Oaklawn Barn Notes: Petrov Scheduled to Work Friday

By Jennifer Hoyt —-

Petrov; Oaklawn/Coady Photos
Petrov Scheduled to Work Friday

Petrov is scheduled to work Friday morning in preparation for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 15 at Oaklawn, co-owner/trainer Ron Moquett said.

Among Oaklawn’s leading Kentucky Derby candidates, Petrov is coming off a fourth-place finish in the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles March 18, the final major local prep for the Arkansas Derby. He also ran second in Oaklawn’s $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 16 and $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 20.

Friday’s scheduled breeze would be the first for Petrov since he was beaten two lengths by Malagacy in the Rebel. Two noses separated Petrov from second.

“We’re starting to gear up towards the Derby here,” Moquett said Thursday morning.

Other locally based horses pointing for the Arkansas Derby include Untrapped, Silver Dust and Lookin At Lee, third, fifth and sixth, respectively, in the Rebel.

Also expected for the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby are unbeaten Malagacy and Classic Empire, the country’s champion 2-year-old male.

Both Malagacy and Classic Empire have been based this year in Florida.

The Arkansas Derby offers 170 points (100-40-20-10) to the top four finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. Nominations to the Arkansas Derby close Friday.

Rapid Reaction

Unbeaten late Triple Crown nominee Rapid Dial is under consideration for several upcoming stakes races, including the $150,000 Northern Spur at 1 1/16 miles April 15 at Oaklawn, co-owner/trainer Ingrid Mason said Thursday morning.

Rapid Dial is 2 for 2 after a half-length entry-level allowance/optional claiming victory in Sunday’s eighth race. Under Ramon Vazquez, Rapid Dial ran 6 furlongs over a fast track in 1:10.71 to earn a 77 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He obviously needs to stretch out,” Mason said. “He’s going to be much better doing that. I was very impressed with him because he had pressure … he never got a breather. That being said, it shows what kind of horse he is.”
From the first crop of Florida Derby winner Dialed In, Rapid Dial was a sparkling March 11 debut winner and late Triple Crown nominee ($6,000 fee).

Rapid Dial returned to the track Thursday morning to begin preparing for his next start.

In addition to the Northern Spur, Mason said Rapid Dial is a candidate for the $250,000 Illinois Derby (G3) at 1 1/8 miles April 22 at Hawthorne and the $250,000 Pat Day Mile (G3) May 6 at Churchill Downs. The trainer said he will “definitely stretch out” for his next start.

“I’m more leaning toward the later races, obviously,” Mason said. “But we want to keep our options open.”

Mason said Rapid Dial is not a candidate for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 15 at Oaklawn.

Rapid Dial, who races for Mason, Michael Cloonan and Pat Greco, was purchased for $75,000 at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s June sale of 2-year-olds and horses of racing age.

Mason found two future multiple stakes winners, Sarah Sis and Marquee Miss, at the same OBS sale for Oklahoma owner Joe Ragsdale. Sarah Sis won Oaklawn’s $150,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) in 2015. Marquee Miss won the $100,000 Dixie Belle Stakes and $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes last year at Oaklawn.

Just a Fantasy

Allen Poindexter’s Chanel’s Legacy is pointing for the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies April 14, trainer Lynn Chleboard said Thursday morning.

Chanel’s Legacy will be stretching out to 1 1/16 miles after crossing the wire third – she was placed second following the race-related disqualification of Our Majesty – in Saturday’s $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes at 6 furlongs.

“Allen wants to run if she’s OK,” Chleboard said.

Chanel’s Legacy is a two-time stakes winner at the meet, taking the $125,000 Dixie Belle at 6 furlongs Jan. 21 and the $125,000 Martha Washington at a mile Feb. 11. was an 11th-hour Purple Martin entrant after finishing sixth in the $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) March 11, a 1 1/16-mile race that is the final major local prep for the Fantasy.

“She came out of the race real good,” Chleboard said. “She got a little tired – I ran her back a little soon. But as far as everything, she’s doing real good. No worse for the wear.”

Honeybee runner-up Benner Island remains on schedule for the Fantasy, trainer Brad Cox said Wednesday afternoon. The filly, owned by John Ed Anthony of Hot Springs (Shortleaf Stable), tuned up for the Fantasy by working a half-mile in :50.80 Sunday morning.

“This filly is doing great,” Cox said. “I feel pretty confident, as of right now, with how she’s doing.”

Benner Island was beaten a length by It Tiz Well in the Honeybee.

Trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs said Thursday morning “that it’s looking like the Fantasy” for Torrent, unraced since finishing third in the Martha Washington.
Torrent is also under consideration for the $150,000 Beaumont Stakes (G3) April 9 at Keeneland, Moquett said.

Trainer Will VanMeter said Thursday morning that the Fantasy is now in play for Someday Soon, who finished eighth in the Honeybee.

Moquett and VanMeter said the possibility of It Tiz Well remaining on the West Coast for the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G1) April 8 at Santa Anita would make the Fantasy a more wide-open event.

It Tiz Well is trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, who also has Kentucky Oaks future wager favorite Unique Bella. Unique Bella was scheduled to have her final prep for the Kentucky Oaks in the Santa Anita Oaks, but she could be sidelined approximately two months with a sore shin.

Nominations to the 1 1/16-mile Fantasy close Friday.

Finish Lines

The track was rated good for workouts Thursday morning. … Dutch Parrot will be scratched from Saturday’s $100,000 Rainbow Miss Stakes for 3-year-old fillies in favor of a Thursday allowance race for Arkansas-breds at 1 1/16 miles, trainer Will VanMeter said. The Rainbow Miss is restricted to 3-year-old Arkansas-bred fillies. … The Rainbow Miss drew seven other horses – Ministry, Superstar Bea, Dixie Flyer, Premonition Creek, Tedders Angel, Ms Fifty First St. and Numancia. … The race-related disqualification of Our Majesty from her 1 ½-length victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 6 furlongs is being appealed to the Arkansas Racing Commission, trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs said Thursday morning. Stewards placed Our Majesty fourth for “interference in the run up the backstretch,” according to the official chart footnote. In explaining the disqualification, steward John Ferrara said Our Majesty, under Ricardo Santana Jr., gradually drifted in to impede Vertical Oak along the rail, causing her to check. Moquett contends Vertical Oak “had room to do whatever she did.” Golden Mischief ($7.40), originally second, was placed first through the disqualification. … Multiple stakes winner Smack Smack ($970,430) bids to become the first millionaire for trainer Don Von Hemel of Hot Springs in Saturday’s fifth race, a conditioned allowance/optional claimer for older horses at 1 1/16 miles. Von Hemel, 82, was Oaklawn’s leading trainer in 1981.