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OAKLAWN PARK NOTEBOOK MARCH 3, 2006 by Mark Weatherton The rescheduled $250,000 Southwest S. was a smile producer as almost everyone met their expectations. LAWYER RON (Langfuhr) got his expected win. Steppenwolfer (Aptitude) made a huge closing run but as expected needed more distance. Red Raymond (Deputy Commander) also closed well but as expected needed the race after three months on the shelf. Music School (A.P. Indy) ran very well before fading in mid-stretch and probably, as expected, needed more experience. The win gave Bob Holthus and John McKee consecutive victories in the Southwest S. Last year they teamed to win with Greater Good (Intidab), and the 2006 edition was $150,000 sweeter. Dan Peitz, back at Oaklawn after not running here for a couple of years, took home second money with Steppenwolfer, while Holthus picked up third money with Red Raymond. It was a little like old home week as both are Arkansas natives, Holthus from Hot Springs and Peitz from Little Rock. McKee took Lawyer Ron right to the lead and set solid but not scintillating fractions over a track which had been upgraded during the day from good to fast but was not the fastest of surfaces. McKee appeared to be working very hard to keep the chestnut colt under control in the early stages even though he was not pressed until midstretch. While the win was not as eye-catching as his last three, it should be noted that Lawyer Ron picked it up when challenged, turning his last furlong a couple of ticks faster than the previous one. Steppenwolfer, at the back of the pack through the first half of the race, moved into contention for the homestretch. Corey Lanerie, a late replacement who was riding him for the first time, took the gray around the outside, bringing him to within 1 1/2 lengths of the leader as they turned for home. The two colts maintained that relative distance down the lane until the final yards when Steppenwolfer inched forward to finish three-quarters of a length back at the wire. Red Raymond was also in the rear of the field after being squeezed back at the start. Luis Quinonez took the chestnut to the rail and maintained an inside route, but they may have lost any real opportunity when they had to wait behind horses nearing the sixteenth pole. His late dash was impressive as he blew passed a couple of horses into third, but the two leaders had too much lead. Red Raymond still finished strong, running very well at the end. Music School took fourth in his third career start, and Mark of Success (Mt. Livermore), who finished fifth in his fourth career start, both ran well stalking the leader for three quarters but were unable to challenge in the stretch. Because of their limited experience, each could still move forward off this effort. The regularly scheduled Mountain Valley S., a six-furlong sprint for three-year-olds, was also contested on Saturday. This shaped as a very even affair with URBAN GUY (Marquetry) being the lukewarm favorite at 3-1 odds, with five others ranged in odds from 4-1 to 7-1. Catonight (Katowice) was sent to the early lead and was followed closely by Corredor De Plata (El Corredor). Robby Albarado tucked Urban Guy in third and stalked the leaders down the backstretch and into the turn before moving for the lead. The colt's explosive burst seemed to quickly settle things and the race was over long before the wire. A late run by Fidrych (Grand Slam), while never threatening the leader, moved him into second, passing Catonight, who held third. The win gave Tim Ritchey two straight in the Mountain Valley following Afleet Alex's victory a year ago. The scuttlebutt is that unlike Afleet Alex, Urban Guy will stick to sprinting. BROWNIE POINTS (Forest Wildcat) beat 11 three-year-old fillies and the track when recording an impressive win in Friday's Martha Washington S. Prior to this start, five of Friday's nine winners had led at every call, and no winning horse was as many as four lengths back at first call. Luis Quinonez had Brownie Points tucked on the rail far back, laying ninth or so through the first three-quarters of a mile and only moved late in the final turn. The patient ride by Luis Q was a thing of beauty as he moved up to a three-wide wall of horses and found a seam at the top of the stretch, splitting rivals with an explosive burst. With a full head of steam, the chestnut filly rolled passed Fast Deal (Grand Slam) and then took the lead over from Sweet Sugaree (Tiznow) while still in high gear, winning by 2 3/4 lengths. It was Brownie Points' third victory, but the first on dirt for the Donnie K. Von Hemel trainee, who in turf tradition did all of her running late. Sweet Sugaree, who set a hot pace that yielded a 1:12 4/5 split for six furlongs, was no match for the winner in the last sixteenth and easily held the place. Kat Nan Do (Formal Gold) got up for