2024.12.07 Oaklawn Racing Update

By Robert Yates —–

Eight was finally enough for Connie K, who punctuated her racing career with a record-breaking victory in Friday’s fifth race at Oaklawn.

Connie K, in her final career start before going to the breeding shed, surpassed The Mary Rose as the leading accredited Arkansas-bred female money winner in history with a front-running neck victory under Martin Chuan. A 6-year-old daughter of prominent Arkansas stallion Street Strategy, Connie K amassed $620,612 in her career. The Mary Rose, racing from 2019-2022, earned $539,894.

Money totals are based on information provided by Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization, and the Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Horsemen’s Association.

“She’s been awfully good to us, I’ll tell you that,” trainer Randy Morse said.

With a base purse of $131,000, Connie K ($22.80) was guaranteed to break the record by simply finishing the race. She needed only $883 in the open allowance sprint for fillies and mares, 3 and up, to supplant The Mary Rose. Last place was worth $1,091.

Friday marked Connie K’s eighth chance to break the record, a chase that began in the $150,000 Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Stakes for state-bred female sprinters last March at Oaklawn. Connie K finished third in the Downthedustyroad and third in an April allowance sprint at Oaklawn.

She left Hot Springs with $517,195 in earnings and continued to inch closer to the record with a string of solid performances in allowance and stakes company.

Connie K was exiting a fifth-place finish in a $134,000 allowance race Nov. 14 at Churchill Downs. Connie K was beaten a half-length for fourth, which would have pushed her over the top.

“I thought that we were going to have to nickel and dime it out,” Morse said. “Her last race was really good up there at Churchill.”

Morse bred and raced Connie K in partnership with Randy Patterson, who owns Cedar Run Farm, a foaling facility just outside Hot Springs. Patterson also stands Street Strategy.

C

onnie K was born and raised at Cedar Run. She was delivered by Patterson’s daughter, Sara, who is Cedar Run’s farm manager.

Randy Patterson said it was fitting Connie K broke the record at Oaklawn, where she won five races, including the 2022 Downthedustyroad, and earned $526,670.

“She loves this track,” Patterson said. “That’s great. And she’s sound as can be. She hasn’t got a pimple on her.”

Regarding 2025 breeding plans, Patterson said: “We’re thinking Maclean’s Music.”

Connie K compiled a 7-4-6 record from 28 lifetime starts. She collected a $3,000 bonus from the ATBHA by winning Friday in open company. Connie K’s other two victories came at Churchill Downs and what is now Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Connie K was named after Morse’s late aunt, Connie Kay Vincent.

Finish Lines

Apprentice jockey Tyler Bacon, 17, recorded his first career Oaklawn victory in the Saturday opener aboard Chiquita Reina ($14.60) for trainer John Haran. … Kale’s Angel ($9.20) earned a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 93 for his 5 ¾-length victory in Friday’s $150,000 Advent Stakes for 2-year-old sprinters. The 5 ½-furlong Advent was Oaklawn’s opening-day feature. … Jockey Emmanuel Esquivel was cleared to resume riding Saturday at Oaklawn after escaping serious injury in Friday’s eighth race. Esquivel was unseated shortly after the start when his mount, Somerville, stumbled and clipped heels. Esquivel was removed from the track on a backboard and transported to a local hospital as a precaution. Esquivel was working horses Saturday morning. He was Oaklawn’s fifth-leading rider last season with 45 victories and won Friday’s second race aboard Circle Back Jack ($36.40). … After racing Friday and Saturday, Oaklawn will be dark Sunday. Oaklawn begins its normal Friday-Sunday racing schedule Dec. 13.