Oaklawn Notebook

OAKLAWN PARK NOTEBOOK

APRIL 21, 2006

by Mark Weatherton

Oaklawn Park concluded a very successful meet on Saturday with a crowd of

72,464, surpassing the old single day attendance record of 71,203 which had stood

since 1986. A high-water mark for total handle was reached at a little more than

$316 million, which represented an increase of 14.9 percent, this in spite of a

drop in on-track handle. The loss of the three-day President's Day weekend is

thought to be the primary factor in this year's loss in on-track handle and

attendance.

The health of the track was evident by the three purse increases during the

meet and the continued growth of the Instant Racing program. The economic status

of the track could receive another boost when the legal challenge to the law

allowing the operation of video poker at the track is resolved. If that

resolution is positive, profits from that program would continue the growth of

the Oaklawn racing program.

The Racing Festival of the South culminated in the Arkansas Derby (G2) and, as

most observers expected, the performance by the Bob Holthus-trained LAWYER

RON (Langfuhr) added further luster to his already glowing reputation.

After four wire-to-wire wins, his performance in the Rebel S. (G3), where he

rated nicely behind horses before exploding to the lead coming out of the final

turn, showed much more versatility than many had suspected. In the Arkansas

Derby, we got another glimpse of the chestnut colt's talent, with John

McKee moving Lawyer Ron to the lead at the first opportunity to avoid

getting trapped on the rail. This meant that there was still a lot of ground

left to cover while on the lead, almost six furlongs. Nonetheless, he did the

work necessary to get the job done, in front of his nearest rival at the wire by

2 3/4 lengths.

McKee kept Lawyer Ron off the rail to avoid the heaviest of the going on a

track described as "dull." This tactic ceded the inside position to Private Vow

(Broken Vow), who pursued the winner strongly over the last three-quarters of a

mile. Shaun Bridgmohan was able to hold his position in second with his mount

running a very game race. However, he was not able to truly threaten the leader.

In the last sixteenth of a mile, Private Vow faded, allowing the late running

Steppenwolfer (Aptitude) to get up for the place money.

Steppenwolfer, a classic late closer, was listed in eight and ninth at the

first and second calls, leaving a lot of work for the end. Robby Albarado was

able to negotiate the traffic and his mount made a nice move through the field, starting just after the half-mile mark. However, the prospect of being at

the back of a 20-horse field in the Kentucky Derby (G1) is formidable.

Two other stakes races for three-year-olds were contested Saturday, both at

the one-mile distance. The Northern Spur Breeder's Cup S. went to Steve

Asmussen's ADMIRAL'S ARCH (High Yield), who overtook 37-1 longshot Sweetening

(Menifee) in a battle down the stretch to prevail by a half-length. Mr. Pursuit

(General Royal) held third and Hallowed Flag (Southern Halo) got up for fourth.

The battle of the fillies in the Instant Racing Breeders' Cup S. went to GASIA (Silver Deputy). The Larry Jones

runner was last through the

first half and began to move under veteran rider Larry Melancon on the second

turn. She steadily advanced on the outside, reaching the finish 1 3/4 lengths

ahead of Morner (Broken Vow), who was attempting to wire the field. It was 5 3/4

lengths back to the show filly Incumbent (Carson City), who was followed by Beau Dare

(Military) in fourth.

Shippers dominated the Racing Festival's stakes races -- winning the first

six -- until Derby Day when local runners swept the three races. In fact,

Oaklawn-stabled horses took seven of the nine money places.

The $250,000 Fantasy S. (G2) for three-old fillies had something for everyone

-- great performances and great mistakes, all by the same filly. The plurals

were intentional as 41-1 longshot Miss Norman (Artax) took the field through the

first three-quarters of a mile in a very easy fashion. She appeared to be

negotiating the final turn without difficulty but, just before straightening for

home, she veered wildly to center of the track, perhaps reacting to the

right-hand whip applied by Tony Farina. Even though Miss Norman swung so far out

that she went off camera, she straightened and may have still have had a chance

when she again reacted to the whip and again veered strongly to the right. After

getting straightened the second time, she lay fourth and, while losing all

chance for the win, she came back running to get second. A review of the

tape gives her a big chance to win even after the first misadventure.

