Oaklawn Barn Notes: Petrov to Make Next Start in the Southwest Stakes

By Jennifer Hoyt —-

Petrov to Make Next Start in the Southwest Stakes

Lightly raced Petrov will make his next start in the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Feb. 20 at Oaklawn, co-owner/trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs said Thursday morning. The colt, in his two-turn debut, finished second, beaten 5 ¼ lengths by Uncontested, in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 16.

The 1 1/16-mile Southwest is Oaklawn’s second of four Kentucky Derby prep races, a series that continues with the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) March 18 and $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 15.

Immediately following the Smarty Jones – Petrov’s third lifetime start – Moquett called the gray son of Flatter “probable” for the Southwest. But Moquett, Oaklawn’s leading trainer this year, said he also wanted to look at other options across the country regarding Petrov’s next start.

“I think you should always do that before you say for sure what’s up, because the last thing I want to do is tell somebody I’m doing something and then find out there’s a four-horse field for equal money somewhere else,” Moquett said. “I want to run here in this series. I’ve got a bunch of reasons I want to do well here.”

Moquett said he’s “looking at this weekend” to breeze Petrov for the first time since the Smarty Jones.

After a sparkling debut victory Nov. 12 at Churchill Downs, Petrov finished second in the $100,000 King’s Swan Stakes Dec. 2 at Aqueduct in his only other start at 2.

Moquett, a 50-50 partner in Petrov with Rialto Racing Stables (Catherine Adams-Hutt), ran second in last year’s Southwest with Whitmore.

Uncontested is also pointing for the Southwest, trainer Wayne Catalano said. A wire-to-wire winner of the 1-mile Smarty Jones, he recorded the fastest time (1:36.32) and largest margin of victory in race history.

Getting Closer

Two-time Oaklawn riding champion Terry Thompson said Thursday morning that he’s been getting on horses for more than a week in preparation for his return to action.

Thompson, 45, hasn’t ridden since Aug. 13, the final day of the Prairie Meadows meeting.

Thompson said he decided to “regroup” and take “a little break” from riding, adding he has been “in and out” of Hot Springs the last few months, traveled extensively (Bahamas, Florida, New Mexico and Hawaii) and hired a new agent, Tony King, who represented Jon Court several years ago.

“I’m going to ride at the meet,” Thompson said.

Thompson has 611 career victories at Oaklawn, including 32 stakes, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization, and captured riding titles in 2009 and 2010.

But Thompson’s production in Hot Springs has fallen dramatically the last four years. He won only seven races in 2016, after opting not to ride in the fall of 2015 at Remington Park.

“I knew I didn’t have any stables,” Thompson said. “I didn’t have any business.”

In preparation for the 2017 meet, Thompson said he began getting on horses Jan. 16 and is anxious to ride again.

“I worked quite a few last week and we’re just now waiting for the first opportunity,” Thompson said. “We’re ready to hit the entry box. Maybe end up on something for Steve Manley this next week.”

Thompson has 3,206 career victories – 147th-highest total in North American history – since 1993, according to Equibase. He rode his first Oaklawn winner in 2001 and recorded his biggest local career victory in the $500,000 Arkansas Derby (G2) in 2003 aboard late-running Sir Cherokee.

Finish Lines

The track was fast for Thursday morning workouts. … Multiple stakes winner Smack Smack worked a half-mile in :50 after the renovation break Thursday morning for trainer Don Von Hemel of Hot Springs, who said he is pointing the 6-year-old gelding for the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) Feb. 20. Smack Smack finished second in the $125,000 Fifth Season Stakes Jan. 13. “He ran well,” Von Hemel said Thursday morning. Smack Smack ($955,430 in career earnings) is trying to become the first millionaire for Von Hemel, 82, Oaklawn’s leading trainer in 1981. … Seven older fillies and mares are entered in Saturday’s $125,000 American Beauty Stakes at 6 furlongs: Super Saks, D R C’s Pretty Sky, A Gala Day, Eurodevilwoman, Wheatfield, Marquee Miss and Athena. … Jazzy Time, third in the $300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G1) Oct. 8 at Santa Anita, is scheduled to make his 4-year-old debut in Saturday’s sixth race, a third-level allowance sprint. Jazzy Time had been based in Southern California with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert before being transferred to trainer Brad Cox earlier this month. Jazzy Time is owned Ahmed Zayat (Zayat Stables, LLC), who campaigned 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who began his 3-year-old campaign with victories in Oaklawn’s $750,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) and $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1). Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes winner Lord Nelson was runner-up for an Eclipse Award as champion male sprinter of 2016. … Impressive Jan. 16 debut winner Checkmate Charlie (3-year-old Tactical Cat gelding) is “definitely” a candidate for the $100,000 Rainbow Stakes March 31, trainer Ingrid Mason said. The 6-furlong Rainbow is restricted to Arkansas-bred colts and geldings. … Nominations to the $125,000 King Cotton Stakes Feb. 4 close Friday. Two-time defending champion Ivan Fallunovalot is scheduled to make his 2017 debut in the 6-furlong race.