Our Quista Pointing Towards Azeri
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Al Cates decided to pass Saturday’s $100,000 Pippin Stakes with Our Quista - the trainer’s crack 4-year-old Louisiana-bred filly – because of recent training setbacks related to winter weather.
But Cates said he plans to start the daughter of Half Ours “several times” at the Oaklawn meeting.
One race Cates mentioned was the $300,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 14, the final major local prep for the $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 10.
“We’re going to test her here,” Cates said.
Our Quista won 3 of 6 starts last year, including the $150,000 Elge Rasberry Stakes and, in her last start, the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Stakes Dec. 13 at Fair Grounds.
Our Quista is expected to be named champion Louisiana-bred 3-year-old filly.
“I can’t imagine her not being champion, but they haven’t done it yet,” Cates said. “In my mind, she is – if they ask me. She’s a nice filly.”
Beard of Knowledge
“Big Steve” Krajcir, the agent for Jon Court and Joe Johnson, said he won’t shave his salt-and-pepper beard until his jockeys combine to meet their quota during Oaklawn’s 54-day live season that ends April 11.
“I told them they’ve got to win five in one day,” Krajcir said. “Joe said, ‘Well, you’ll look like Rip Van Winkle.’ I said, ‘No, you’re just going to have to ride a little harder, because I know Jon’s going be able to have a two or three bagger. You’re going to have to chip in on that and ride really hard.’ ’’
Krajcir said he began growing his beard in “No Shave November,” an annual promotion for cancer awareness.
After Court guided Frivolous to an upset victory in the $200,000 Falls City Handicap (G2) Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs, Krajcir said a buddy jokingly told him that he should break out his razor.
A $200,000 race, the friend surmised, equaled five allowance races worth $40,000.
“I told him that I’m not doing it,” Krajcir said.
Krajcir reunited with Johnson, trainer Gary “Red Dog” Hartlage’s longtime stable rider, at this year’s Oaklawn meet.
Finish Lines
High Dollar Woman, who is scheduled to make her 3-year-old debut in the $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes Jan. 31, worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.80 on Saturday morning for trainer Tony Dutrow. … Pangburn, runner-up in September’s $200,000 Pocahontas Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.60 on Saturday morning for trainer Kenny McPeek. … Will Did It, a 3-year-old Medaglia d’Oro colt winless in three career starts for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, worked a half-mile in :54 on Saturday morning. Owner Willis Horton purchased Will Did It for $700,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. … Training hours were normal Saturday (7 a.m.-10:30 a.m.). The surface was rated fast.
Source: Oaklawn Park
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