AT THE POST

DAY 50 of 57

ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE 3,000

ON-TRACK HANDLE $331,467

TOTAL HANDLE $2,851,699

PICK 5 PAYOFF $461.75

THURSDAY'S STARS

Three of the four leaders in the battle for Oaklawn's jockey title won a race on Thursday, with only Geovanni Franco, winless on the day, losing ground. Ramon Vazquez (42) maintained his lead over four-time defending champion Ricardo Santana, Jr. (41) and fourth-place contender Alex Canchari (39) moved within one of Franco (40). Vazquez won the fifth race aboard Strike Perfection ($5.80) for trainer Scott Young. Canchari won the third race with Our Addi Belle ($7.20) for Tim Martin and Santana won the featured eighth race for trainer Ron Moquett aboard Swing and Sway ($4).

APPLE BLOSSOM

Azeri Stakes winner Streamline moved closer to a scheduled start in the Grade I $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap for older fillies and mares April 14 at Oaklawn by working 5 furlongs Tuesday morning for trainer Brian Williamson. Streamline went in 1:01.60 over a fast track, the 5-year-old's first breeze since winning the March 18 Azeri, the final major local prep for the Apple Blossom at 1 1/16 miles. This year's Apple Blossom is expected to include Southern California-based Stellar Wind, the country's champion 3-year-old filly of 2015 and unraced since a troubled fourth in the Grade I $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. Trained by John Sadler, the 5-year-old mare worked 7 furlongs in 1:27 Friday at Santa Anita. Sadler won the $1 million Arkansas Derby in 2010 at Oaklawn with Line of David. Other locally based horses pointing for the Apple Blossom include Tiger Moth and Terra Promessa, third and fifth, respectively, in the Azeri. Post positions for the Apple Blossom will be drawn Tuesday. The April 14 card will also feature the Grade III $400,000 Fantasy Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

IVAN NO FOR COUNT FLEET

Multiple stakes-winning sprinter Ivan Fallunovalot will miss the Grade III $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap for older horses April 15 at Oaklawn because of an ankle injury, trainer Tom Howard of Hot Springs said Thursday morning. Howard said the 7-year-old gelding's left rear ankle was "blown up" after training Wednesday morning and an ultra-sound examination Wednesday afternoon revealed "a little soft-tissue damage." Howard said the first thought is the injury isn't career threatening. "It's just a matter of time," Howard said. "How much is undetermined at this time, but he should be back for Oaklawn next year."

BACHELOR CANDIDATE

Calumet Farm's Silver Bullion will make his next start in the $150,000 Bachelor Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters April 13, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Thursday morning. Ramon Vazquez will ride Silver Bullion in the 6-furlong Bachelor, which is excepted to feature Rockshaw, powerful winner of the $125,000 Gazebo Stakes March 4. Silver Bullion will be cutting back to a sprint after finishing second in a first-level allowance/optional claimer Feb. 18 and 11th in the Grade II $900,000 Rebel Stakes March 18. Both races were 1 1/16 miles.

NO DERBY FOR DILETTANTE

Lukas also said Thursday morning that Dilettante is no longer under consideration for the Grade I $1 million Arkansas Derby April 15 and could resurface at Keeneland. Dilettante broke his maiden Jan. 29 at Oaklawn before running fifth in the track's Grade III $500,000 Southwest Stakes Feb. 20 and sixth in the Grade III $800,000 Sunland Derby March 26 at Sunland Park.

FINAL FURLONG

Unbeaten late Triple Crown nominee Rapid Dial (2 for 2 at the meeting) worked a half-mile in :49.80 for co-owner/trainer Ingrid Mason, who said the son of Dialed In is under consideration for the $150,000 Northern Spur Stakes at 1 1/16 miles April 15 at Oaklawn, the Grade III $250,000 Illinois Derby at 11/8 miles April 22 at Hawthorne and the Grade III $250,000 Pat Day Mile May 6 at Churchill Downs. ... Suddenbreakingnews, winner of the Grade III $500,000 Southwest Stakes last year at Oaklawn, posted a 5-furlong bullet workout (:59.80) after the track opened Thursday morning for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel. Regarding the gelding's next start, Von Hemel said last week that Suddenbreakingnews will "probably run in Kentucky on the turf somewhere."

Information for this article contributed by the Oaklawn media department.

Sports on 04/07/2017

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