Promising Ancient Warrior among Hollendorfer's Oaklawn horses

Twenty-one horses for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer arrived Wednesday at Oaklawn Park following a flight that originated earlier in the day in Southern California, with the contingent including unbeaten 3-year-olds Ancient Warrior and Play the Wildcard, both nominated to the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on opening day, Jan. 24.

Assistant trainer Dan Ward said more Hollendorfer horses are scheduled to be flown in Sunday as the barn winters in Hot Springs, Ark., for the first time. Ward is no stranger to Oaklawn having overseen late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel’s division there in 1982.

“It’s great to be here,” Ward said. “Everybody here is so nice.”

Ancient Warrior, a son of Constitution, was a front-running 4 ¼-length winner of his Nov. 23 debut at Del Mar.

“What’s so good about him is he went wire-to-wire because he was on the rail,” Ward said. “But when he works, you can do whatever you want – push the button. What’s impressive when he works, I mean he’s just getting started at the wire.”

Play the Wildcard, a gelded son of Jack Milton, was privately purchased after a sharp career-debut victory Nov. 10 at Woodbine. The ownership group includes Hollendorfer and Richard Robertson of Camden, Ark.

“He’s a nice horse,” Ward said.

Hollendorfer has won 6 of 32 career starts at Oaklawn, including four stakes. Notably, Blind Luck won the Fantasy Stakes (G2) in 2010 en route to an Eclipse Award as the country’s champion 3-year-old filly.

After the Smarty Jones, targets for the 3-year-olds could include the Southwest Stakes (G3), Rebel Stakes (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G1).