Oaklawn Barn Notes: Sporting Chance on Way to Keeneland Blue Grass Stakes

By Matthew Cox —-

Sporting Chance; Coady Photo

Sporting Chance on Way to Keeneland Blue Grass Stakes

D. Wayne Lukas has called an audible with Sporting Chance and will send the Grade 1 winner to the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes (G2) April 7 at Keeneland, the Hall of Fame trainer said Thursday morning.

Lukas had originally targeted the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 14 at Oaklawn for Sporting Chance, who has been based in Hot Springs since late last year. Sporting Chance has run twice at the meet, finishing a troubled third in the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 19 and a disappointing fifth in the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) March 17, the final major local prep for the Arkansas Derby.

“I have great respect for the horses that are showing up for this one,” Lukas said. “I just think it might be a better fit. Trying to find out the proper keys, the right buttons.”

Lukas said Luis Saez will be reunited with Sporting Chance in the Blue Grass. Saez rode Sporting Chance to a victory in the $350,000 Hopeful Stakes (G1) Sept. 4 at Saratoga and in the Southwest, which marked the 3-year-old debut for the son of Tiznow. Saez opted to ride south Florida-based Magnum Moon in the Rebel for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Magnum Moon, in his stakes debut, remained unbeaten in three career starts with a 3 ½-length victory.

Magnum Moon is a candidate for the Arkansas Derby, along with unbeaten Justify (2 for 2 this year in Southern California) for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez rode Sporting Chance in the Rebel.

In his first work since the Rebel, Sporting Chance recorded a 5-furlong bullet over a fast track Tuesday morning (:59.20). Clockers caught Sporting Chance’s last quarter-mile in :22.80 and galloping out 6 furlongs in 1:12.80.

“Best work he’s had this spring,” Lukas said. “Real pleased. Excellent work. I thought he looked well within himself. He did everything right. Clearly, the best work he’s had all spring.”

Lukas said Luis Contreras worked Sporting Chance Tuesday morning.

Like the Arkansas Derby, the Blue Grass will offer 170 points to the top four finishers (100-40-20-10) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. Sporting Chance, according to an official news release from Churchill Downs, ranks 41st on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with the two points earned for his third-place finish in the Southwest. Sporting Chance will likely have to finish first or second in the Blue Grass to secure a spot in the Kentucky Derby, which is limited to 20 starters. If the race overfills, starting preference is given to horses with the highest point totals earned in designated races like the Southwest, Rebel, Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby.

Lukas said Bravazo, a Jan. 13 first-level allowance/optional claiming winner at Oaklawn, will not run again until the Kentucky Derby.

Bravazo won the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds and finished eighth in Saturday’s $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds. With 54 points, Bravazo ranks fourth and is safely in the Kentucky Derby.

“He’s assured himself a spot, so I’ve got the luxury of having six weeks to fine tune him,” Lukas said. “I’ll have a nice fresh horse for the Derby, it looks like.”

Ivan Update

Multiple stakes winner and near-millionaire Ivan Fallunovalot remains under consideration for the $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) for older sprinters April 14, trainer Kathy Howard of Hot Springs said Thursday morning.

Ivan Fallunovalot hasn’t started since finishing third in the $125,000 Hot Springs Stakes March 10, the final major local prep for the Count Fleet. The gelding’s trainer, Tom Howard of Hot Springs, died hours later from cancer. On behalf of owner Lewis Mathews, Howard claimed Ivan Fallunovalot for $25,000 at the 2014 Oaklawn meeting Ivan Fallunovalot won Oaklawn’s King Cotton Stakes in 2015 and 2016 and amassed $998,903 in career earnings.

Mathews said he wants Ivan Fallunovalot to become a millionaire before the 8-year-old Texas-bred is retired to the owner’s farm in nearby Bismarck, Ark.

Kathy Howard has become the trainer of record following her husband’s death, but she said that will end when Oaklawn closes April 14.

“Tom wouldn’t have wanted me to quit in midstream,” said Howard, who had assisted her husband. “I’m doing it for the owners and Tom.”

Howard said the eight horses now under her care will be given to other trainers or turned out following the Oaklawn meeting, adding she will continue in her role as racing manager for owner Frank Fletcher of North Little Rock, Ark.

The Tom Howard-trained Ghost Rocket, a 3-year-old Ghostzapper colt owned by Fletcher, finished sixth in a Jan. 15 maiden special weight event.

The Rainbow Miss

Six horses are entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Rainbow Miss Stakes for 3-year-old Arkansas-bred fillies at 6 furlongs.

Probable post time for the Rainbow Miss, the ninth of 10 races, is 5:09 p.m. (Central). Doors open Saturday at 11 a.m., with first post 1:05 p.m.

The projected Rainbow Miss field from the rail out: Usual Suspect, Fernando De La Cruz to ride, 116 pounds; Spunky Town, Tommy Pompell, 119; Firewater Rocket, Edgar Morales, 122; Zippy Lou, Gary Stevens, 116; Georgia’s Reward, David Cohen, 122; and Dutch Treat, Ramon Vazquez, 122.

The speedy Firewater Rocket has finished ahead of Georgia’s Reward and Dutch Treat at the meet for trainer Kellyn Gorder. Zippy Lou, named for Oaklawn guest relations manager Lou Siegel, finished second, beaten a half-length, in her March 11 career debut against open maiden special weights company for high-percentage trainer Brad Cox.

Dawn at Oaklawn to Feature Oaklawn Racing Club

This week’s Westrock Coffee Dawn at Oaklawn program, hosted by paddock analyst Nancy Holthus, will feature a session about the newly launched Oaklawn Racing Club, a program that offers average fans the opportunity to experience the thrill and excitement of Thoroughbred ownership.

Dawn at Oaklawn is a free program that includes barn tours and complimentary pastries and coffee, is 7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. (Central). Moquett will be interviewed around 8:30 a.m. on the apron at the south end of the grandstand.

Oaklawn is giving race fans the chance to experience Thoroughbred ownership in a low-risk, low-cost fashion with the Oaklawn Racing Club. The Racing Club will offer up to 200 shares at $500 each in a horse that will be purchased privately and trained by multiple stakes-winning Oaklawn trainer and native Arkansan Ron Moquett.

Moquett, who is well known for selecting top horses such as Whitmore and Petrov for moderate prices, will identify and purchase an unraced 2-year-old with the goal of starting several times as a juvenile before launching its 3-year-old season at Oaklawn next year.

For more information, visit www.oaklawn.com or email racingclub@oaklawn.com.

Finish Lines

The track was rated muddy for training Thursday morning. … Impasse, a March 23 allowance/optional claiming winner, is under consideration for the $150,000 Carousel Stakes at Oaklawn and the $300,000 Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Thursday morning. Both sprint races for older fillies and mares are April 7. … Alex Canchari ($1,021,788) became the fifth jockey to reach $1 million in purse earnings at the meet Sunday. … Through Sunday, the 43rd day of racing, 344 claims have totaled $5,369,500 at the meet.

Cover Photo: Sporting Chance; Coady Photography