OAKLAWN PARK NOTEBOOK
APRIL 21, 2006
by Mark Weatherton
Oaklawn Park concluded a very successful meet on Saturday with a crowd of
72,464, surpassing the old single day attendance record of 71,203 which had stood
since 1986. A high-water mark for total handle was reached at a little more than
$316 million, which represented an increase of 14.9 percent, this in spite of a
drop in on-track handle. The loss of the three-day President’s Day weekend is
thought to be the primary factor in this year’s loss in on-track handle and
attendance.
The health of the track was evident by the three purse increases during the
meet and the continued growth of the Instant Racing program. The economic status
of the track could receive another boost when the legal challenge to the law
allowing the operation of video poker at the track is resolved. If that
resolution is positive, profits from that program would continue the growth of
the Oaklawn racing program.
The Racing Festival of the South culminated in the Arkansas Derby (G2) and, as
most observers expected, the performance by the Bob Holthus-trained LAWYER
RON (Langfuhr) added further luster to his already glowing reputation.
After four wire-to-wire wins, his performance in the Rebel S. (G3), where he
rated nicely behind horses before exploding to the lead coming out of the final
turn, showed much more versatility than many had suspected. In the Arkansas
Derby, we got another glimpse of the chestnut colt’s talent, with John
McKee moving Lawyer Ron to the lead at the first opportunity to avoid
getting trapped on the rail. This meant that there was still a lot of ground
left to cover while on the lead, almost six furlongs. Nonetheless, he did the
work necessary to get the job done, in front of his nearest rival at the wire by
2 3/4 lengths.
McKee kept Lawyer Ron off the rail to avoid the heaviest of the going on a
track described as “dull.” This tactic ceded the inside position to Private Vow
(Broken Vow), who pursued the winner strongly over the last three-quarters of a
mile. Shaun Bridgmohan was able to hold his position in second with his mount
running a very game race. However, he was not able to truly threaten the leader.
In the last sixteenth of a mile, Private Vow faded, allowing the late running
Steppenwolfer (Aptitude) to get up for the place money.
Steppenwolfer, a classic late closer, was listed in eight and ninth at the
first and second calls, leaving a lot of work for the end. Robby Albarado was
able to negotiate the traffic and his mount made a nice move through the field, starting just after the half-mile mark. However, the prospect of being at
the back of a 20-horse field in the Kentucky Derby (G1) is formidable.
Two other stakes races for three-year-olds were contested Saturday, both at
the one-mile distance. The Northern Spur Breeder’s Cup S. went to Steve
Asmussen’s ADMIRAL’S ARCH (High Yield), who overtook 37-1 longshot Sweetening
(Menifee) in a battle down the stretch to prevail by a half-length. Mr. Pursuit
(General Royal) held third and Hallowed Flag (Southern Halo) got up for fourth.
The battle of the fillies in the Instant Racing Breeders’ Cup S. went to GASIA (Silver Deputy). The Larry Jones
runner was last through the
first half and began to move under veteran rider Larry Melancon on the second
turn. She steadily advanced on the outside, reaching the finish 1 3/4 lengths
ahead of Morner (Broken Vow), who was attempting to wire the field. It was 5 3/4
lengths back to the show filly Incumbent (Carson City), who was followed by Beau Dare
(Military) in fourth.
Shippers dominated the Racing Festival’s stakes races — winning the first
six — until Derby Day when local runners swept the three races. In fact,
Oaklawn-stabled horses took seven of the nine money places.
The $250,000 Fantasy S. (G2) for three-old fillies had something for everyone
— great performances and great mistakes, all by the same filly. The plurals
were intentional as 41-1 longshot Miss Norman (Artax) took the field through the
first three-quarters of a mile in a very easy fashion. She appeared to be
negotiating the final turn without difficulty but, just before straightening for
home, she veered wildly to center of the track, perhaps reacting to the
right-hand whip applied by Tony Farina. Even though Miss Norman swung so far out
that she went off camera, she straightened and may have still have had a chance
when she again reacted to the whip and again veered strongly to the right. After
getting straightened the second time, she lay fourth and, while losing all
chance for the win, she came back running to get second. A review of the
tape gives her a big chance to win even after the first misadventure.
