DAY 17 of 57
SATURDAY'S ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE 11,000
SATURDAY'S ON-TRACK HANDLE $796,638
SATURDAY'S OFF-TRACK HANDLE $2,505,487
SATURDAY'S TOTAL HANDLE $3,305,125
TODAY'S SIMULCAST SCHEDULE Gulfstream Park, 11 a.m.; Laurel Park, 11:30 a.m.; Aqueduct, 11:50 a.m.; Fair Grounds, 1 p.m.; Santa Anita, 2:30 p.m.; Golden Gate, 2:45 p.m.
SATURDAY'S STARS
David Cabrera and Channing Hill both won three races. Cabrera, who is leading the jockey standings in victories, improved to 16 victories in 89 starts. Hill now has 7 victories in 45 starts.
Cabrera won the first race with Dynabeaver ($14.80), covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:54.78. He also won the fourth race with La Key ($18.40), covering 6 furlongs in 1:11.84, and the sixth race with Abbaa ($6.80), covering 6 furlongs in 1:11.
Hill won the second race with Hoonani Road ($19.80), covering 6 furlongs in 1:11.94; the seventh race with Holiday's Angel ($39), covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.41; and the ninth race with Blueridge Traveler ($7.60), covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.23.
LUKAS KEEPS OPTIONS OPEN
Bravazo is entered in the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, but that doesn't necessarily mean the son of Awesome Again will run in the major Kentucky Derby prep race, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Saturday morning.
Citing the possibility that the $500,000 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 19 may split because of a rush at the entry box, Lukas said Bravazo could run in Oaklawn's second major Kentucky Derby prep rather than ship to New Orleans for the Feb. 17 race.
"He could go there, and he could stay here," Lukas said. "The split here, with $500,000 on both sides, I like the idea of running out of my own barn. The 50 points down there is definitely a consideration."
Lukas already has Grade 1 winner Sporting Chance penciled in for the Southwest, which offers 17 points to the top four finishers (10-4-2-1) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. The Risen Star awards 85 points to the top four finishers (50-20-10-5).
The Kentucky Derby is limited to 20 starters, with points earned in designated races -- such as the Southwest and Risen Star -- used to determine starting eligibility if the first leg of the Triple Crown overfills.
Both the Southwest and Risen Star are 1 1/16 miles.
Bred and owned by Calumet Farm, Bravazo finished second in the $500,000 Breeders' Futurity on Oct. 7 at Keeneland before winning a split allowance/optional claimer going a mile Jan. 13 at Oaklawn in his 3-year-old debut.
Lukas also entered another Calumet Farm homebred, Kentucky Club, in the Risen Star. Kentucky Club broke his maiden for a $30,000 claiming tag Jan. 27 at Oaklawn.
"The 50 points, you can't overlook that any more in today's program," Lukas said. "Plan on having two (in the Southwest). I plan to enter two and hope to get a split."
Bravazo and Kentucky Club drew posts 7 and 8, respectively, for the Risen Star. Post positions for the Southwest will be drawn Friday.
Lukas said Sporting Chance, depending on the weather, is scheduled to have his final work for the Southwest today or Monday.
Racing Secretary Pat Pope said there was a distinct possibility the Southwest Stakes would split if there was between 18 and 20 entries. Each division would be worth $500,000, carry Grade 3 status and offer 17 total points toward Kentucky Derby eligibility. Oaklawn has split the Southwest three other times in the 53-year history of the race, with the most recent being in 2012 when each division carried a $250,000 purse. It would mark the first time in racing history that a $500,000 race was split and kept its original purse.
Sports on 02/11/2018