GEORGIA’S REWARD FAVORITE IN SATURDAY’S RAINBOW MISS

By Matthew Cox —-

HOT SPRINGS, AR (Friday, March 30, 2018) – JRita Young Thoroughbreds’ Georgia’s Reward is the 9-5 program favorite for the $100,000 Rainbow Miss Stakes for 3-year-old Arkansas-bred fillies Saturday at Oaklawn.

Probable post time for the 6-furlong 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.

Trained by Ron Moquett of Hot Springs, Georgia’s Reward was a powerful 4 ¾-length maiden winner against state-breds Jan. 15 in her 3-year-old debut. But after missing a scheduled start because of a minor illness, the gray daughter of Warrior’s Reward finished third in her Rainbow Miss prep, a first-level allowance sprint for state-breds March 15.

“Georgia’s Reward’s last race was a building race and we used it as fitness towards our ultimate goal,” Moquett said of the Rainbow Miss.

The projected six-horse Rainbow Miss field from the rail out: Usual Suspect, Fernando De La Cruz to ride, 116 pounds, 5-1 on the morning line; Spunky Town, Tommy Pompell, 119, 15-1; Firewater Rocket, Edgar Morales, 122, 4-1; Zippy Lou, Gary Stevens, 116, 3-1; Georgia’s Reward, David Cohen, 122, 9-5; and Dutch Treat, Ramon Vazquez, 122, 7-2.

The speedy Firewater Rocket, in her career debut, finished second to Georgia’s Reward Jan. 15 before breaking her maiden Feb. 23 (Dutch Treat was second). Firewater Rocket, who is trained by Kellyn Gorder, finished second, a head in front of Georgia’s Reward, March 15.

Dutch Treat cuts back to a sprint after breaking her maiden at 1 1/16 miles March 11 for trainer Will VanMeter and breeder/owner John Ed Anthony of Hot Springs. Dutch Treat and Spunky Town are the most experienced horses entered, each making six starts.

“I think having those three speed horses kind of drawn right next to each other, if it was an ideal post draw, I guess it’s occurred,” VanMeter said. “The filly’s really doing great. She’s probably the best-training horse I have, that understands her job. She understands how to win. She’s very seasoned. I think all of those are really pluses for her.”

Spunky Town was a front-running 6 ¼-length winner of her last start, a March 16 sprint for state-bred $40,000 maiden claimers.

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.

The Cox-trained Usual Suspect wheels back after winning her career debut by six front-running lengths March 23. Usual Suspect is a half-sister to Weast Hill, a multiple Oaklawn stakes winner for Cox and Starsky Weast, who also bred and owns the 3-year-old filly.