The best way to handle Super Saks is to leave the 4-year-old filly alone.
Super Saks went wire to wire to win Thursday's 37th running of The Carousel at Oaklawn Park, holding off heavily favored Haveyougoneaway by 1½ lengths in the 6-furlong race for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up.
The Carousel chart
RACE 8 — The Carousel. Purse $150,000, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
Horse Pgm# ¼ ½ Str Fin Odds Super Saks (Hill, Channing) .................................3 1-½ 1-hd 1-½ 1-1½ 5.70 Haveyougoneaway (Loveberry, J.) .......................4 5-3 3-½ 2-1 2-hd .80 Ghost Locket (Laviolette)......................................2 4-1½ 5-2½ 4-3 3-2½ 5.50 Wrath of Ruthie (Santana, Jr.) ..............................5 2-1½ 2-1 3-hd 4-1½ 2.70 Harbour Island (Canchari, A.) ...............................7 3-½ 4-hd 5-8 5-10¼ 9.80 Be Proud (Corbett, Glenn W.) ...............................6 6 6 6 6 47.60 PGM# HORSE WIN PLACE SHOW
3 Super Saks ......................$13.40 $5.60 $4.00
4 Haveyougoneaway ............................$2.60 $2.10
2 Ghost Locket .........................................................$2.80
Fractional times 21.95, 45.79, 58.07, 1:10.69; Winner Super Saks, Gr/ro Filly 2012, Pedigree Sky Mesa - Broadway Debut by Unbridled’s Song; Winning owner Robert C. Baker & William L. Mack; Winning trainer Lukas, D. Wayne; Bred by Kennelot Stables LTD. in KY; Late scratches Dancing Diva
$1 Exacta (3-4), $14.80; $0.10 Superfecta (3-4-2-5), $8.62; $0.50 Trifecta (3-4-2), $25.00; $0.50 Pick 3 (11-4/5/9-3), $106.85; $1 Classix (5-of-6 correct), $115.10
Going off at 5-1 and with Channing Hill aboard, Super Saks immediately jumped out on top and never gave up the lead.
"Channing Hill does a real nice job," Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. "We've tried a number of riders, and she doesn't want to be messed with. She doesn't want anybody to fool with her. [Hill] just sits there and baby hands her a little bit. He lets her do her thing, and it's working."
It was the second consecutive victory for Super Saks, who improved to 6 of 18 lifetime and 3 of 8 at Oaklawn Park.
Two starts back in the $100,000 Spring Fever on Feb. 16, Super Saks started slow and finished fifth behind Thursday's runner-up.
"She got roughed up at the gate," Lukas said.
Not this time.
Super Saks bounced out early and crossed the finish line in 1:10.69.
"Once we got to the lead, it was drama free," Hill said. "She shot out of the gate, was steady down the backside, took a quick breath around the turn, and from the top of the lane shot home."
Actually, there was some turmoil that made for an anxious moment for the winner. Jockey Shane Laviolette, who rode third-place finisher Ghost Locket, claimed a foul against Super Saks for alleged interference. The objection was not allowed.
"You're always concerned [when there's an objection], but after I watched [the replay], I thought he was coming up the rail where there wasn't any room anyway," Lukas said. "I told Channing, 'If you would have let her come up the rail, I'd really be disappointed in you.' You're not supposed to let them do that."
Super Saks paid $13.40, $5.60 and $4. She earned $90,000 for owners Dream Walkin Farms Inc. and increased her career earnings to $322,080. Haveyougoneaway, who went off at 4/5, paid $2.60 and $2.10. Ghost Locket paid $2.80 to show.
Haveyougoneaway saw its two-race winning streak snapped. The 5-year-old mare started fifth in the six-horse field and gradually worked herself to second at the head of the stretch.
"She ran a good race," Haveyougoneaway jockey Jareth Loveberry said. "I got hung out a little bit wider than I wanted to. I can't fault her for nothing. [Super Saks] ran real big. I came to her turning for home, and she had another kick in her. No excuses, she ran a good race."
"She's a classy filly, too," Hill said of Haveyougoneaway. "My filly brushed her to the side and got the win."
Sports on 04/15/2016