Oaklawn Barn Notes: Walter De La Cruz Records Biggest Career Victory

By Ben Gibson —-

Rated R Superstar; Oaklawn Photos

Walter De La Cruz Records Biggest Career Victory

Jockey Walter De La Cruz recorded his biggest career victory in the $350,000 Essex Handicap for older horses March 16 at Oaklawn when Rated R Superstar ($31.20) took the 1 1/16-mile event by a head for co-owner/trainer Cipriano Contreras.
Winning the race may have been easier than regaining the mount.

De La Cruz rode Rated R Superstar to a fifth-place finish in a Jan. 26 allowance race before the gelding was a troubled third in the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) Feb. 18 under David Cabrera. But Cabrera stuck with powerful Feb. 10 allowance winner Heavy Roller for the Essex, so Turfway Park-based Rodney Prescott was named to ride.

With Prescott unable to fulfill his engagement, Esch said Contreras informed her shortly before the first race March 16 that he had tapped De La Cruz to ride.

“I loved him,” Esch said of Rated R Superstar. “Walter had worked him. He said he was back and doing good. Walter worked him before this race and the prior race. So, he knew how he felt going into that race and how he felt going into this one.”

Multiple Oaklawn winner Dutch Parrot had represented De La Cruz’s most lucrative career victory, that coming in the $200,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes last August at Thistledown for trainer Will VanMeter and breeder/owner John Ed Anthony of Hot Springs.

De La Cruz, 29, has been a perennial riding champ at Thistledown, but Esch said the jockey will be based at Prairie Meadows for the first time after the Oaklawn meeting ends May 4.

De La Cruz had 945 career North American victories through Sunday, including eight this year at Oaklawn, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. He rode his first North American winner in 2012. De La Cruz is the brother of Oaklawn-based jockey Fernando De La Cruz.

The Essex was the final major local prep for the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 13.

The Leaders

Through last Sunday, the 35th day of the scheduled 57-day meeting, six-time defending champion Ricardo Santana Jr. held a 46-39 lead over David Cohen in the race for leading jockey. Santana, who rode five winners last Saturday, also topped all riders in purse earnings ($2,402,124).

Cohen was credited with an additional victory last week after Feb. 2 debut winner Blue Gem was disqualified for a medication overage, according to a March 20 stewards’ ruling. Cohen rode the original runner-up, Honduras, for owner Earl Shaw and trainer Norman McKnight. Blue Gem’s trainer, J.R. Caldwell, is appealing the disqualification and $1,000 fine to the Arkansas Racing Commission, state steward Stan Bowker said last Sunday. Cohen ($1,369,097) ranked third in purse earnings through last Sunday.

Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen led all trainers with 36 victories, 12 more than runner-up Robertino Diodoro, through last Sunday. Asmussen, who had a triple last Saturday, is seeking his fourth consecutive local training title and 10th since 2007. Asmussen was also No. 1 in purse earnings ($2,922,878).

M and M Racing (Mike and Mickala Sisk) led all owners with 35 victories through last Sunday. Danny Caldwell, Oaklawn’s leading owner in 2014-2017, was second with 13. M and M Racing was also No. 1 in purse earnings ($1,002,364) after reaching seven figures Sunday. Zayat Stables set a single-season Oaklawn record for purse earnings ($1,275,541) in 2015. Its stable was headed by eventual Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year American Pharoah, who bankrolled $1,050,000 at the meet following victories in the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby.

M and M Racing won 21 races last year at Oaklawn to capture its first career owner’s title and ranked second in purse earnings ($671,919).

Beating the Deadline

Nominations to all Racing Festival of the South races close Thursday.

The Festival begins with the $500,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies April 12 and continues with the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) for older horses, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses and $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) for 3-year-olds April 13 and the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes for older horses and $750,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares April 14.

Finish Lines

Grade 2 winner Mia Mischief, who worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.40 last Sunday, is pointing for the $150,000 Carousel Stakes for older female sprinters April 6, co-owner Scott Heider said. Mia Mischief is a two-time winner at Oaklawn for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and co-owners William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, capturing the $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes last year and a March 3 allowance race in her 4-year-old debut. The Carousel is Mia Mischief’s scheduled prep for the $500,000 Humana Distaff Stakes (G1) May 4 at Churchill Downs, according to Bradley Weisbord (BSW Bloodstock/ELiTE Sales), who purchased an interest in the filly on behalf of Heider and Madaket Stables. … She Beast, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner The Big Beast, broke her maiden in last Sunday’s ninth race, her 4-year-old debut, for Asmussen. She Beast is owned by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong of Conway, Ark., who also campaigned The Big Beast, an allowance winner in his 4-year-old debut at the 2015 Oaklawn meeting. She Beast is by The Factor, runaway winner of the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds in 2011 at Oaklawn. … No Debate, a 3-year-old full brother to multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Ministry, won his career debut in last Sunday’s first race for owner/breeder Linda Robbins of Hot Springs and trainer Jaime Gonzalez. They also campaign Ministry, who has recorded three works this month at Oaklawn in advance of a possible comeback race at the meeting. One-eyed Hamazing Vision, a 4-year-old half-brother to Ministry and No Debate, broke his maiden March 8 at Oaklawn. … Post positions were to be drawn Wednesday for Saturday’s $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 6 furlongs. … Through Sunday, the 35th day of the scheduled 57-day meeting, 347 claims had totaled $5,063,750.