Oaklawn Park Notebook

OAKLAWN PARK NOTEBOOK

FEBRUARY 10, 2006

by Mark Weatherton

The King Cotton S. turned into "old home week" as seven of the contestants

owned at least one win over the track and five were labeled

as a "horse for the course." BEAU'S TOWN (Beau Genius) broke alertly then settled into third, stalking the leaders through the first

half-mile. Calvin Borel took the eight-year-old four wide as they turned for

home, a move that gave them a one-length lead. The Oaklawn crowd's favorite

gamely held the lead, reaching the wire with a head to spare. The victory,

his sixth in seven starts at the Spa, ran his career winnings to $697,850, the

second best ever by an Arkansas-bred trailing only the great Nodouble (*Noholme

II).

With a similar approach to the winner's strategy, Robby Albarado settled his

mount, Stolen Time (Time Bandit), in fourth just behind the eventual winner but

was able to save ground by staying inside on the far turn and stretch run. Coming up

the rail, the chestnut was gaining with every jump and managed to get into a

photo but just missed.

Beau's Town was making just his second start since 2004 and gave trainer Cole

Norman his first stakes victory of the meet. Norman, who had four of the 10

runners in the field, also got the show with Joe Six Pack (Silver Deputy) and fifth

with That Tat (Faltaat).

Friday saw a second-level allowance race for three-year-olds at a mile

develop as a nice showdown of highly regarded colts whose connections were

hoping for a reason to call them "contenders." The primary players were

STEPPENWOLFER (Aptitude), sent out by Dan Peitz; Mr. Pinstripe (Yankee Victor),

from Steve Hobby; and two from the Bob Holthus string, Kings Challenge (Elusive

Quality) off a good race and Rocket Beauty (Cape Canaveral) off a poor effort.

Unfortunately it was more letdown than showdown.

Steppenwolfer, with Albarado in the irons, simply dominated the race. Away

last in the six-horse field, he cruised behind the tightly packed group and

moved late on the second turn, sweeping to the lead. He then pulled away

quickly, removing any doubt by the sixteenth pole, and should receive

consideration for the Southwest S. on President's Day.

Rocket Beauty, who assumed the lead after the start, fought hard but was no

match, losing by 4 1/2 lengths. He did manage to keep second and was the only

other entrant who may be considered to have moved forward. Kings Challenge was

just a nose back in third, 5 1/4 lengths clear of the next finisher.

Sunday saw the long-awaited return to racing of the Neil Howard trainee MUSIC

SCHOOL (A.P. Indy), and he made his three-year-old bow a winning one. Still

eligible for an entry-level allowance with only one race on his resume -- a

Churchill Downs maiden score last June -- he was expected to dominate the 10

other entrants. He turned in the fastest mile time of the meet (1:39) and

appeared to have the race well in control as he lay second at the first call

before easily moving to the lead. Only in the very late stages of the race did

he seem to have a challenger, Arbuckle Bandit (Service Stripe), who offered a

solid last-ditch run, getting within three-quarters of a length at the wire.

Music School's performance has certainly earned him a shot at a Kentucky

Derby (G1) prep race, but which one is probably more a matter of how he came out

of this race and scheduling. The performance of the runner-up, who had to swing

outside horses to commence his stretch run, should not be overlooked. Also, it

should be noted that he was the only runner in for a price. Both Howard and

Arbuckle Bandit's trainer, Michael Stidham, were probably very pleased with their

horses' performances.

The track took a lot of water Thursday evening and Friday morning and was

rated good for both Friday and Saturday, and fast on Sunday. Any type could win,

though it played better than it had for early speed (five wire-to-wire winners)

and best for stalk-and-pounce types (18 winners). There were six wins by horses

closing from off the pace.

Luis Quinonez continues out front in the riding title race with eight wins.

Borel had a big week (six wins) to fling himself into contention with seven

visits to the winner's circle, and Jamie Theriot, Albarado and John McKee have six

winners apiece.

Apprentice Beverly Burress suffered a mild concussion when she was stepped on

after being thrown from her mount in the 6TH race Sunday. However, she is

expected to resume riding Thursday.

Asmussen still sits atop the conditioners competition with seven wins, Norman

has six and Holthus has four. Four trainers have three victories each.

On the ninth day, there were winners. The Classix was hit Sunday for the first

time this year, with $65,312 going to seven handicappers, each of whom had all

six winners.

In one of those oddities that I love about racing - the number 2 horse won

the first five races on Friday's card. A $2 parlay would have returned $20,724.

HORSES TO WATCH

Friday (2/3)

7TH - OUTSMOKEN (Smoke Glacken) looked very good in his first try back after

nine months on the shelf. The colt fought hard gaining the lead on the turn and

breaking away from the field after a set of nice early factions. Even though he

had to settle for second, he probably needed this one and should be fit and

dangerous next out.

8TH - SOVEREIGN (Unbridled's Song), making his second career start with 11

months between races, won a heated stretch battle over two more seasoned

maidens. The roan colt, who was saddled by Jesse Wiggington and sent off at

24-1odds, found himself caught between horses as the trio roared toward the

wire. In spite of the unenviable position, he appeared unfazed as he disposed of

the challengers. He covered the 1 1/16 miles on a surface rated good in 1:47,

which compared very favorably with times posted throughout the day.

Saturday (2/4)

4TH - Gary Hartlage sent out CAROLINA FIRST (Maria's Mon) to debut around two

turns against older fillies and mares at the distance of 1 1/16 miles. She

looked very good, losing by only a head to a filly with a trip over the track and a

second-place finish eight days earlier. Carolina First should be a nice play

even on the rise in class.

7TH - A strong field of 12 well-bred maiden special weights went postward and

two of the first-time starters -- IMPECCABLE (Grand Slam) and LACEWELL (Souvenir

Copy) -- made very good first impressions. Lacewell, a Randy Morse trainee,

battled past the leader in early stretch and was caught by John Servis'

Impeccable in midstretch. The two ran shoulder-to-shoulder until near the wire,

with Impeccable edging ahead by three parts of a length at the end.

Sunday (2/5)

1ST - Trip handicappers should take a look at RITUAL DANCE (Runaway Groom),

who was squeezed back at the start as runners on either side of her broke in

front of her. After trailing most of the way, she had to take a five-wide path

on the turn to try to get into the race and made up ground smartly but seemed to

tire and finished in midpack. Ritual Dance should have a price even on a

substantial drop.

3RD - First-time starter ETBAUER'S KITTY (Etbauer) unleashed a big move down

the lane and appeared to be on the verge of overtaking the leader when he began

lugging in and generally running greenly. He should benefit greatly from the

experience and be a real threat next out, especially if he returns against state-breds.