Oaklawn Barn Notes: Oaklawn Sets Handle Record Rebel Day

By Jennifer Hoyt —-

Oaklawn Sets Handle Record Rebel Day

Total pari-mutuel handle on Saturday’s 10-race Rebel Day card at Oaklawn was a record for March and a non-Arkansas Derby Day, eclipsing marks set from last year’s corresponding program, despite one fewer race.

According to figures released Saturday night by the track, total handle was $10,771,984.46, with $2,089,754.20 wagered on track and a March record $8,682,230.26 bet off track. The program was highlighted by three consecutive stakes races to end the day – $300,000 Essex Handicap for older horses, $350,000 Azeri (G2) for older fillies and mares and the $900,000 Rebel (G2), one of the country’s most important Kentucky Derby preps.

On last year’s 11-race Rebel Day card, Oaklawn set non-Arkansas Derby Day and March records for total handle ($10,752,313.15) and off-track handle ($8,544,041.15). In addition to the Rebel, that program included the Azeri and Essex Handicap, the latter swapping places on the calendar with the Razorback Handicap after previously being run in February.

Saturday’s on-track handle was a season high and estimated attendance of 37,500 was the largest for Rebel Day since 2005. Fans were treated to sunny skies, 80-degree temperatures and the infield open for the first time this season.

“Absolutely delighted,” Oaklawn President Louis Cella said Tuesday afternoon. “We finally got a break in the weather. We had some of the best horses, 3-year-olds around, trying to test themselves and see if they’re worthy to go forward. We could not have been happier, and 37,000-plus people agreed with me.”

Rebel Day has grown into Oaklawn’s second-biggest business day during the live season, with attendance, off-track handle and total handle – money wagered on Oaklawn’s races – increasing each year since eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah won the Rebel in 2015. Straight wagering on Saturday’s Rebel ($1,169,195) surpassed $1 million for the second consecutive year.

“It’s always amazing, the fans and our demographic,” Cella said. “From horsemen to dignitaries to folks that fly in from out of town to look at their horses, owners to see their horses run, they are amazed, and we are amazed at the enthusiasm and excitement our fans bring and the young demographic. Everyone in the state of Arkansas loves horse racing and they love coming out to see a competitive race. Hopefully, we can build on that. Our Rebel Day has grown into the second-biggest day and it’s fighting to be first, just right behind our Derby. It is a huge day.”

Oaklawn’s live season was plagued by frigid temperatures in January and record-breaking rainfall in February. The meeting had been scheduled for 57 days (Jan. 12-April 14), but racing was canceled Jan. 18 and Jan. 19 following a winter storm.

According to the National Weather Service in Little Rock, Ark., Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport received 13.76 inches of rain in February – the most on record for the month – breaking the previous mark of 10.11 in 1989.

Oaklawn ran 117 consecutive races without a fast track, a streak stretching Feb. 10 until the seventh race March 2.

“It really was a special day,” Cella said, referring to Saturday. “It’s all about the weather. It’s like the St. Louis Cardinals on Opening Day. They’re going to have 50,000 people, unless it rains.”

Raise Your Glass

Not only may Martini Glass return to Oaklawn for the $700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares April 13, trainer Keith Nations said he could have a small string in Hot Springs for the first time in 2019.

Martini Glass, a former claimer, recorded her biggest career victory to date in Saturday’s $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2), scoring by three lengths under Paco Lopez. Nations and Maryland retiree Vince Campanella are 50-50 partners in Martini Glass, who has won 10 of 23 career starts and earned $863,675.

Nations claimed the 5-year-old daughter of Kitalpha for $16,000 out of her career debut victory Feb. 20, 2016, at Tampa Bay Downs, where the trainer is based.

Martini Glass was coming off a victory in the $200,000 Royal Delta Stakes (G3) Feb. 19 at Gulfstream Park. She also finished second to champion Songbird in last year’s $750,000 Delaware Handicap (G1) at Delaware Park and second in the $500,000 Spinster Stakes (G1) last year at Keeneland.

