Razorback H. (G3) winner WIN WILLY (Monarchos) and Santa Anita H. (G1)
third-placer DAKOTA PHONE (Zavata) highlight a field of seven in Saturday’s
$500,000
Oaklawn H. (G2), the centerpiece event for older horses at the Hot Springs,
Arkansas, oval. The 1 1/8-mile event traditionally shares the spotlight with the
Apple Blossom H. (G1), but it stands alone this year after the Apple Blossom was
moved to April 9 to accommodate the schedule of Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia
d’Oro), who won’t even compete in the main event for the distaffers.
Win Willy is the one to beat over his favorite track. A maiden winner at
Canterbury Park, he captured a local allowance/optional claiming event at 12-1
last year prior to a 56-1 upset in the Rebel S. (G2), registering a whopping 104
BRIS Speed rating in the latter. The gray colt followed with a commendable,
fast-closing fourth in the Arkansas Derby (G2), but was forced to miss the
Kentucky Derby (G1) due to a leg injury. He didn’t return to the races in the
best form last fall, recording a third in an allowance/optional claiming event
at Arlington Park and a fifth in the Indiana Derby (G2), but his fortunes
improved when returning to Oaklawn this winter.
The McLean Robertson trainee opened his four-year-old season with an easy
allowance/optional claiming tally on January 21. Win Willy rallied well for
second behind a slow pace in the February 6 Essex H. and proceeded to thump his
rivals in the March 6 Razorback, drawing off to a 3 3/4-length decision. He
registered triple-digit BRIS Speed ratings in all three starts and will keep
regular rider Cliff Berry in the saddle on Saturday.
Dakota Phone is a serious threat to garner his first graded victory.
Runner-up by a head in the San Antonio H. (G2) two starts back, the
five-year-old gelding exits a terrific third in the Big ‘Cap, earning a
career-best 100 BRIS Speed rating in the process, and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer
shows a 32 percent win rate going all-weather to dirt. The Kentucky-bred will be
reunited with jockey Martin Garcia.
DUKE OF MISCHIEF (Graeme Hall) and DELIGHTFUL KISS (Kissin Kris) have also
shipped in for the Oaklawn H. The former scored in the off-the-turf Ft.
Lauderdale S. (G3) two back and will look to rebound from a disappointing eighth
in the Donn H. (G1). Grade 2 hero Delightful Kiss finished third in the Donn two
back and eighth in the Big ‘Cap most recently.
FOLLOW THE LEADER (Smarty Jones) has reeled off three straight wins over the
track and will step up to make his stakes stakes debut for Lynn Whiting on
Saturday, and local hopefuls JONESBORO (Sefapiano) and PROM SHOES (Include)
round out the field.