OAKLAWN NOTEBOOK
APRIL 7, 2005
by Mark Weatherton
The Racing Festival of the South kicks off Saturday with the Oaklawn H. (G2)
and Apple Blossom H. (G1), each offering purses of $500,000. Both have very
attractive lineups, but Horse of the Year Ghostzapper (Awesome Again) has been
withdrawn from the Oaklawn H. due to illness.
One dark cloud on the horizon is the status of Rockport Harbor (Unbridled’s
Song) for the Arkansas Derby (G2) as another minor health problem arose over the
weekend, costing him another day of training. As of now, he’s still scheduled to
run, but alternate plans are being drawn up.
Of the three stakes run this past weekend, the best race was the Rainbow S.
for Arkansas-bred three-year-olds. STORMY BUT CRAFTY (Storm and a Half) jumped
to the lead as Leon’s Best (Storm and a Half) took up the chase, and these
two battled to the end. Jockey Jamie Theriot was able to guide Stormy But Crafty
to the one-length victory, which the improving Cole Norman trainee accomplished
in a time of 1:10 4/5. Leon’s Best’s runner-up finish was clearly a move forward
for the Donnie K. Von Hemel charge, whose last two outings had been below
expectations. Wow Yao (Bold Anthony), the early season sensation, got up
for third, but was no threat to the top two.
On the distaff side, the Rainbow Miss S. was even closer at the end but
played out differently. Ritas Wampus Cat (Storm and a Half) ran off to an early
lead and opened up by three lengths before the more experienced DOLL AND A HALF
(Storm and a Half) wore her down just before the finish line.
With Don Pettinger in the irons, Doll and a Half got up to second by the half
mile pole but was still 3 1/2 lengths back when they turned for home. The
eight-time starter covered the last furlong in 12 1/5 seconds to get the win by
a half-length. The lightly raced second-place finisher may have tired from early
fractions of :22 and :45 2/5. Post-time favorite Maggio (Joy’s Report) made a
late run to finish well back in third.
The young sire Storm and a Half is an unraced son of Storm Cat and his stock
soared with his offspring taking the win and place money in both the Rainbow and
Rainbow Miss. In fact, he sired seven of the entrants — four of seven in the
Rainbow and three of the nine in the Rainbow Miss — for both events.
Saturday’s Carousel S. for older fillies and mares at the classic sprint
distance of six furlongs saw only five go postward. The 20,000+ fans bet the
Steve Asmussen’s Sunland Park shipper SAVORTHETIME (Gilded Time) down to 1-5 and
the Grade 3 winner did not disappoint. She cruised behind the leader,
seemingly just waiting for Roman Chapa to rattle the reins, and when
asked easily moved to the front to win by more than three lengths. Her time, 1:09
2/5, tied the fastest six-furlong time of the meet, which was by Afleet Alex
(Northern Afleet) in the Mountain Valley S..
Boston Express (Boston Harbor), who led most of the way and ran a game race,
took the place in the Carousel. Dance Tune (French Deputy) ran third with She’s
a Rebel Too (Two Punch) and Codes Preshisone (American Chance) completing the
running order.
A three bagger on Sunday gave Theriot 41 wins and vaulted him into the riding
title lead two ahead of Luis Quinonez and Chapa. Calvin Borel, with 38, and
Jeremy Rose, with 37, round out the top five. In the good news department,
Oaklawn’s all-time leading woman jockey and fan favorite Cindy Noll has turned
her season around. After winning with only 2 percent of her first 140 mounts,
she has booted home 11 percent of the last 64 and rewarded her supporters with
some nice payoffs.
Leading trainer Norman has had his picture taken so many times (56) that he
is probably seeing spots before his eyes. Asmussen, with 20 wins, edged ahead of
Bob Holthus, who remains third with 18 victories.
The top three conditioners have accounted for more than half of the stakes
wins this season. Asmussen leads with five firsts, Norman has three and Holthus
is the only other multiple winner with two.
Among the riders, Chapa has brought home six black-type winners, Quinonez
three, and Theriot and John McKee are credited with two apiece.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (3/30)
8TH – ONDA RAY (On Target), a five-year-old mare from the Tim Martin barn,
has put together a three-win streak and moved up the claiming price ladder in
each. Martin claimed her off a win at the $10K level and brought her back to win
at $15K, paying $24, then moved her up here to $20K for another win and another
$24 payout. The gray tends to press the pace and then comes running at the end,
getting up by a nose here and stopping the clock in 1:11 3/5.
Thursday (3/31)
1ST – AMANUENSIS (Northern Spur) won this entry level allowance test in
spite of being brought to a virtual stop in midstretch. Borel was able to gather
the bay filly and get her going again, swinging out around the leader after
being halted against the rail.
2ND – Tim Ritchey got away with one when he debuted DIVINATORY (Halo’s
Image) at $25K and did not lose the speedy filly. Making the start off a series
of good works, the three-year-old led the 5 1/2-furlong race at every call en
route to winning by almost 10 lengths in a solid 1:04 3/5.
9TH – GOLDLEAFED MIRROR (Gold Alert) got caught in a torrid speed duel,
laying down fractions of :21 3/5, :45 1/5 and :58 before tiring in the last
furlong. Battling gamely to the wire, she lost by only three lengths and
should be very dangerous with just a slightly more tepid pace.
Friday (4/1)
7TH – DAV MAR ONE (Siberian Pine) ran very well on his return to the races,
putting away a field of state-bred maiden special weights by nine lengths. He
had five starts last fall at Louisiana Downs, four on the lawn, and his last
three had produced second place finishes one of which was on the dirt. He
appears to be able to handle any surface.
Sunday (4/3)
6TH – ONE WEST (Gone West), a four-year-old filly, won at first asking in
style, stopping the timer in 1:10 1/5. In a race with a lot of early speed, this
gal led at every post and set splits of :21 2/5, :44 2/5 and :57 on her way to a
four-length victory.