“I can just tell she’s just getting better,” Nations said. “Just in her appearance, the way she looks, the way she’s acting. She used to get really nervous on these trips and now she just jumped on the van and she’s relaxed the whole way.”

Martini Glass ($8.80) covered 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:42.95 under top weight of 122 pounds. She had a three-wide stalking trip before easily moving to the lead on the outside turning for home.

Grade 2 winner and 9-5 favorite Actress finished second, a half-length ahead of multiple graded stakes winner Farrell.

“I thought it was a very tough field,” Nations said. “It was a stellar field. To win the race and do it comfortably, it was very exciting.”

Nations said Martini Glass will have an easy week of training this week, “then get serious with her the second week, and then we’ll start to make plans” on whether to return to Oaklawn for the Apple Blossom.

Martini Glass is only the second horse Nations has started in Hot Springs. His first starter, Morning Fire, ran fourth in the $150,000 Bachelor Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters in 2016.

“We may strongly consider doing something here next year, just with a small string,” Nations said. “We love Tampa. It’s just a very relaxed and good lifestyle. But we’ve come here, and we love it. To go somewhere where horse racing means so much to people – you can go to a lot of places and they don’t care as much about racing, especially some of the casino race tracks. But this is a casino race track that is thriving, and the people keep coming. They love it. Somebody asked me, ‘Do you like it here? What do you like most?’ I said what I like most about it is probably the people.”

Saturday’s attendance, estimated at 37,500, was the largest for Rebel Day since 2005. Total handle on the 10 races was $10,771,984.46, a record for March and a non-Arkansas Derby Day.

The Leaders

Through 39 days of the scheduled 55-day season, perennial champions Ricardo Santana Jr. and Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen lead the jockey and trainer standings, respectively, while newcomer Mike Sisk (M and M Racing) is leading owner.

Santana, seeking his sixth consecutive local riding title, has 43 victories, 14 more than runner-up David Cabrera. Asmussen, who has collected eight Oaklawn training titles since 2007, has 27 victories, three more than runner-up Robertino Diodoro.

Santana rode three winners Sunday, including two for Asmussen, to move closer to two career milestones.

Santana won the third race on Mucho Macho Dan ($19.20) for trainer John E. Cox, the fourth race aboard Cumber ($8) for Asmussen and the eighth aboard favored Tenfold ($3.20), an unbeaten 3-year-old Curlin colt, for Asmussen.

According to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization, Santana has 981 career North American victories, including 386 at Oaklawn.

Asmussen has 7,963 career victories in North America to rank second all time, according to Equibase. He has 566 at Oaklawn. Asmussen recorded his 7,000th career North American victory April 1, 2015, at Oaklawn.

Sisk, whose primary trainer is Diodoro, has 19 victories, nine more than four-time defending champion Danny Caldwell.

Finish Lines

Post positions were to be drawn Wednesday for Saturday’s $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 6 furlongs. The Purple Martin closed with 38 nominations. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said Saturday afternoon that he plans to enter Mia Mischief, runner-up in the $125,000 Dixie Belle Stakes Jan. 20, in the Purple Martin. Asmussen won last year’s Purple Martin (via a race-related disqualification) with Golden Mischief. … Powerful March 11 allowance/optional claiming winner Goats Town will be considered for the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses April 14, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. Lukas said Transgress, a Jan. 13 maiden special weights graduate, could resurface in an allowance race at the end of the meeting after being withdrawn from consideration for the $800,000 Sunland Derby (G3) Sunday at Sunland Park. … Bravazo, a Jan. 13 entry-level allowance/optional claiming winner, is scheduled to leave at 5 a.m. (Central) Thursday for his van ride to Fair Grounds for Saturday’s $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2), said Lukas assistant Sebastian Nicholl. … Eskimo Kisses, a two-time winner at the meet, drew post 4 for the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Fair Grounds for trainer Kenny McPeek.