TODAY’S SIMULCAST SCHEDULE 11:20 a.m. Aqueduct; 11:30 a.m. Laurel Park; 11:35 a.m. Gulfstream Park; 11:35 a.m. Tampa Bay; 2:45 p.m. Golden Gate; 3 p.m. Santa Anita; 5 p.m. Fair Grounds; 5 p.m. Penn National; 5:15 p.m. Turfwway Park; 5 :40 p.m. Delta Downs; 6 p.m. Charles Town; 6:25 p.m. Daytona Beach (G); 6:30 p.m. Derby Lane (G); 7:10 p.m. Sam Houston
RACING RESUMES
Racing resumes today after Oaklawn management cancelled Thursday’s ninerace card on Wednesday due to freezing temperatures. First post on today’s ninerace card is 1:30 p.m.
YOUNG GUNS DOING WELL
Twenty-somethings have made a splash in the rider standings through the first week of racing at Oaklawn. Newcomers C.J. McMahon and David Cabrera are among a five-way tie atop the standings with four victories through four days of racing. Also tied for leading rider are Hall of Famer Gary Stevens, 54, and 2000 Oaklawn champion Jon Court, 57. Only one winner for McMahon and Cabrera has paid less than $10 so far. McMahon swept last Friday’s opening-day late daily double with Sonneteer ($61.60) for trainer Keith Desormeaux in the $125,000 Fifth Season Stakes for older horses and Spotitude ($60.80) for trainer Al Cates of Hot Springs. McMahon won Saturday’s sixth race aboard Light Bound Bid ($29) for trainer F. Dewaine Loy and Monday’s third race aboard Indian Gem ($15.20) for trainer Paul Holthus of Hot Springs. His only previous Oaklawn experience was four mounts at the 2016 meeting, highlighted by Street Strategy’s victory in the Fifth Season. Cabrera, riding at Oaklawn for the first time, had one victory each day. He won Friday’s fourth race aboard Johnny Whip ($10.40) for trainer Karl Broberg, Saturday’s seventh race aboard Higher Power ($11.80) for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel, Sunday’s eighth race aboard Wilbo ($30.40) for 2015 Oaklawn training champion Chris Hartman and Monday’s first race aboard favored Starstruck Kitten ($6) for trainer Clinton Stuart.
OFF TO A BIG START
Boosted by strong off-track business, Monday’s all-source handle of $3,700,042 was a record for Smarty Jones Day and a 13.6 percent increase over the corresponding day last year, according to figures released by Oaklawn. The previous all-source record for Smarty Jones Day ($3,434,918) was set in 2015. Oaklawn handled a Smarty Jones Day record $3,167,763 off track Monday, the first time mutuel play has topped $3 million on the special holiday program. The previous off-track record of $2,698,382 was set last year, when allsource handle totaled $3,257,973. Monday’s nine-race program was anchored by the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, Oaklawn’s first of four major two-turn preps for the Kentucky Derby. Smarty Jones earned Oaklawn’s $5 million “Centennial Bonus” in 2004 after winning the track’s Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby and Kentucky Derby en route to champion 3-year-old male honors. The Smarty Jones Stakes has been run on a special holiday Monday card (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) since 2008.
DIXIE BELLE DRAW
Unbeaten Amy’s Challenge drew post 6 for her 2018 debut, Saturday’s $125,000 Dixie Belle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 6 furlongs. Amy’s Challenge beat males in both career starts last year at Canterbury Park, including the $75,000 Shakopee Juvenile Stakes on Sept. 16. Regular rider Jareth Loveberry is scheduled to guide the Kentucky-bred daughter of Artie Schiller in the Dixie Belle. Also entered are Getupbabygetup, Secret Passion, Vision of Justice, Thoughtless Doll, Mia Mischief and Minit to Stardom. Amy’s Challenge is the 3-2 program favorite.
Information for this report was contributed by the Oaklawn media department.