Oaklawn Barn Notes: Petrov Works toward Rebel Stakes;Spring Fever Stakes-Gazebo Stakes Recaps

By Jennifer Hoyt —-

Petrov Works toward Rebel Stakes

Triple Crown nominee Petrov tuned up for a possible start in the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) March 18 with a 5-furlong work in company Saturday morning at Oaklawn for trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs. The gray son of Flatter covered the distance over a fast track in :59.60 under Greta Kuntzweiler.

Immediately following the work, Moquett said he’s still leaning toward the 1 1/16-mile Rebel, which is expected to attract shippers from across the country.

“Just a maintenance breeze,” said Moquett, who co-owns Petrov with Rialto Racing Stables (Catherine Adams Hutt). “He can go :45 if you let him, but he’s a very smart horse. He’ll do what he’s asked to do. Galloped out like a million dollars. He looked awesome.”

Saturday’s work was Petrov’s first since a runner-up finish in the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 20. Petrov also ran second in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 16.

Oaklawn’s fourth and final major Kentucky Derby prep is the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 15, another potential next-race target for Petrov.

“Right now, we’re looking at the Rebel,” Moquett said. “The Rebel is going to be an unbelievably tough race. I know that. I have to make a decision whether I want to run two tough races before the Kentucky Derby.”

If Petrov runs in the Rebel, Moquett said New York-based Jose Ortiz would retain the mount. Ortiz, the country’s winningest rider last year and a finalist for an Eclipse Award, rode Petrov in the Smarty Jones and Southwest.

Silver Dust, who is scheduled to make his next start in the Rebel, worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.80 after the renovation break Saturday morning for trainer Randy Morse. He finished fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest, which was his 3-year-old and stakes debut and first start around two turns.

Jockeying for Position

Geovanni Franco will ride Rockshaw in Saturday’s $125,000 Gazebo Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters, trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs said Saturday morning. Franco, currently third in the jockey standings with 25 victories, replaces Ricardo Santana Jr., who suffered a separated shoulder in a Thursday spill, according to his agent, Ruben Munoz.

Santana is Oaklawn’s four-time defending riding champion and is currently tied with Ramon Vazquez at the top of the standings this year with 30 victories through 31 days of racing.

Santana’s injury left Moquett scrambling to find a rider for the Gazebo, and possibly for next Saturday’s $125,000 Hot Springs Stakes for older sprinters and the $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies. Moquett said Santana is scheduled to ride Whitmore in the Hot Springs and Torrent in the Honeybee. New York-based Jose Ortiz rode Whitmore to a dazzling allowance/optional claiming victory Jan. 15, but has commitments next Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, Moquett said.

“Santana is still thinking that there’s a possibility we can do something with Whitmore,” Moquett said Saturday morning.

Munoz said about an hour later that he’s targeting a return of around March 18 for Santana, but added more will be known after the jockey sees a specialist Monday morning.

Oaklawn runs three major stakes March 18, including the $900,000 Rebel (G2) for 3-year-olds.

Munoz said Santana was originally scheduled to have an MRI Friday, but was told the jockey didn’t need one following an examination of his injured left shoulder. The agent added Monday’s examination will be conducted by a doctor who “only does shoulders and elbows.”

“I mean, he’s not in pain,” Munoz said of Santana. “He’s moving it. He’s icing it. He’s not even taking pain meds. Since he left the hospital, he’s taken pain meds that one night when he went to sleep. We’ll see. I’m going to make sure that he’s OK before he starts riding, I don’t care how much I miss.”

Lovely Work

Lovely Bernadette worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.40 over a fast track shortly after the track opened Saturday morning in advance of next Saturday’s $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies.

“She worked great,” trainer Jimmy DiVito said. “She was very strong. She galloped out good, so everything’s on schedule for the Honeybee.”

Lovely Bernadette finished fourth in her 3-year-old debut, the $125,000 Martha Washington Stakes Feb. 11. That race marked her first start since finishing fifth in the $200,000 Golden Rod Stakes (G2) Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs.

DiVito said Lovely Bernadette was turned out for approximately a month after the Golden Rod and that may have factored in her fitness level for the 1-mile Martha Washington, when she was beaten 6 ¼ lengths by Chanel’s Legacy.

Alex Canchari, Oaklawn’s fourth-leading jockey this year with 20 victories, will ride Lovely Bernadette in the 1 1/16-mile Honeybee, DiVito said.

Another scheduled Honeybee starter, Someday Soon, worked 5 furlongs in 1:00 just after the track opened Saturday morning for trainer Will VanMeter. She was a powerful allowance/optional claiming winner in her 3-year-old debut, Feb. 12.

Trainer Brad Cox said Benner Island, sixth in the Martha Washington, is headed to the Honeybee after a 5-furlong bullet work Saturday morning (:59.40).

Chanel’s Legacy, also pointing for the Honeybee, emerged from her Thursday work in good order, trainer Lynn Chleborad said Saturday morning.

Finish Lines

The track was rated fast for workouts Saturday morning, with two projected starters for next Saturday’s $125,000 Hot Springs Stakes for older sprinters, Whitmore and Recount, completing major preparations for the 6-furlong race. Whitmore, in company, went 5 furlongs in :59.60 just after the track opened for co-owner/trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs. Recount went 5 furlongs in 1:02.80 after the renovation break for trainer Jimmy DiVito. … Richard Eramia will ride Marquee Miss in Saturday’s $125,000 Spring Fever Stakes for older filly and mare sprinters, trainer Ingrid Mason said Saturday morning. Didiel Osorio was named to ride Marquee Miss but could miss two months after fracturing two vertebrae in a Thursday spill, said his agent, Joe Santos. … Luis Contreras, a recent arrival from Santa Anita, recorded his first two career Oaklawn victories Friday. Contreras won the third race aboard favored Civitavecchio ($5) for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and the seventh race aboard favored I Am Miss Brown ($5.20) for 2015 Oaklawn training champion Chris Hartman. Contreras moved his tack to Oaklawn to ride first call for Asmussen, who has seven local training titles since 2007. Contreras is a two-time Sovereign Award winner (2011 and 2012) as Canada’s outstanding jockey.

