Acoma, Honest Man head Oaklawn stakes

Saturday marks the start of the Racing Festival of the South at Oaklawn Park,

and the Hot Springs, Arkansas, venue will play host to the $500,000

Apple Blossom H. (G1) and $500,000

Oaklawn

H. (G2). The Festival will culminate on closing day, April 11, with the

Arkansas Derby (G2).

The 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom was supposed to mark the return to stakes

action for champion Proud Spell (Proud Citizen), but the Larry Jones trainee

will miss the race after developing some swelling in her left hind ankle. She's

been sent to Kentucky to recuperate, leaving the way clear for ACOMA (Empire

Maker) to remain in the winner's circle. The David Carroll charge made her

seasonal bow in the Azeri S. (G3), posting an easy five-length victory in the

local prep for the Apple Blossom. Acoma rounded out 2008 with a pair of turf

wins in the Mrs. Revere S. (G2) and Valley View S. (G3), and will keep jockey

Julien Leparoux aboard while going for her fourth straight.

Looking to upset the apple cart on Saturday is Louisiana-bred SUPERIOR STORM (Stormy

Atlantic). The multiple stakes-winning lass is also seeking her fourth

consecutive victory, having taken the Louisiana Premier Night Distaff S. and an

allowance/optional claiming event in her two starts this season. That allowance

marked the 2009 bow of Proud Spell, but the bay four-year-old could not get by

Superior Storm on that day. Trained by Ronald Jackson, Superior Storm will have

Luis Quinonez back in the saddle for the Apple Blossom.

Also in with a chance is SEVENTH STREET (Street Cry [Ire]), runner-up when

making her stakes bow in the Barbara Fritchie H. (G2) on February 14. The Kiaran

McLaughlin-trained chestnut entered that seven-furlong test off a pair of

allowance/optional claiming wins that earned her 103 and 106 BRIS Speed ratings.

Rajiv Maragh retains the mount on the four-year-old filly, who has gone off

favored each time she's faced the starter.

Rounding out the field are FRENCH KISS (Hussonet) and COLOR ME UP (Aptitude),

the respective fourth- and seventh-place finishers in the Azeri.

Two races later on the card, HONEST MAN (Unbridled's Song) will face six

rivals in the Oaklawn H. going nine furlongs. The Jones charge was an easy

winner of the Mineshaft H. (G3) two back at Fair Grounds, but tired to eighth

over a sloppy, sealed track in the New Orleans H. (G2) last out. Gabriel Saez

has the return call.

SECRET GETAWAY (Skip Away) and IT'S A BIRD (Birdonthewire) are also exiting

runs in the New Orleans, with the former just missing by a length in that test

after leading during the early stages. He'll have Clifton Berry aboard. It's a

Bird was third in the New Orleans following his 5 1/4-length score in the

Sunshine Millions Classic. The six-year-old will retain the services of Leparoux

on Saturday.

Other contenders include CATMANTOO (Vision and Verse), who was third by a

length in the Razorback H. (G3) most recently, and Essex H. victor PROM SHOES

(Include).