Oaklawn Park Notebook

OAKLAWN PARK

NOTEBOOK

FEBRUARY 10, 2005

by Mark Weatherton

The third weekend featured the 56th running of the King Cotton S. on Saturday

for older horses and for the first time this meet, a stakes race did not have a Steve Asmussen horse as one of the post-time favorites. Last year's winner, Pro Prado (El Prado [Ire]),

was heavily favored at even money. However, DEPUTY STORM (Forestry), with Luis Quinonez in the

irons, jumped out in front and stayed there the entire way. He was pressured through the early fractions by

both That Tat (Faltaat) and Wildcat Shoes (Forest Wildcat) and after withstanding those challenges, gained some separation from the field that he

needed as two closers came flying down the stretch.

Deputy Storm reached the

wire a head in front of Engineered (Langfuhr) and a length better than Level Playingfield

(Level Sands). The six-furlong running time of 1:10 1/5 is the

fastest so far in 2005, and trainer Ralph Nicks recorded his first Oaklawn stakes win,

stopping Asmussen's stakes victory skein at three.

Just as thrilling to the Oaklawn faithful was the last-to-first signature move

of CHINDI (El Prado [Ire]) in the 2ND race earlier on the card. The 11-year-old

gelding moved to within neighing distance of the $1 million mark in earnings

with the win over a tough field of six allowance/optional claiming rivals. It was

his 18th career victory and improved his earnings to $997,238 (seven wins and over

$300,000 at Oaklawn Park). He'll likely become a millionaire

before the Spa meeting closes in April.

Calvin Borel also sparkled, picking up a win on Friday before he blistered

the track with four victories and two seconds on Saturday.

He is now within two of the 4000-win club and will take up the chase

again this Friday.

Borel's eight wins tie him with Quinonez for the lead in the jockey

standings in this young season. Tim Doocy, John McKee, Jeremy Rose and Jamie

Theriot all are only one win behind the co-leaders.

McKee has been suspended seven calendar days (he will be allowed to ride in the

Mountain Valley S. this Saturday) for careless riding as a result of an incident

in the 9TH race on Friday. McKee had his mount at the back of the pack inside

three horses and as they turned for home, he angled out, causing the two horses

to check. He then guided his horse up the outside to finish second, 3 1/4

lengths ahead of the show horse. The two horses involved finished eighth and

ninth in

the field of nine, 14 1/2 and 15 lengths behind the seventh-place finisher.

Both riders claimed foul and the stewards upheld the claim, disqualifying McKee's mount

and placing him last.

Frankly, the stewards ruling is an example of what many fans see as

arbitrariness in rulings, with claims of interference often being disallowed on the

grounds that it did not "affect the outcome."

Here is a classic case of an incident at the back of the pack with two horses

who were losing ground to the leaders when the incident

occurred, and yet the claim was upheld. The incident did not affect the

final outcome of the race because the two horses retreating had no

chance at being a factor in the final outcome. To add a suspension on top of

an extremely questionable disqualification

seems unusually harsh.

Cole Norman emerged on top of the trainers standings with seven wins, while

Bob Holthus and Martin Lozano have sent out five winners. Lozano, in his second

year at the Spa, has brought in a string of horses from Sunland Park and is

winning on the drop.

HORSES TO WATCH

Friday (2/4)

5TH - SUPERIOR CAT (Smart Strike), a three-year-old filly, showed a game heart

after being collared in midstretch, fighting back to break her maiden in

her third try. Look for the Martin Lozano charge later in the meet.

9TH - FREE THINKING (Unbridled), in his second outing for Donnie Von Hemel,

returned to the dirt with a new running style. The confirmed closer broke on top

and led every jump as he easily handled a very solid group of allowance older

horses. He is now two for two for the new barn with Don Pettinger in the irons.

The first win came on the turf, so he apparently can handle any surface.

Saturday (2/5)

6TH - CASANOVA SLAMMER (Grand Slam), claimed by John Cox off a win at the $14k

claiming level at Hawthorne, has put together two very solid efforts here at

double the price ($25/30k). He stirred interest two weeks ago with a strong

closing effort, getting place money at 29-1 odds. The gelding again closed

for place, this time at 8-1. While competitive at this level, he could be real

dangerous on the drop.

8TH - First time starter SIR BARRETT (Jambalya Jazz), from the

Terry Brennan

barn, cruised under Calvin Borel to a 6 1/4-lengths victory at the $50k

level. The three-year-old colt pressed the leader through the first quarter (:22

1/5 seconds) then assumed command to the wire. The performance may be more

significant since Brennan, an excellent local trainer, is not noted for winning

with first-time starters.

Sunday (2/6)

1ST - In his third start for Steve Hobby, GIN REAL OFFICER (Go

For Gin) may have found his stride. The first start after the claim

was a solid effort over a good track and the gelding then

disappointed over the turf in his next start. On Sunday, he wired a

field of maiden special weights at the 1 1/16-mile distance on a

track rated wet fast that looked sloppy. His time of 1:45 4/5

seconds compared favorably to the time of the day's feature race.