READY TO PLEASE (More Than Ready) took advantage of Miss Norman’s
problems and sailed a straight course for home, earning her third win in a row
for trainer Todd Pletcher. Brownie Points (Forest Wildcat) ran third and Ex
Caelis (Fusaichi Pegasus) held fourth.
The 1 1/16-mile Fifth Season S. (G3) for older horses was captured by the
Campbell-brother team of trainer Michael and jockey Jesse, who combined their
talents to bring home KID GRINDSTONE (Grindstone). Sent off at 9-1, the gray
colt was well back through the early running, not beginning to move until the
home straight. He appeared trapped on the rail as others moved earlier and
staked out the best positions. Campbell seemed to be waiting for an opening
along the rail, but when one fail to occur he switched to the middle of the track,
and Kid Grindstone unveiled an explosive move as he swung around longtime leader
Greater Good (Intidab), who finished third, and even-money favorite Arch Hall
(Archer’s Bay), who was second by a length.
The only sprint race in the Festival, the Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3), was a
six-furlong affair for all ages. BORDONARO (Memo [Chi]) demonstrated nicely that
he does not have to take his racetrack with him. With Pat Valenzuela in to ride
for Bill Spawr, he toured the Spa oval in 1:08 3/5 for his fourth straight win
at four different tracks and all were run in the 1:08s. Friendly Island (Crafty
Friend) finished second only 1 1/4 lengths back and battled the winner from
start to finish. Semaphore Man (Formal Gold) held position for third.
Cole Norman claimed his sixth straight conditioners’ title with 41 winners to Asmussen’s
35. Holthus saddled 18 for third. These three finished atop the standings
last year in the same order. Other top trainers were Jones and Ronny
Werner, 12 wins each; John Cox, Randy Morse and Donnie K. Von Hemel, 11 apiece;
and Bret Calhoun, Tom Amoss and Morris Nicks with 10.
Asmussen led all trainers with five stakes wins this year and Lawyer Ron won
three for Holthus.
An improbable scenario unfolded in the jockeys’ competition for top rider as
John Jacinto, in his first year riding at Oaklawn Park, came from far back to
capture the crown on the last day. His 45th win on the final day capped an
incredible run that saw the talented Peruvian capture 20 races in the last 14 days
of racing to best Luis Quinonez by one. He is the third champion in a row,
joining McKee and Jeremy Rose, to win the title in his first year of riding at Oaklawn.
Quinonez, who had led from the outset of the meet and was ahead by a wide
margin coming into April, suddenly could not seem to find live horses. At a
time when most leading jockeys would be choosing between the top two or
three entries in every race, Luis found himself on longshot after longshot.
He finished with 44 victories, while Jamie Theriot, Terry Thompson and Cliff
Berry rounded out the top five.
Bev Burress was the top apprentice with 30 wins and Stewart Elliott rode five
stakes winners to lead in that category.
The owner’s title went to Ken Murphy with 11, followed by Mike Langford’s 10,
Melnyk Stables and the Jayaramans with eight.
HORSE TO WATCH
Wednesday (4/12)
7TH – DOWNTHEDUSTYROAD (Storm and a Half), coming in off a third-place finish
in the Rainbow Miss S., dominated a good field of state-bred fillies that
included the winner of the Rainbow Miss, winning by seven lengths. She could be
a nice one.
Thursday (4/13)
8TH – SMOKE MOUNTAIN (Smoke Glacken) returns to the list with a strong win.
The gray gelding came back to break his maiden against a strong field of special
weights.
Friday (4/14)
5TH – GREEN’S FAIR (Mr. Greeley) was well supported at the windows but had a
really bad day. He broke in the air, then rushed up to get into a slight bumping
match trying to get through on the rail. Getting through, he ran up behind a
horse, had to be checked severely, dropped to the back, came running on the last
turn but was in tight at the rail (may have been bumped again) and was still
running at the end to finish a better-than-it-looked fourth.
Saturday (4/15)
12TH – Each year the final race of the season is the Trail’s End, a 1 3/4-mile
marathon that often produces a horse that goes on a winning streak. This year’s
winner was OKOLONA (Stephen Got Even), so check out his next couple of starts.