Oaklawn: Ring the Bell Stakes & Astral Spa Stakes Recap

Compiled by Robert Yates

$150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, AR – Roll On Big Joe remains in sharp form, scoring a front-running victory in the $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs Saturday at Oaklawn.

Roll On Big Joe ($6.40), who was ridden by Julien Leparoux, finished 1 ¼ lengths ahead of 8-5 favorite Banishing, with late-running Tejano Twist, the 2023 Ring the Bell winner, another 1 ¾ lengths farther back in third. The final time over a fast track was a stakes-record 1:09.54. The Ring the Bell debuted in 2022.

Tejano Twist was followed, in order, by Second I D, slow-starting Skelly, Durante and Spankster. Ghost of Midnight was a late scratch.

Skelly was bidding for a record-tying seventh career Oaklawn stakes victory and a record-extending 11th consecutive victory overall in Hot Springs.

Roll On Big Joe was making his first start since a 4 ½-length victory in the six-furlong $300,000 Bet On Sunshine Stakes Nov. 1 at Churchill Downs. He held a narrow lead turning for home in the Ring the Bell, then drew clear in midstretch and held off millionaire Banishing, a Grade 2 winner at 1 1/8 miles.

Roll On Big Joe represented the first career Oaklawn stakes winner for trainer Bob Hess Jr., who conditions the 5-year-old gray Prospective gelding for a partnership that includes Tim Cohen (Rancho Temescal).

Roll On Big Joe has a 9-6-1 record from 22 lifetime starts and earnings of $751,925.

A four-time stakes winner, Roll On Big Joe won the Kelly’s Landing (G3) and Palos Verdes (G3) earlier this year.

Roll On Big Joe was cross-entered in Saturday’s weather-delayed $250,000 Holiday Cheer Stakes at Turfway Park.

Saturday’s estimated attendance was 19,000. Total mutuel handle was $7,288,120.

Racing resumes Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CDT, with 10 races highlighted by the inaugural $135,000 Astral Spa Overnight Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

RING THE BELL QUOTES

WINNING JOCKEY JULIEN LEPAROUX (ROLL ON BIG JOE): “He’s been sharp the whole year, really. He hasn’t had, like, a terrible race this year. He’s been doing very good. Very simple race, I guess. He broke sharp and I let him do his thing – get him relaxed – and he finished up strong. So, it was a race that we expected, but glad he did it. We found out a few days ago that he was going to run in this race (Roll On Big Joe was cross-entered in Saturday’s weather-delayed $250,000 Holiday Cheer Stakes at Turfway Park). I think the goal was to always be at Turfway, but Bob (trainer Bob Hess Jr.) changed his mind, maybe, last week. I’m glad I came here to ride him.”

$135,000 Astral Spa Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, AR. – West Point Thoroughbreds’ Counting Stars found a seam coming out of the turn and pulled away through the stretch to a four-length victory Sunday in Oaklawn’s inaugural running of the $135,000 Astral Spa Overnight Stakes, a six-furlong event for 2-year-old fillies that was restricted to runners that have yet to win an open stakes race.

Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse and ridden by Francisco Arrieta, Counting Stars covered the distance in 1:11.13 and returned $8.60 to win as the 3.30-1 second choice in the nine-horse field. The daughter of Honor A.P. earned $72,900 from her second win in three starts and improved her lifetime earnings to $149,506.

Arkansas-bred Walk Away Kaye closed well to finish second, with Victory Music finishing third. Grace Is Free, Front Runnin, Runadhara, Candy Talking, Debbie Doll, and Carolyncaroline completed the order of finish. Glazin’ Fury was a late scratch after rearing in the gate to unseat jockey Luis Saez.

Oaklawn’s Holiday season continues Friday with another 10-race card beginning at 12:30 p.m.