LITTLE ROCK — Owner to make race call
HOT SPRINGS - Trainer Gary “Red Dog” Hartlage said On Fire Baby remains a candidate for two races next month at Oaklawn Park - the $300,000 Grade II Fantasy Stakes on April 11 and the $1 million Grade I Arkansas Derby on April 14.
The Fantasy is restricted to 3-year-old fillies, while the Arkansas Derby is open to 3-year-old males and females.
Hartlage said On Fire Baby could be entered in both races, but the ultimatedecision on where to run will be made by Anita Cauley of Louisville, Ky., who bred and owns the 3-yearold daughter of Smoke Glacken.
“Whatever she wants to do,” Hartlage said Thursday morning.
On Fire Baby, in her first workout since winning the $125,000 Grade III Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn on March 10, breezed 5 furlongs in 1:27.80 Tuesday morning under regular rider Joe Johnson.
Hartlage called the work perfect, adding he didn’t want On Fire Baby to break any watches.
“It was all good,” Hartlage said. “I mean, it was perfectly planned.”
Oaklawn head clocker Jim Hamilton caught On Fire Baby in splits of :12.40 for her opening eighth, :25.20for a quarter-mile, :37.60 for 3 furlongs and 1:04.20 for 5 furlongs.
On Fire Baby galloped out a mile in 1:40.40, or faster than many races at the meeting.
“I’ve got to have a fit horse,” Hartlage said.
Hartlage said he probably won’t work On Fire Baby again before her next start.
Cauley has been in Florida this week checking on Shoe Queen and Grit and Grace, a pair of 2-year-old fillies that will soon join Hartlage’s stable.
Shoe Queen (by E Dubai) is a full sister to High Heels, who won the 2007 Fantasy Stakes for Cauley and Hartlage.
Grit and Grace (Tapit) is the first foal out of High Heels scheduled to reach the races.
Girl power
On Fire Baby (50-1) is among six new individual wagering interests in the third and final round of Kentucky Derby future wagering, which opens today.
On Fire Baby is the only filly to be included as an individual betting interest in any of this year’s Kentucky Derby future pools.
“She deserves to be in it,” trainer Gary “Red Dog” Hartlage said.
On Fire Baby became the first female in 14 years to run in a major Kentucky Derby prep race at Oaklawn when she finished third in the $100,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 16.
On Fire Baby won the $125,000 Grade III Honeybee Stakes on March 10.
Hartlage and Anita Cauley, On Fire Baby’s owner/breeder, have maintained for months that the filly is a candidate for the $1 million Grade I Kentucky Oaks on May 4 and the Kentucky Derby the following day.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do,” Hartlage said Thursday morning.
Back to work
Najjaar is scheduled to breeze 5 furlongs this morning under Calvin Borel, the colt’s first workout since finishing sixth in the $500,000 Grade II Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn on March 17.
Trainer Dan Peitz said he scheduled thework today because Borel will be out of town this weekend and there’s a chance of rain Saturday.
Najjaar, a late-running son of Jazil, isscheduled to make his next start in the $1 million Grade I Arkansas Derby on April 14.
Scatman, third in the Rebel, worked a half-mile in :49 Thursday morning in preparation for the Arkansas Derby.
Scatman, who was wearing blinkers, galloped out 5 furlongs in 1:01. He has never raced in blinkers.
Rebel winner Secret Circle recorded a 5-furlong bullet (:58.40) Thursday morning at Santa Anita in suburban Los Angeles in preparation for the Arkansas Derby.
Secret Circle is trained by Bob Baffert, who is also scheduled to start the lightly raced Bodemeister in the Arkansas Derby.
Bodemeister is coming off a runner-up finish in the $300,000 Grade II San Felipe Stakes on March 10 at Santa Anita.
The Arkansas Derby is Oaklawn’s only graded Kentucky Derby prep race that has eluded Baffert, a Hall of Fame trainer.
Other early Arkansas Derby probables include Jake Mo, Sabercat, Atigun and Handsome Mike.
Rulings
Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., who escaped serious injury following a spill in Sunday’s final race, isn’t scheduled to resume riding until April 7 after stewards handed him another three-day riding suspension.
Stewards cited Santana for “dropping to the inside on R J’s Afleet near the three-sixteenths pole without being clear and impeding Aegisadvantage, who then caused Admiral Rocket to be checked” in the 10th race March 24.
