HOT SPRINGS -- Not that it in any way diminishes the impact of jockeys and trainers, but thoroughbreds do ultimately have minds of their own.
Take Swing and Sway, for instance, who sprinted to the lead in a front-running, gate-to-wire, 7 3/4-length victory in the 6-furlong American Beauty Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 27, a strategy that ran contrary to a close-to-the-pace game plan drawn up by trainer Ron Moquett.
Moquett said he and jockey David Cabrera will employ a similar mindset with Swing and Sway in the $125,000 5 1/2-furlong Spring Fever Stakes for fillies and mares 4 years old and up at Oaklawn today.
"My plan is to allow David to establish the trip he wants," Moquett said. "We've drawn well on the outside, so he can let her do whatever she wants to do."
From the rail out, the projected field for the Spring Fever is Barbary Hall, with Channing Hill riding; Okie Diva, Luis Quinonez; Golden Mischief, Fernando De La Cruz; Defy, David Cohen; Thoughtless, Alex Canchari; Natural Wonder, Ty Kennedy; Marquess Miss, C.J. McMcMahon; Chanteline, Ricardo Santana Jr.; Swing and Sway; Scotty's Model, Luis Contreras; and My Miss Chiff, Ramon Vazquez.
Golden Mischief, a $475,000 purchase by Juddmonte Farms Inc. as a racing/broodmare prospect in November, is listed in the program as the morning-line favorite at 7-2. Now under the guidance of trainer Brad Cox, Golden Mischief was elevated to first after a disqualification in the Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn last season when she was directed by Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.
Cox said he understands racing is not the only option for 4-year-old Golden Mischief, by Into Mischief, who has not raced since a victory in the Flashy Lady Stakes at Remington Park in Oklahoma City on Sept. 24.
"I think it's one of those things where we'll just kind of see how she starts the year out, and that will kind of determine whether we carry on racing or she's off to the broodmare shed," Cox said.
Moquett said he is aware of Golden Mischief's talent.
"They gave a lot of money for her, and I'm sure they're expecting good things," Moquett said. "She's had success over this track."
Performances indicate a battle on the front end of the Spring Fever that might include five or more. Among those in the field with a penchant for early speed is Defy, trained by Chris Hartman.
"There's a lot of speed signed up for the race," Hartman said. "That's for sure. You don't really want to have a lot of opposition on the lead. You sort of want to get the lead to yourself, but that's not going to be the case here. She might have to run from slightly off the pace. Hopefully, she can do that."
Defy, a daughter of Into Mischief owned by Foster Racing Stables, finished fifth in a field of six in her last race, the 1 and 1/16-mile Bayakoa Stakes on Feb. 17.
"We're going to see if we can't get the job done cutting her back," Hartman said.
Trainer Norman McKnight said Scotty's Model, who he trains for owner Bruno Schickedanz, could use a fast pace in front.
"I don't think she's a mare that has 5 1/2-furlong speed," McKnight said. "She needs two or three horses to hook up and go a 21-second quarter type thing, and then the speed will come back."
Sports on 03/03/2018