Of all the horse races watched, and there have been many, that was a first Monday during the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.
A mostly solid field of nine was on hand to try and gain some points to help them get eligible for the Kentucky Derby.
Mr. Z, who had placed in five stakes races, was the heavy favorite, but Far Right, Bayerd and Hebbronville were being played pretty good, too.
Mr. Z is trained by the legendary D. Wayne Lukas and broke sharply. He fell in behind pace setter American Sailor until the head of the stretch, when Mr. Z blew by him.
Mr. Z looked like he was going to be an easy winner even though he was a little wide, but not for long.
What Mr. Z did is called bolting. What it looked like was that he heard there were some leftover 50 cent corned beef sandwiches at one of the concession stands.
Mr. Z turned and tried to run to the grandstand.
Maybe he wanted his head rubbed by Charles Cella. Or maybe he smelled sugar cubes in Lukas' pocket. Whatever it was, he looked like he was on a jail break and the escape route ran through the grandstand.
Jockey Jon Court fought valiantly, tried to get him to switch leads, and finally just let Mr. Z relax a few steps. That worked, as Mr. Z went back to the business of horse racing. He was about fifth at that point instead of on the lead.
Mike Smith had been clear in fourth about four lengths back when Mr. Z headed for the windows instead of the finish line. Smith saw a huge opening on the rail and tucked Far Right there to pass American Sailor, who was on his way to fading to fifth, Bayerd and Mr. Z.
Bayerd was all out when Mr. Z got back in the race and finished with a flurry. Bayerd won the photo finish, and Mr. Z finished third.
If this race set the tone for Oaklawn's 3-year-old colt campaign, then this is going to be another year of great prep races for the Kentucky Derby.
Owners and trainers know at Oaklawn they can collect more points toward eligibility for the Kentucky Derby than any other track because the Smarty Jones, Southwest, Rebel and Arkansas Derby runners earn points.
More than likely there are some other horses eyeing the Grade III Southwest Stakes on Feb. 16, but the stage is already set for a great showdown between Far Right, Bayerd and Mr. Z.
Incidentally, Smith said after the race that his horse was still building up steam at the end of the race.
After the Southwest is the Grade II Rebel Stakes, and then comes the grand finale, the Grade I Arkansas Derby.
Oaklawn has long had a great reputation for excellent racing for fillies and mares, and now it can add the boys. And not just 3-year-olds, but all the males. The Essex on Feb. 14 will be a thriller of 4-year-olds and up.
No one could have envisioned a few years ago when electronic gaming was approved that it would not only assure Oaklawn's future, but would make it one of the premier race tracks in the country.
It seems like every time the season changes, Oaklawn announces another purse increase. That money comes directly from electronic gaming.
For seven consecutive years, a purse increase has been announced at the start the meet, and this year Oaklawn is projecting it will distribute $23.5 million.
Stakes races total $6.7 million of that.
That kind of money has helped Oaklawn attract more nationally known trainers and better horses, especially 3-year-old colts whose owners have Kentucky Derby Fever.
That is why so many good horses were in last Monday's Smarty Jones Stakes, and why the race was exciting with or without Mr. Z taking a wrong turn.
Sports on 01/22/2015