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OAKLAWN PARK NOTEBOOK FEBRUARY 22, 2008 by Steve Collison A quality field of 11 three-year-olds went to post under sunny skies on Monday afternoon in the $250,000 Southwest S. with DENIS OF CORK (Harlan's Holiday) the only unbeaten horse among them. When it was over, he still sported an unblemished dance card as this handsome bay rallied down the middle of the track under Robby Albarado to win by 2 1/4 lengths before a President's Day crowd of 29,018. Denis of Cork covered the mile in 1:37 4/5 over a fast track, and paid $11.60 as the third choice after opening as the 2-1 favorite. Ironically, Calvin Borel had the choice of riding the eventual winner but instead opted to take Turf War (Dixie Union), who never picked up his feet before finishing a disappointing ninth as the lukewarm favorite. Longtime friend Albarado, who grew with Borel in Cajun country, was the beneficiary of Borel's chair hopping. The unbeaten record of Denis of Cork has many drawing parallels with another undefeated runner in Smarty Jones (Elusive Quality) who also came into the Southwest unblemished and exited the same way. Smarty's winning time in the Southwest was only two ticks faster than Denis of Cork's clocking, and we all know how that one faired further down the road. Because of this and other very valid conclusions, he is a horse who bears serious scrutiny as the Triple Crown trail begins heating up in earnest. Sunday EIGHT BELLES (Unbridled's Song) made a stunning stakes debut while being sent off as the 4-5 chalk in the second division of the $50,000 Martha Washington S. for three-year-old fillies. After recording a 15-length allowance romp at Fair Grounds, she swept to the lead in this contest before drawing off to another spectacular, daylight victory under a hand ride from Terry Thompson. The margin of victory was the largest in a stakes event in Oaklawn's 104-year history and by far the biggest in the 30-year history of the Martha Washington. Thompson summed up the performance with this, "Don't ask me how much I had left, I have no idea. I do know she is one special filly." Coming up Saturday's featured $50,000 Mountain Valley S. is headed by SEBASTIAN COUNTY (Hennessy), who appears to be the leading contender from five three-year-olds entered in the six furlong event, which was used by champion Afleet Alex to begin his three-year-old campaign in 2005. NOTES A hearty congratulations to trainer STEVE ASMUSSEN, who captured his 4,000 career victory when winning the Sunday's 3RD race with JJ’S BUD (High Yield). While Asmussen is having an uncharacteristically slow meet here thus far after having won the trainer title at Oaklawn in 2007, saddling 36 winners at the 52-day meet, his stable has begun picking it up of late and a surge can be counted on eventually. JOCKEYS Eddie Razo: 21 Last week we extolled the obvious virtues of Borel and the veteran rider made us look good by having a super week as he continued his climb back to the top of the standings. Now, we issue a similar advisory for Luis Quinonez. The Mexican-born 30-year-old was last year's riding champ at Oaklawn with 52 overall wins. Prior to coming to Hot Springs, Quinonez had captured five straight riding titles at Canterbury Downs so his talents have been well documented and sustained. Unfortunately this year at Oaklaw, he has gotten off to a slow start but that will soon be a thing of the past as he is beginning to wake up out of that slumber. Start giving his mounts closer scrutiny as he'll likely be in the top three by week's end. RECENT CLAIMS TO WATCH Friday (2/15) 1ST -- MUSCOGEE LADY (Muldoon) was taken by trainer Kenny Smith, who used to be a mainstay on this Oaklawn circuit but has fallen by the wayside over the past few years. However, Smith's still dangerous with his claims and took this hard hitting mare coming off a brief but long overdue layoff. She showed some run today and could surprise for new connections at an inflated price. 6TH -- HERE'S GUCCI (Cactus Ridge) came off the shelf dropping in class and turned in a predictably poor effort. That's the bad news. The good news is that she was claimed by trainer John Cox, who's no dummy and we suspect that he'll get this one on the mend and she'll come back to give a surprisingly upbeat performance. Insist on a price but at the same time, some tote action will substantiate our suspicions. I know it's a very fine line. 7TH -- DOUBLE BAND (Double Niner) was claimed by trainer David Vance, who's enjoying a good Oaklawn meet. That's great news considering his recent misfortune due to a car accident. Vance has always been adept when claiming hard knockers like this four-year-old gelding and we'll watch for some sort of change such as blinkers off, or a stretch out in distance. Saturday (2/16) 3RD -- SEQUIN LIGHTHOUSE (Buddha) was unable to handle the sloppy going while being asked to go added ground. Can rebound after being claimed by trainer John Locke especially if cutting back to a sprint. Monday (2/18) 2ND -- MILWAUKEE HIGH (Milwaukee Brew), a lightly raced three-year-old gelding, added first-time Lasix to his arsenal today but didn't have much chance to exploit that advantage as he suffered through a deceptively poor trip, Was claimed from slumping trainer Michael Tomlinson by Jesse Wigginton, and moving forward is a distinct probability. HORSES TO WATCH Thursday (2/14) 1ST -- STILETTOS FLYIN (Gold Alert) returned from a four-month vacation for hot trainer Stanley Roberts. Had the misfortune of catching a Lucky Tip (Langfuhr) who was dropping down sharply in class. Although she was overmatched by the eventual winner, the filly still turned in a solid performance and will be tough with this one under her girth. 3RD -- BLACK DIAMOND BAY (Lemon Drop Kid), a well-bred colt, suffered through plenty of traffic trouble when making his second career start today. Still was able to turn in a credible effort and will continue improving for the Larry Jones operation. Friday (2/15) 2ND -- CANALI (Mazel Trick) nearly fell down coming out of the gate but picked himself up nicely and continued on to a strong effort. Vance seldom wins off layoffs anyway and would be expecting this horse to move forward in a big way. Saturday (2/16) 7TH -- STAR OVER MALIBU (Malibu Moon) returned from a brief vacation but was hindered by both a sloppy surface and a troubled trip under the usually reliable Larry Melancon. Watch for this horse to bounce back for top veteran conditioner Lynn Whiting. Sunday (2/17) 1ST -- LILSTER (Siberian Pine), a modestly bred runner, is by a sire with a stud fee of just $1,000. That wouldn't be newsworthy except her trainer is none other then D. Wayne Lukas, who typically doesn't bother with anything that doesn't have blue blood. Not only does Lukas keep this peasant in his barn, but he started her out today in the maiden special weight ranks, which sends the signal that he has high hopes and the way she ran makes us believe he is right. Watch for this horse to begin outrunning her pedigree very quickly. Monday (2/18) 3RD -- BAD DISTRICT (District), a modestly bred Roberts runner, has been the victim of poor post draws in both career starts thus far yet has run well in both. Watch for this hot stable to stretch him out successfully in near future. 4TH -- ALPHABET MISS (Alphabet Soup) showed ample amount of heart when running second despite suffering through a horrendous trip in her career debut. Would expect a win somewhere soon in this one's future especially if stretched out to two turns. 6TH -- TOOTIE MAMA (West Acre) has had a pair of troubled starts to begin her career and has run much better then will appear on paper next out. She could subsequently prove to be an interesting play with the possibility of winning at severely inflated odds. BEWARE OF THESE Monday (2/18) 1ST -- OUT OF ACES (Stormy Atlantic) dropped considerably when coming off the shelf prior to last out, and the well-bred runner managed to lose as the odds-on choice against a clearly inferior field. Perhaps that loss could have been attributed to being rusty, but today was Ground Hog Day and he lost again as the heavy favorite under the exact same perfect scenario.
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