OAKLAWN PARK NOTEBOOK
APRIL 22, 2005
by Mark Weatherton
Fears of a let down for 101st year at Oaklawn Park proved to be unfounded as
gains were made in attendance, handle and purses. The Arkansas Derby day
crowd of 71,010 was the second largest single attendance in history, far
surpassing last year when 62,264 watched Smarty Jones take the trophy.
The Racing Festival of the South began last weekend with all three stakes
races being won by California shippers, but the remaining six black-type events
were won by horses from stables on the grounds.
The $1 million Arkansas Derby (G2) drew a field of 10, nine of whom were
stakes placed, and AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet) settled midpack in the early
stages under regular rider Jeremy Rose and lay fifth after a half-mile. He began
his move to the front on the far turn and already had a five-length lead when
turning for home. Afleet Alex went on to win by eight lengths in a final time of
1:48 4/5, his winning margin breaking the previous Arkansas Derby record of
seven lengths set in 1952 by Gushing Oil.
A real battle for the rest of the purse went on behind the winner. After
Afleet Alex took command, Flower Alley (Distorted Humor) moved to second and
Real Dandy (Yankee Victor) to third, passing Andromeda’s Hero (Fusaichi
Pegasus), who came back just before the wire to reclaim show money by a neck.
Greater Good (Intidab) the narrow second favorite, sat as close as fifth early,
fell back to ninth, then passed tiring horses at the end for fifth.
The finishing order was completed by Canteen (Fusaichi Pegasus), who led at
the three-quarter pole, Rush Bay (Cozzene), Wild Desert (Wild Rush), Cat Shaker
(Catienus) and early leader Batson Challenge (Ide), who was vanned off after the
race.
The $250,000 Fantasy S. (G2) confirmed the talent of ROUND POND (Awesome
Again), the “other” passenger in the van from Philadelphia Park last January
with Rockport Harbor (Unbridled’s Song). Unraced at two, Round Pond made her
fourth career start, all at the Spa, in the Fantasy and was facing graded stakes
winners for the first time. Stewart Elliott was back in to ride and settled her
in third, a couple of lengths off the pace. She moved up on the turn to take the
lead and gliding away down the stretch, winning by more than four lengths in
1:43 2/5.
Early pacesetter Rugula (Bernstein) held the place, repeating the exacta from
the Honeybee S. four weeks earlier. R Lady Joy (Vicar) held third
with even-money favorite Sharp Lisa (Dixieland Band) fourth.
The Fifth Season S. (G3) led off the last week of the season on Wednesday at
a distance of 1 1/16 miles. A field of eight broke well with MAUK FOUR (Boston
Harbor), as he had in both the Essex H. (G3) and the Razorback Breeder’s Cup H.
(G3) jumping into the lead. Most of his supporters must have wondered if
the same fate was again in store as he had come up a neck short in Razorback and
a half-length back in the Essex. In fact, the J. D. Cart charge had finished
second in four of his last five races.
But Wednesday was his day as Mauk Four maintained the front position
throughout, with Jeffery Burningham guiding him home by 2 1/2 lengths in front
of Clays Awesome (Awesome Again). Absent Friend (Runaway Groom) made a late
charge but had to settle for third, followed by Free Thinking (Unbridled) and
Missme (Belong To Me).
The Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3) drew a competitive field of eight for six
furlongs. Eventual winner TOP COMMANDER (Kingmambo) and runner-up Forest Grove
(Forestry) were both exiting good performance in their return to the dirt after
enjoying some success on the grass. Top Commander, a five-year-old gelding
saddled by Cole Norman, had blistered an allowance field with a 108 BRIS Speed
figure, by far his best ever, and Forest Grove, who was shipping in from
California for Eoin Harty, had just been caught a couple jumps before the wire
in the Daytona H. at Santa Anita. Each seemed primed for a bounce.
Instead, they both turned in better performances. Carlos Gonzalez who is a
master at getting horse out of the gate, hence the nickname “Gunner,” took Top
Commander to the front and brought him home in a meet best 1:08 3/5. The
strongest pressure came from Forest Grove who got to the leaders flank at the
half mile marker before slowly yielding ground down the stretch to lose by 1
1/2 lengths. That Tat (Faltaat), also sent out by Norman, held third and Two
Down Automatic (Smoke Glacken) closed for fourth.
The Instant Racing Breeders’ Cup S., a 8 1/2-furlong test for three-year-old
fillies, drew a field of six, including Tizzy Girl (Seneca Jones) and DIBOLL
DILLY (Theatrical [Ire]), who were both making the third start of their careers.
Tizzy Girl, who was undefeated and trying two turns for the first time, went off
as the 4-5 favorite. She made the pace with fractions of :23 2/5, :47 2/5 and
1:12 4/5 before being caught in upper stretch.
The winner, Diboll Dilly with Calvin Borel in the irons, settled in third
just behind Proper Wildcat (Forest Wildcat) and they ran that way until both
moved on the turn, making it three abreast with the leader before Diboll Dilly
separated and went on to the win. Proper Wildcat could not keep up and faded to
fourth while Tizzy Girl slid back to fifth. Late runs got Maise And Blue
(Distant View) second and Kota (Indian Charlie) third.
The final stakes race of the meeting was the Northern Spur Breeders’ Cup S.,
which saw JONESBORO (Sefapiano) stalk pacesetter Munificience (Allen’s
Prospect) from the gate until taking the lead around the three-quarters pole and
cruising home by three lengths. Late charges brought Prince T (Royal Anthem) to
second and Jazzy Gallop (Victory Gallop) to third. Munificience ran fourth.
Rose was the meet’s leading rider. His 48th victory came aboard Afleet Alex,
breaking a tie with Borel, who finished with 47 wins. The two had started the
day tied.
Luis Quinonez followed with 45. Roman Chapa and Jamie Theriot had 43 apiece.
John McKee, last year’s champ, finished with 41, and Tim Doocy’s 40 rounded out
the top six in the standings.
Can you say five-peat? Norman won the training title for the fifth year in a
row, amassing an impressive 62 victories, including four stakes wins. Steve
Asmussen was second with 23 wins, five stakes victories. Bob Holthus recorded 22
firsts.
Tim Ritchey (19), Tim Hooper and Martin Lozano (both 17), Jinks Fires (16),
Donnie K. Von Hemel and Steve Hobby (both 15), Randy Morse and Morris
Nicks (both 14) completed the conditioners’ standings.
Gary Owens and Michael Gill tied for top owner with 17 wins each. K. K
Jayaraman had 10 victories< and Mike Langford and Courtlandt Farms had nine
each.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (4/13)
3RD — CORPUS SAND (Sand Tunnel), a three-year-old colt trying two turns for
the first time, gave a convincing performance. The Don Von Hemel trainee
completed 8 1/2 furlongs in 1:46 4/5, getting stronger at the end while covering
the final five-sixteenths in 31 1/5 seconds.
Thursday (4/14)
4TH — SAINT NICK’S MAGIC (Subordination), a closer who had not been closing,
regained the magic on the cutback to a sprint and blew away a field in the
latter stages at 23-1.
Friday (4/14)
1ST — GOLDLEAFED MIRROR (Gold Alert) returns to the Watch List with a 5
1/2-furlong victory. A victim of a torrid speed duel last out, he cut back an
eighth of a mile and prevailed easily by three lengths, completing the sprint in
1:03 3/5.
11TH — SALTY N SASSY (Salt Lake) has made a believer out of us. After
winning her last start at a mile and at 14-1, she cut back today to six furlongs
and moved up to $12.5k to win (at 11-1 ) by three lengths, turning in a very
nice time of 1:11 1/5.