OAKLAWN PARK NOTEBOOK
FEBRUARY 24, 2006
by Mark Weatherton
There is an old racing adage, “Beware of shippers from Churchill, especially
Churchill, Manitoba.” One such shipper roared into town Saturday
accompanied by a superfecta of ice, wind, snow and freezing temperatures, bringing a halt to the festivities and canceling the final three racing days
last week. It was the first cancellation at Oaklawn Park since 2003.
The canceled stakes are all scheduled to be run this week. The Pippen S. for older fillies and mares will
be held Thursday, the Martha
Washington S. for three-year-old fillies goes Friday and the Southwest S. will
join the scheduled Mountain Valley S., both races for three-year-olds, on
Saturday. Each day will feature an 11-race card.
Thursday’s racing was as good as it gets. Fans were treated to
an entry level allowance race filled with three-year-old contenders from top
connections. The punters’ favorite, at odds of 4-5, was Neil Howard’s
Brilliant (War Chant). Stalwartly (Gone West), the 7-2 second choice, hailed
from the Steve Asmussen stable, and the 4-1 Jolted And Jostled (Storm Cat) came from the John Servis barn. Michael Pino’s Meshwaar (Unbridled’s Song)
also received strong consideration in the
pre-race analysis.
The race started as many do with the so called “also-rans” on the lead.
Asmussen’s other entry, Nothing Like It (Forrest Camp), went to the lead from the
gate and was followed closely by the eventual winner, Walter Bindner’s WELL SAID
(Aptitude). Nothing Like It, who most had assumed was in the race to
ensure a good pace for stablemate Stalwartly, continued on the lead and
laid down
nice fractions.
The first challenge came from Jinks Fires’ Out Scored
(Black Minnaloushe), who ran with the leader through the three-quarter mark
before fading. He was replaced by Brilliant, who battled the determined
leader and finally got his head in front, and it appeared that the 4-5 favorite
was going to make the prognosticators look good. However, Well Said was
still tucked in third, then James Graham moved the dark brown colt outside and
quickly to the front. The impressive run had him 1 3/4 lengths in front at the
wire.
Second-place finisher Brilliant, who was coming off a strong effort to win at a
distance of one mile, now has lost twice to Well Said. Nothing Like It held on
for show and passed his first two turn test.
It was a little surprising that the only runner in the field who had beaten the
favorite was sent off at 11-1. Apparently the half-furlong cut back in
distance combined with Brilliant’s the top last race BRIS Speed figure led most
‘cappers to dismiss the winner.
Stalwartly ran a non-factor fourth, beaten 6 3/4 lengths, and Jolted And Jostled,
who may have suffered a displaced soft palate, ended up fifth after a middle
move that appeared to get him in contention.
As advertised last week, Grade 1 winner ROUND POND (Awesome Again) returned to the track
after a seven-month absence. The bay filly turned six furlongs in a meet
record 1:09 4/5 seconds. The effort
carried her to the winner’s circle for the first time since her victory in
June’s Acorn
S. (G1).
Round Pond completed a double play for the Servis barn, who celebrated a successful return
for Rockport Harbor (Unbridled’s Song) in the Essex H. (G3) the weekend
before. With five winners and a 31 percent win clip this meet, there should be plenty
of smiles around the Servis barn.
There was little change in the trainer standings with only two days of
racing. Cole Norman still leads with 13, Asmussen has 8, and Servis and Bob
Holthus own five apiece.
Five riders have recorded double-digit wins — Jamie Theriot (13), Luis Quinonez
(12), John Jacinto (11), Stewart Elliott (11) and Robby Albarado (10).
In the owners race, both Melnyk Racing Stables (four wins in eight starts) and Fox
Hill Farms (three wins in six starts) are batting .500.
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (2/16)
5TH – HIBERNATE (Real Quiet) has put together three
solid improving efforts since being claimed by Dewaine Loy. The new
trainer has moved him up in class and the five-year-old gelding has produced a show, a place and a
win, respectively. The win came at double the claim price. Hibernate should
hold form next out.
10TH – DIXIE TREE (Marked Tree) changed tactics for his third career start and
rated off the pace through the first half-mile before closing strongly for the win.
In his first two outings, he broke on top and has enough speed to continue to do
so, but it appears that he does not have to have the lead.
Friday (2/17)
2ND – FAN OF THE CAT (Tactical Cat) gave a second solid effort since joining
Lynn Chleborad’s string and should be a threat to break his maiden next out.