READY TO PLEASE (More Than Ready) took advantage of Miss Norman's

problems and sailed a straight course for home, earning her third win in a row

for trainer Todd Pletcher. Brownie Points (Forest Wildcat) ran third and Ex

Caelis (Fusaichi Pegasus) held fourth.

The 1 1/16-mile Fifth Season S. (G3) for older horses was captured by the

Campbell-brother team of trainer Michael and jockey Jesse, who combined their

talents to bring home KID GRINDSTONE (Grindstone). Sent off at 9-1, the gray

colt was well back through the early running, not beginning to move until the

home straight. He appeared trapped on the rail as others moved earlier and

staked out the best positions. Campbell seemed to be waiting for an opening

along the rail, but when one fail to occur he switched to the middle of the track,

and Kid Grindstone unveiled an explosive move as he swung around longtime leader

Greater Good (Intidab), who finished third, and even-money favorite Arch Hall

(Archer's Bay), who was second by a length.

The only sprint race in the Festival, the Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3), was a

six-furlong affair for all ages. BORDONARO (Memo [Chi]) demonstrated nicely that

he does not have to take his racetrack with him. With Pat Valenzuela in to ride

for Bill Spawr, he toured the Spa oval in 1:08 3/5 for his fourth straight win

at four different tracks and all were run in the 1:08s. Friendly Island (Crafty

Friend) finished second only 1 1/4 lengths back and battled the winner from

start to finish. Semaphore Man (Formal Gold) held position for third.

Cole Norman claimed his sixth straight conditioners' title with 41 winners to Asmussen's

35. Holthus saddled 18 for third. These three finished atop the standings

last year in the same order. Other top trainers were Jones and Ronny

Werner, 12 wins each; John Cox, Randy Morse and Donnie K. Von Hemel, 11 apiece;

and Bret Calhoun, Tom Amoss and Morris Nicks with 10.

Asmussen led all trainers with five stakes wins this year and Lawyer Ron won

three for Holthus.

An improbable scenario unfolded in the jockeys' competition for top rider as

John Jacinto, in his first year riding at Oaklawn Park, came from far back to

capture the crown on the last day. His 45th win on the final day capped an

incredible run that saw the talented Peruvian capture 20 races in the last 14 days

of racing to best Luis Quinonez by one. He is the third champion in a row,

joining McKee and Jeremy Rose, to win the title in his first year of riding at Oaklawn.

Quinonez, who had led from the outset of the meet and was ahead by a wide

margin coming into April, suddenly could not seem to find live horses. At a

time when most leading jockeys would be choosing between the top two or

three entries in every race, Luis found himself on longshot after longshot.

He finished with 44 victories, while Jamie Theriot, Terry Thompson and Cliff

Berry rounded out the top five.

Bev Burress was the top apprentice with 30 wins and Stewart Elliott rode five

stakes winners to lead in that category.

The owner's title went to Ken Murphy with 11, followed by Mike Langford's 10,

Melnyk Stables and the Jayaramans with eight.

HORSE TO WATCH

Wednesday (4/12)

7TH - DOWNTHEDUSTYROAD (Storm and a Half), coming in off a third-place finish

in the Rainbow Miss S., dominated a good field of state-bred fillies that

included the winner of the Rainbow Miss, winning by seven lengths. She could be

a nice one.

Thursday (4/13)

8TH - SMOKE MOUNTAIN (Smoke Glacken) returns to the list with a strong win.

The gray gelding came back to break his maiden against a strong field of special

weights.

Friday (4/14)

5TH - GREEN'S FAIR (Mr. Greeley) was well supported at the windows but had a

really bad day. He broke in the air, then rushed up to get into a slight bumping

match trying to get through on the rail. Getting through, he ran up behind a

horse, had to be checked severely, dropped to the back, came running on the last

turn but was in tight at the rail (may have been bumped again) and was still

running at the end to finish a better-than-it-looked fourth.

Saturday (4/15)

12TH - Each year the final race of the season is the Trail's End, a 1 3/4-mile

marathon that often produces a horse that goes on a winning streak. This year's

winner was OKOLONA (Stephen Got Even), so check out his next couple of starts.