third and Fast Deal finished fourth. For the second consecutive Thursday, the card was unusually strong. The previous week featured Round Pond's (Awesome Again) return and last Thursday's action was highlighted by the Pippin S. for older fillies and mares. The early pace was set by Winning Season (Lemon Drop Kid) and Ballroom Deputy (Silver Deputy), with crowd favorite Private Gift (Unbridled) and the second choice LA REASON (Labeeb [GB]) stalking them a couple of lengths back. La Reason increased the pressure on the top two as they came out of the turn and after a determined battle with Ballroom Deputy, was able to move to a narrow lead. Winning Season quickly dropped out of it, and was soon followed by Private Gift. As the leaders battled down the stretch, Terry Thompson urged La Reason to a one-length advantage only to have Ballroom Deputy under Stewart Elliott re-rally, cutting the margin to a neck at the wire. Platinum Ballet (Skip Away) used a late move to grab the show money. Daddy's Petunia got up for fourth and Private Gift faded to fifth. It was the first stakes win of the meet for trainer David Vance, and Thompson became the first rider to repeat after winning the Dixie Belle as well. Highlighting the training news this week was Bernie Flint's 3,000th victory. It came in the 11TH race on Saturday when the aptly named MORE THAN PRETTY (More Than Ready), a $16 winner ridden by Calvin Borel, got home first. The two-time Oaklawn leading trainer (1992 and 1993) did not wait long to start his second 3,000, saddling MOON OVER MIAMI (Is It True) to a win in Sunday's 5TH race. The conditioners' competition continues to paced by Cole Norman (15 wins). Steve Asmussen (nine) is second, followed by Holthus (eight). A comparison of the trainers' standings at the beginning of March last year finds the same three atop the leader board; however, one change is noticeable. The winning percentage for Norman has dropped from 24 to 16 in 2006, and Asmussen has gone from winning at a 30 percent rate to 15 percent this year. Holthus' win percentage is virtually unchanged. These drops more than likely reflect the increased strength of the fields this season. The riding standings are as crowded as the corned beef sandwich lines. The riders are paired up as though they were boarding the Ark. Quinonez and Jamie Theriot lead with 15; next comes Albarado and John Jacinto with 13; Borel and Stewart Elliott with 12; and McKee and Terry Thompson with 11. Several others could move up with ease. Belen Quinonez suffered neck and knee injuries in a fall on Friday, but he appears to be OK. He took off his mounts over the weekend and is expected to return this week. HORSES TO WATCH Thursday (2/23) 2ND - FASHIONABLY EARLY (Catienus), who was facing winners for the first time, entered off back-to-back solid efforts but lost all opportunity when she stumbled shortly after the break. Her problems were compounded when she was caught behind slow horses and had to swing to the outside in her attempt to move up. She ran wide throughout and finished well back in a fairly strong field. She should be a price next out and could be dangerous if dropped in class. Friday (2/24) 1ST - In a distance rarely carded at Oaklawn other than graded stakes (nine furlongs), C'MON MOON (Behrens) may have gained enough foundation to move forward next out. Coming in off a poor showing eight days earlier, the dark brown gelding caught bad luck when being pinched back at the start. He was dead last after three-quarters of a mile but then began to move, making up considerable ground on a day that front-end speed was dominant. On the turn back and with a little racing luck, he could be ready at a price. 6TH - If you like colts who give determined stretch runs, CIRCLE OF FIRE (A.P. Indy) is a horse for you. The three-year-old found himself hooked up in a four-way fight for place behind another wire-to-wire winner on Friday. The Dallas Stewart trainee, in spite of the disadvantageous position of being caught in the middle, was able to fight off his rivals while making up ground on the winner. This was a strong group of maidens and was the best outing for Circle of Fire in a four-start career. Saturday (2/25) 11TH - CINTAROSA (Grand Slam) was well back early amd showed a steady progression through the pack, angling out for room toward the end. She was getting to the winner, who had a dream rail trip, and Cintarosa showed good stamina and determination. Sunday (2/26) 4TH - MAXINE'S HYMN (Seeking The Gold), a first-time starter, broke slowly and ran well back through the backstretch before being forced to go wide on the far turn as she tried to move up. She found herself behind several horses and had to wait before her final drive, then looked strong down the stretch in being beaten a neck. A better trip will make her very dangerous.
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