Oaklawn: Ozark Stakes Recap

Compiled by Robert Yates | Photo Credit: Coady Media —-

Monday, February 17

HOT SPRINGS, AR – Jockey Ramon Vazquez’s success in sprint stakes this season at Oaklawn continued Monday when he guided I Got Game to victory in the six-furlong $150,000 Ozark for 3-year-olds.

Trained by Tom Amoss, I Got Game ($8.80) finished 3 ½ lengths ahead of Hola Joey, with Waco another 1 ½ lengths farther back in third. Wildncrazynight, the 5-2 favorite, rallied to finish fourth after a slow start. Innova, the early leader, Catamount and Farley Hall completed the order of finish. El Dandi and Piquant were scratched, reducing the starting field to seven.

I Got Game represented the fourth stakes victory (all sprints) at the 2024-2025 Oaklawn meeting for Vazquez, who earlier won the $150,000 Advent and $150,000 Renaissance aboard Kale’s Angel and the $150,000 Ring the Bell aboard Happy Is a Choice.

I Got Game, a son of champion Game Wiinner, broke his maiden Dec. 21 at Oaklawn and was exiting a runner-up finish in an off-the-turf allowance race Jan. 12 at Fair Grounds.

I Got Game raced just off the pace in the Ozark. He engaged front-running Innova on the outside turning for home, took command in midstretch and widened his advantage in the final sixteenth of a mile. I Got Game’s winning time for six furlongs over a fast track was 1:10.95. Innova’s splits were :22.15 and :45.88.

Owned by the Take it to the Limit Stable of Larry Law, I Got Game won for the second time in eight lifetime starts to raise his earnings to $224,900 Amoss, acting as an agent, purchased I Got Game for $130,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

I Got Game was saddled Monday by Chris Richard, who oversees Amoss’ Oaklawn division.

Oaklawn is scheduled to resume racing Friday at 12:30 p.m. CST.

OZARK QUOTES

Winning jockey Ramon Vazquez (I Got Game): “I had a very good trip. I got a good position early. The trainer (Tom Amoss) told me to get him out of the gate because he’s not a good breaker. He broke well for me. I had a good trip. When I asked him, he responded very well.”

Winning trainer Tom Amoss via phone (I Got Game): “He ran well. We’ve had issues in the gate with him breaking in a sharp fashion. He’s been a disappointment in the sense that he’s had (gate problems). The gate crew did a terrific job today, as did the rider (Ramon Vazquez).”