Geldings lead way in stakes
HOT SPRINGS - Right to Vote, the 3-1 favorite under Ricardo Santana Jr., held off Street Spice and Voodoo Storm to win the $100,000 Essex Handicap for older horses Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.
Right to Vote recorded his biggest career victory for trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs and owners B J D Thoroughbreds LLC (Lee and Joyce Didier of Fort Smith).
B J D privately purchased the 5-year-old gelding following a third-place finish in an allowance/optional claiming sprint last March at Oaklawn.
Right to Vote ran third behind Union Rags and Alpha in the Grade I Champagne Stakes at 2 and was second in the Grade II Peter Pan Stakes at 3 when trained by Eoin Harty.
“We’re proud,” Moquett said. “Very proud.”
Right to Vote finished a half-length ahead of Street Spice, while Voodoo Storm was another neck farther back in third.
Stachys, Dreaming Blue, Jaguar Paw, Mavericking and Win Willy completed the order of finish. Flashy Sunrise and Stealcase were scratched.
Right to Vote paid $8.80, $4.20 and $3.60. Street Spice paid $4.80 and $3.20. Voodoo Storm paid $5.
A son of Political Force, Right to Vote increased his career earnings to $345,124 with his sixth victory in 18 starts.
Right to Vote, who carried 116 pounds, covered 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:44.84.
Jaguar Paw was shadowed on the outside by Right to Vote through a half-mile in :47.70. Right to Vote took the lead midway on the second turn, fought off Street Spice and Voodoo Storm through the stretch, despite drifting out late.
Right to Vote, who was coming off a Jan. 31 allowance/optional claiming victory, will be pointed for the $200,000 Grade III Razorback Handicap on March 15, Moquett said.
Right to Vote raced for a $100,000 claiming tag Jan. 31.
Picking ‘Cotton’
Defending champion Apprehender came off a lengthy layoff to edge Alsvid by a half-length to win the $100,000 King Cotton Stakes for older sprinters Saturday afternoon.
The race was pushed back a week because of winter weather.
It was the first start for the 5-year-old gelding since entering, and subsequently pulling up, in the $250,000 Grade III Count Fleet Sprint Handicap last April at Oaklawn.
A bone chip sidelined Apprehender, who was training at Prairie Meadows in Iowa after Oaklawn, for the rest of the year.
The King Cotton was jockey David Mello’s third victory on the card and the second for trainer Chris Richard, Oaklawn’s leading trainer this year.
Mello hadn’t ridden Apprehender since a third-level allowance victory in July 2012 at Prairie Meadows.
“He’s just such a classy horse,” Mello said. “It’s great to be back aboard him. His class just showed today.”
Alsvid finished 3 3/4 lengths ahead of stablemate Black Bear. Mico Margarita, Picko’s Pride, Heaven’s Runway, Wildcat Country, Anillo and Jasizzle completed the order of finish.
Apprehender paid $18.20,$6.20 and $4.80. Alsvid and Black Bear, the even-money favored entry paid $3 and $3.
The final 6-furlong time for Apprehender, who began his career with trainer Ingrid Mason, was 1:10.19.
Apprehender wasn’t entered when the King Cotton was originally scheduled to be run Feb.
- But Richard called an audible, passing an allowance spot, after racing was canceled last week because of snow and a frozen racing surface.
“I think anytime you can take advantage of a condition, you should,” said Richard, who has saddled 13 winners at the meeting. “It was definitely a really, really quality field. That entry was powerful. Those are two really good horses, but so is Apprehender.”
Wildcat Country took the field through splits of :21.77and :45.30 for a half-mile.
Apprehender ranged up five-wide on the turn, was a length clear in midstretch and held late-running Alsvid safe in the final yards.
Last year’s King Cotton also produced a Apprehender-Alsvidf 1-2 finish.
Apprehender increased his career earnings $270,349 for Iowa owners John and Chris Robson, who purchased the 5-year-old son of Posse for $21,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Apprehender has won 6 of 14 lifetime starts.
Mason saddled Apprehender to a 7 1-2-length career debut victory at the 2012 Oaklawn meeting.
Richard said Apprehender could make his next start in the $100,000 Hot Springs Stakes on March 8.
Apprehender ran last of five in last year’s Hot Springs.
Racing fatality
Silver Tactics was euthanized after suffering an injury to his right front leg in Saturday’s second race, state steward Stan Bowker said.
Silver Tactics, owned and trained by Jack Frost of Marianna, was injured near the finish of the 6-furlong race for 3-year-old maiden special weights runners.
Jockey Derek Sturniolo wasn’t injured in the incident.