R J’s Afleet was disqualified from third and placed sixth because of the incident.
During the suspension(Sunday, April 5, April 6), Santana may ride in designated races but must serve another day of suspension.
Santana began a threeday suspension Thursday for another riding infraction earlier this month.
Late nominees
A career-best performance was enough for the owner of Z Rockstar to make the gelding Triple Crown eligible before the late nomination period ended Saturday night.
Trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel said owner Robert Zoellner paid the $6,000 fee Saturday, eight days 1 after Z Rockstar’s 2/4-length allowance victory that generated a career-high 96 Beyer speed figure.
“It was a good race,” Von Hemel said. “We’ve got some options. If he happened to run another good race, you could go on and look at something.”
Von Hemel said Z Rockstar is being pointed for the $100,000 Northern Spur Stakes on April 14, but the $1 million Grade I Arkansas Derby that day is a now a “definite possibility.”
Jake Mo, who is scheduled to make his next start in the Arkansas Derby, also was a late Triple Crown nominee.
Another late nominee, Explain, was claimed for $50,000, the highest amount of the 2012 Oaklawn meeting, on Feb. 23.
Derby watch
Ring It Up will make his next start in the $500,000 Grade III Illinois Derby on April 7 at Hawthorne in suburban Chicago, trainer Chris Richard said.
Ring It Up had been scheduled to run in the $500,000 Grade II Rebel Stakes on March 17, but missed the major ArkansasDerby prep race after developing a fever.
Richard said Pee H Dee is a candidate for the $100,000 Northern Spur Stakes on April 14.
Pee H Dee ran ninth in the Rebel.
On Thursday’s tab
Two scheduled starters for the $400,000 Grade II Oaklawn Handicap on April 14 breezed Thursday morning.
Defending champion Win Willy worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.80 for trainer Mac Robertson.
Win Willy was caught in :40 for 3 furlongs and galloping out 6 furlongs in 1:14.60.
Alternation, unbeaten in two starts this year, worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.40 for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel.
Alternation’s workout splits were :12.40 for his opening eighth, :24.60 for a quarter-mile and :37.40 for 3 furlongs.
Alternation galloped out 6 furlongs in 1:13.40.
“He’s doing wonderful,” Von Hemel said. “It was a nice work.”
Von Hemel said Alternation will work at least once more before the Oaklawn Handicap.
Final furlong
Reigning Horse of the Year Havre de Grace is scheduled to arrive at Oaklawn on Monday in preparation for a possible appearance in the $500,000 Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap on April 13. ... Oaklawn will not offer today’s special Pick 18 wager from Fair Grounds in New Orleans. ... Trainer Dan Peitz is Terry Wallace’s special guest Saturday for “Dawn at Oaklawn” (8 a.m.-10 a.m.) on the south apron in front of the grandstand.
Admission is free.
Oaklawn at a glanceDAY 46 ATTENDANCE 4,145 ON-TRACK HANDLE $364,203.40 OFF-TRACK HANDLE $1,656,193.21 TOTAL HANDLE $2,020,396.61 INSTANT RACING HANDLE N/A SUNDAY’S INSTANT RACING HANDLE $318,225.30 CLASSIX CARRYOVER None THURSDAY’S STARS Alex Birzer rode two winners. Trainer Allen Milligan won two races.
TODAY’S TIMES First post for the 10races is 1:30 p.m. Gates open at 11 a.m.
PRICES Admission ($2); parking in Oaklawn lots ($2); reserved seats ($2.50 weekdays, $4.50 weekends); programs ($2); tip sheets ($2-$5); Daily Racing Form on track ($5, small) and ($6 weekdays, Sundays; $7 Saturday, large). NOTE Forms are 50 cents more off track.
TELEVISION TVG (live full card), HRTV(races 4-10) TODAY’S SIMULCASTING SCHEDULE Tampa Bay Downs (11:25 a.m.), Gulfstream Park (11:35 a.m.), Aqueduct (noon), Fair Grounds (12:40 p.m.), Hawthorne (1:30 p.m.), Golden Gate Fields (2:45 p.m.), Santa Anita (3 p.m.), Turfway Park (4:30 p.m.), Penn National (5 p.m.), Mountaineer (6 p.m.), Charles Town (6:15 p.m.), Southland (7:05 p.m.)
Sports, Pages 20 on 03/30/2012