springs was multiple stakes winner Welder, who went a half-mile in :50.80 under David Cabrera. Welder, the 2018 Remington Park Horse of the Meet, was vanned from his Claremore, Okla., base Saturday to get his first taste of the Oaklawn surface. Trainer Theresa Sue Luneack said Welder will be vanned to Oaklawn again for the Hot Springs.
Milligan’s Milestone
Trainer Allen Milligan recorded his 1,000th career North American victory in Saturday’s fifth race with Soul P Say ($31.40), according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization.
Milligan, 54, saddled his first winner in 1999 and was Oaklawn’s leading trainer in 2009 with 24 victories. Top horses trained by Milligan include multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Haveyougoneaway and Grade 3 winner Texas Air. Haveyougoneaway went on to become a Grade 1 winner after being sold privately following a runner-up finish in the $150,000 Carousel Stakes in April 2016 at Oaklawn.
“I’ve always had a good crew and good owners,” Milligan said immediately after his milestone victory. “Just a good feeling to get here, finally.”
Channing Hill rode Soul P Say for Milligan’s major client, Danny Keene. Soul P Say represented Milligan’s 159th career Oaklawn victory. He started his first horse in Hot Springs in 2001 and won his first race in 2006. Milligan’s wife, Jeanette, is Oaklawn’s claims clerk.
Asmussen Hits the Big 6-0-0
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen recorded his 600th career Oaklawn victory in Saturday’s sixth race with favored Get the Goodies ($6.80), a front-running 7 ½-length winner under Ricardo Santana Jr.
Asmussen has collected nine Oaklawn training titles since 2007 and had a meet-high 17 victories this year through Saturday. Asmussen started his first horse at Oaklawn in 1989 and won his first race in Hot Springs in 1996. Asmussen’s 500th career Oaklawn victory came Jan. 16, 2017.
Get the Goodies, who was making her career debut, was Santana’s 493rd victory for Asmussen. Santana has been Oaklawn’s leading rider the last six years and had a meet-high 24 victories this year through Saturday.
Starsky and Stake
Breeder/owner Starsky Weast’s relatively small investment in 2011 continues to pay dividends.
Weast, a contractor from Star City, Ark., purchased his foundation broodmare, Copperelle, then 4, for $10,000 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The Canadian-bred daughter of Elusive Quality was in foal to Oaklawn stakes winner Rockport Harbor and the result was Weast Hill, a multiple Oaklawn stakes winner who dominated Arkansas-breds at his peak in 2015 and 2016 for Weast and trainer Brad Cox.
Copperelle delivered Weast another Oaklawn stakes victory Saturday when Usual Suspect ($54.40) held off Fastanista by a neck in the $100,000 Downthedustyroad for state-bred female sprinters.
“I went to Keeneland about weanlings,” Weast said. “I had never been to the sale. They were way too pricey. I was determined to buy a horse when I was there, so I revamped my strategy and went to a broodmare in foal. I really like Rockport Harbor and I always liked Elusive Quality. There it was with that mare. I bought the mare and came home with her.”
Weast said he sold Copperelle about a month ago to leading Arkansas breeder Bill McDowell, but does have her yearling colt by champion Midshipman.
“I haven’t got a name for him, but I do like the way he looks,” Weast said. “I’m planning on keeping him.”
Weast Hill, now co-owned and trained by Shea Stuart, has finished second and third in two starts at the meeting. Overall, Weast Hill has an 8-6-4 record from 26 lifetime starts and earnings of $462,848. Weast Hill was Copperelle’s first foal.
Copperelle’s second foal, Our Addi Belle, was a Feb. 1 winner for four-time Oaklawn leading owner Danny Caldwell. Our Addi Belle and Usual Suspect are full sisters by Primary Suspect.
Finish Lines
Half Ours to Keep ($8.40) won Saturday’s third race by 14 ¾ lengths, the most lopsided victory of the meeting. … Trainer Cecil Borel, who came out of retirement at the meeting, finished second with his first starter in 4 ½ years, Chip Van Winkle, in Saturday’s ninth race. … Wonder Gadot, a finalist for a Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2018, worked five furlongs from the gate in 1:01.40 Sunday morning under David Cohen. Wonder Gadot is trained by Mark Casse. … Multiple Oaklawn allowance winner Warrior’s Club worked a half-mile in :49.60 Sunday morning for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who said he’s targeting a March return for the Grade 3 winner. … Grade 3 winner Matrooh worked five furlongs in 1:01 Sunday morning for trainer Cipriano Contreras. The time equaled the fastest for the distance. … Multiple stakes-placed Petrov worked a half-mile in :48.60 Sunday morning for co-owner/trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs, who said the horse’s major spring objective is the inaugural $200,000 Oaklawn Mile May 3. … Cowboy Diplomacy, a 3-year-old full brother to champion Monomoy Girl, worked a half-mile in :49.60 Sunday morning for trainer Brad Cox. … Post positions will be drawn Wednesday for the $100,000 American Beauty Stakes for older female sprinters March 2.
Read More
With the Breeders’ Cup now in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take an initial look at the...
Kopion has been retired from racing after a fifth-place finish against males in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The...
Wolfie's Dynaghost , a 7-year-old homebred gelding for Woodslane Farm, led all the way under Luis Saez to...
Delivering as the favorite, 3-year-old Disco Time not only won the Dwyer at Aqueduct. His triumph also made him...
Raging Sea , the two-time Grade 1 winner who most recently placed fourth in the Personal Ensign (G1),...