It was the third race related fatality of the meeting.
Silver Tactics, who was wearing a protective boot when led into the horse ambulance, was making his third lifetime start. He had run seventh and eighth in his first two career starts, the latter Jan. 11 at Oaklawn.
Claim wars
Claiming continues to be heavy at the meeting, with 10 more Saturday totaling $111,000. There were 34 claim slips dropped.
Trainer Cody Autrey, on behalf of prominent Arkansas car dealer Steve Landers, claimed Top Gato for $45,000 out of his career debut victory in the sixth race.
Trainer Brad Cox won a 12-way shake, or blind draw, to claim fifth-race winner Laope for $5,000. The 12-way shake equaled a meet high.
Cox claimed Laope on behalf of owner Mike Langford of Jonesboro and his son, Troy.
Laope was making his first start since being claimed for $5,000 on Jan.
16 by Danny Caldwell, Oaklawn’s leading owner.
Through 19 days of racing, there have been 129 claims totaling $1,844,500.
Final furlong
Trainer Kellyn Gorder, who will saddle Bourbonize in Monday’s $300,000 Grade III Southwest Stakes, unveiled another promising 3-year-old in Saturday’s second race, Texas Two Step, who beat Bagg O’Day by 2¼ lengths in his career debut. Sail Maker, another first-time starter trained by Gorder, closed to finish third. … Strong Mandate is the 2-1 program favorite for the Southwest. … Walt will wear blinkers for the first time in the Southwest, state steward Stan Bowker said. The equipment was not noted on the original overnight that listed entries for Monday. … On Fire Baby is scheduled to work 4 or 5 furlongs Monday in preparation for her 2014 debut, trainer Gary “Red Dog” Hartlage said.
Hartlage said he’s shooting to make the $200,000 Grade II Azeri Stakes on March 15 with the reigning Apple Blossom champion. … Cadron, a 3-year-old Broken Vow filly owned by Little Rock-based Westrock Stables LLC (Joe and Scott Ford), worked a half-mile in :50.20 on Saturday for trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs.
Cadron, a $370,000 Ocala March 2-year-old in training purchase, began her career in Southern California with trainer Bob Baffert. She won her career debut at Del Mar and finished last of five in her only other start, the $70,000 Anoakia Stakes on Oct. 13 at Santa Anita.
… Big Lute, whose 4-yearold debut has been delayed because of weather and illness, recorded a 5-furlong bullet (1:00.20) on Saturday morning. … Arkansas-bred 3-year-old filly Sugar Run Wild (by Wildcat Heir) zipped a half-mile from the gate (:48.20) on Saturday for trainer Mark Casse.
At the post DAY 19 ATTENDANCE (22,965) ON-TRACK HANDLE ($1,494,045.60) OFF-TRACK HANDLE ($4,050,104.13) TOTAL HANDLE ($5,544,149.73).
CLASSIX CARRYOVER $37,770.66.
SATURDAY’S STARS Dave Mello rode three winners, including two for leading trainer Chris Richard, to move into second in the standings. Richard’s two victories snapped an 11-11 tie with Cody Autrey.
Oaklawn prices
Admission $2 parking in Oaklawn lots $2 reserved seats $2.50 weekdays, $4.50 weekends programs $2.
Daily Racing Form $5, $6.50, $7.50. Tip sheets $2-$5.
On TV
HRTV (races 7-9), TVG (full card). Oaklawn Replay Show (Resort Cable Channel 5, Hot Springs, 8 p.m.; KARZ, Channel 42, Little Rock, 11 p.m.).
Today’s wagering menu
Win-place-show, exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagering offered on all races
Daily double (races 1-2, 8-9)
CLASSIX (races 3-8)
Pick-3 (rolling begins with race 2)
Pick-4 (races 2-5 races 6-9)
Today’s simulcasting Aqueduct 11:25 a.m. Tampa Bay Downs 11:25 a.m. Gulfstream Park 11:40 a.m. Calder 11:55 a.m. Turfway Park 12:10 p.m. Fair Grounds 1 p.m. Santa Anita 2:30 p.m. Golden Gate Fields 2:45 p.m. PP HORSE JOCKEY ODDS 1a Ammaroo Mello 2-1 6 Double Ours LQuinonez 7-2 4 Captain Genius Ocampo 4-1 7 Windsurfer Tohill 5-1 2 Texas Bling Vazquez 4-1 1 Frederico Santana 2-1 3 Credit Report Birzer 12-1 5 Kale’s Kourage Corbett 15-1
Sports, Pages 31 on 02/16/2014