Oaklawn Park Notebook

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.