KATHBALLU PULLS MILD SPRING FEVER STAKES UPSET
FAVORITE ROCKSHAW IMPRESSIVE IN GAZEBO STAKES

Five D Thoroughbreds’ Kathballu has made a habit of winning as of late and secured her third stakes victory in her last four starts Saturday by taking the $125,000 Spring Fever Stakes by three-quarters of a length over a fast-closing Natural Wonder.

The heavy 4-5 favorite Fantastic Style didn’t get a clean start, but managed to grab a narrow lead from the well-bunched field through early fractions of :22 1/5 and :45 3/5 for the first half mile, while the Kenny McPeek-trained Kathballu stalked closely in second. The eventual winner stuck her head in front as the field entered the stretch, garnered a larger advantage late and had enough left to hold on for the win in 1:04 1/5 for 5 ½ furlongs over a fast track.

Marquee Miss finished third and was followed by D R C’s Pretty Sky, Fantastic Style and Super Saks. Durango and Her Love for Pappy completed the order of finish.

“She was all heart,” winning jockey Channing Hill said. “Not the ideal trip, as I was inside and had to press on the entire way. I thought (Fantastic Style) would be a little faster and she did get out there just a little bit, and since I knew Marquee Miss so well I knew she would keep pressure to the outside. I didn’t want to take her (Kathballu) back from a good spot, and from there good horses make you look good because she just powered through it and she kept running all the way to the wire. She ran fantastic. I give (trainer) Kenny (McPeek) and the barn a lot of credit, because I didn’t do anything, but ask her from the eighth pole.”

Kathballu, a five-year-old Bluegrass Cat mare bred by her owner, improved her record to 7-3-3 from 24 starts and has now earned $409,349. She returned $12.20, $6.40 and $3.80 as the 5-1 third choice in the field of six.

One race earlier, Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Rockshaw earned an impressive four-length victory as the 2-1 favorite in the $125,000 Gazebo Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters.

Rockshaw, ridden by Geovanni Franco, stalked Laughingsaintssong through opening fractions of :22 1/5 and :45 1/5 for the first half mile. As the field entered the stretch, Rockshaw overtook the early leader, who held on for second, and drew off to win the six-furlong race easily in 1:09 1/5. The well-bred Triple Crown race nominee Balandeen, making his seasonal debut, finished third and then galloped out seven furlongs in 1:24 4/5.

“He’s a very cool horse,” trainer Ron Moquett said. “These kind of horses make us look good. Real happy to have him.”
Rockshaw, a Maclean’s Music colt, improved his record to three wins from five starts and has now earned $165,550. He returned $6.20, $3.40 and $2.60 as the 2-1 favorite.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a 1:30 p.m. first post.

Gazebo Stakes Quotes

Winning trainer Ron Moquett, Rockshaw – “He’s a very cool horse. These kind of horses make us look good. Real happy to have him.”

Moquett said Rockshaw will be pointed for the $150,000 Bachelor Stakes April 13 at Oaklawn.

“We’ll stay here at home. Arkansas owners, Arkansas trainer – that will be fine.”

Winning jockey Geovanni Franco aboard Rockshaw – “That is a very nice horse. I am very thankful for the opportunity the trainer and the owners gave me. I want to wish a speedy recovery to my fellow riders Ricardo Santana Jr. and Didiel Osorio, and thank God for everything.”
Note: Santana Jr. was scheduled to ride Rockshaw until injuring his shoulder in a spill Thursday that also injured Osorio.

2nd place finisher Kerwin Clark aboard Laughingsaintsong – “He ran well. You know he’s a Louisiana bred. That horse that won can go anywhere and win. He (Rockshaw) came by me pretty easy down the stretch. We just wanted to try out the horse and see what he had, and we found out. He ran second and ran a good race, but Louisiana-breds aren’t going to beat him (Rockshaw)”

Spring Fever Quotes

Winning trainer Kenny McPeek, Kathballu – “I told Channing not to give the #2 horse (Fantastic Style) an easy lead. If nobody went with her, to keep her honest. It looked like the 2 got off a little sluggish and Channing was in good position. He put her in good position. Made all the difference. She’s fast enough to let her go, and she’ll stalk, second, third, if you need her to. But, he had to commit a little bit there. And like I said, if the 2 doesn’t break a little bit sluggish, he had to put her up there one way or another. Worked out good.”

Winning jockey Channing Hill aboard Kathballu – “She was all heart. Not the ideal trip, as I was inside and had to press on the entire way. I thought (Fantastic Style) would be a little faster and she did get out there just a little bit, and since I knew Marquee Miss so well I knew she would keep pressure to the outside. I didn’t want to take her (Kathballu) back from a good spot, and from there good horses make you look good because she just powered through it and she kept running all the way to the wire. She ran fantastic. I give Kenny (McPeek) and the barn a lot of credit, because I didn’t do anything, but ask her from the eighth pole.”

2nd place jockey Chris Landeros aboard Natural Wonder – “I think the distance might have got us today more than anything. I was proud of her effort. She seems like a very classy, honest filly. We will just try again next time with maybe a little more distance.”

5th place jockey Luis Contreras aboard 4/5 favorite Fantastic Style – “She ran well. She broke okay and we went to the lead, but I was trying to save some horse for the end. She was trying hard, but in the end she just kind of stopped at the 1/16th pole.”