Oaklawn Barn Notes: Big Names Work at Oaklawn

By Jennifer Hoyt —-

Big Names Work Wednesday at Oaklawn

Several notable horses worked over a fast track Wednesday morning at Oaklawn, including multiple stakes winner Whitmore for co-owner/trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs.

Breezing for the first time since finishing second in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs, Whitmore covered a half-mile in :52.40 moments after the track opened. Whitmore is scheduled to make his 2019 debut in the $150,000 Hot Springs Stakes March 9, the final major local prep for the $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) April 13. Whitmore swept both races in 2017 and 2018.

Also breezing for the first time this year for Moquett were multiple stakes-placed Petrov and Frosted Ice, a stakes-winning 3-year-old colt. Petrov went a half-mile in :50.80. Frosted Ice went a half-mile in :49.80.

“Very pleased with all three,” Moquett said.

Moquett said he’s targeting an allowance race for Petrov’s comeback spot, with his major spring objective the inaugural $200,000 Oaklawn Mile for older horses May 3. Frosted Ice could make his 3-year-old debut in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) March 16, Moquett said.

Frosted Ice closed his 2-year-old campaign with a 6 ¼-length victory in the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes for New York-breds Sept. 21 at Belmont Park.

“Trying to get to the Rebel, but just trying to get him back,” Moquett said. “Gave him a break. He’s a big horse. He writes his own story.”

The Rebel is the third and final major local prep for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 13.
Trainer Larry Jones gave Super Steed the green light for Monday’s $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds after the son of Super Saver worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.80 shortly after the track opened under Terry Thompson. Super Steed finished seventh in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 25, Oaklawn’s first major Arkansas Derby prep.

“Everything went well,” Jones said of the work. “We’re going to try again and see if we can pick up off that first day.”

Jones said Thompson will have the mount for the 1 1/16-mile Southwest. Powerful Jan. 26 allowance winner Jersey Agenda, among several Southwest candidates for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, worked a half-mile in :50.60.

Breezing after the break for trainer Mark Casse was 2018 Queen’s Plate winner Wonder Gadot. A finalist for a Sovereign Award as Canada’s top 3-year-old filly of 2018, Wonder Gadot went 5 furlongs in 1:01.20 under David Cohen.

In addition to beating males in the Queen’s Plate, Wonder Gadot finished second in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Oaklawn’s $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) last year. Wonder Gadot is unraced since finishing ninth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.
Senior Moments

Agent “Big Steve” Krajcir of Hot Springs is 67 and represents former Oaklawn riding champions Jon Court, 58, and Calvin Borel, 52.

The seasoned trio scored a double Saturday, with Court guiding Triple Crown nominee Market King ($8.60) to a three-quarter length maiden victory in the fifth race for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and Borel winning the eighth race, an allowance sprint for older fillies and mares, by three-quarters of a length aboard Paintergone ($56.60) for owner/trainer Clay Loetscher.

“It was a great day,” Krajcir said Sunday morning.

Paintergone marked the 954th career Oaklawn victory for Borel, who won local riding titles in 1995 and 2001 and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2013. Market King was the 673rd career Oaklawn victory for Court, Oaklawn’s leading rider in 2000.

Court said Sunday morning that he “feels great” and has no thoughts of retirement.

“I’d like to bow out gracefully at the designated time, but I think I’ll leave it the Lord’s hands,” Court said. “I don’t know what 58 feels like, but it feels pretty damn good. I know some people who are 58 feel like I should be done because that’s the way they feel. I’ve heard that since I was 50.”

Borel (5,223) and Court (4,133) ranked 27th and 65th, respectively, in North American career victories through Tuesday, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization.

Finish Lines

Post positions were to be drawn Wednesday for Saturday’s $100,000 Dixie Belle Stakes for 3-year-old filly sprinters. … Heartwood will be considered for the $150,000 Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn and $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct for his next start, co-owner/trainer James Chapman said Tuesday morning. Both 6-furlong races are March 9 The Kentucky-based Heartwood earned a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 94 for his half-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 King Cotton Stakes for older sprinters. … Calumet Farm’s Bravazo, who won an allowance race at Oaklawn before winning the Risen Star Stakes and competing in all three Triple Crown races, worked a half-mile in :49 Wednesday. He is scheduled to be Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas’ first starter in the $10 million Dubai World Cup March 30. …Grade 1 winner Sporting Chance recorded a 3-furlong bullet gate work (:34.80) Wednesday morning for Lukas, the colt’s first published breeze this year. Sporting Chance ran twice last year at Oaklawn, finishing third in the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) and fifth in the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds. … Lukas said Wednesday morning that sharp Saturday maiden special weights winner Market King is a candidate for the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds March 16. … Although Grade 3 winner Warrior’s Club is nominated to Monday’s $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3), he’s unlikely to run in the 1 1/16 event, Lukas said Wednesday morning, adding the $150,000 Hot Springs Stakes and an allowance race are under consideration for his 2019 debut. … Allen Milligan, Oaklawn’s leading trainer in 2009, had 999 career victories through Tuesday, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. Milligan has Pop Culture entered in Friday’s second race. … Mid-Atlantic-based Wasabi Ventures LLC is scheduled to have its first Oaklawn starter in Thursday’s third race, Due to His Charm, who is trained by Johnny Ortiz. Wasabi also has horses at Oaklawn with trainer Jesse Cruz, a newcomer to Hot Springs. … Through the first 10 days of racing, 100 claims have totaled $1,487,750 at the meeting.