Uncle Brent Tries Two Turns at Oaklawn

Uncle Brent, a 3-year-old who ran the fastest six furlongs of the Oaklawn Park meet when he won his debut in February, will make his first start at two turns Sunday in the 10th race. The entry-level allowance at a mile is one of two high-end offerings on the card. Sebastian County heads the ninth, a $50,000 optional claiming race at the same distance. The field also includes Cryptolight, an earner of more than $500,000.

Uncle Brent made his first career start on Feb. 26, and zipped six furlongs in 1:09.40 to earn a Beyer Figure of 89. He debuted for Westwind Farms and Brent Taylor, the assistant to his original trainer, Eric Reed. In the week following the race he was sold privately to Oaklawn president Charles Cella and transferred to trainer Lynn Whiting.

“His race was most impressive for a 3-year-old first-time starter,” Whiting said of Uncle Brent’s 1 3/4-length win over Jerry n’ Elvis. “He ran the last quarter in 23 and 4. He stamped himself as a horse of a lot of quality, and the second horse, I think was pretty well thought of, too.”

Whiting breezed Uncle Brent a half-mile on Tuesday in a bullet 47.80 seconds. The move was the fastest of 30 works at the distance, and the latest strong drill from the son of the Mr. Prospector stallion Pioneering. The horse will have to overcome post 9 on Sunday, but Whiting likes the idea of added ground for Uncle Brent.