Oaklawn report

HOT SPRINGS — Perfect pointed to Smarty

Trainer Steve Hobby of Hot Springs said Perfect Drive “probably” will make his 3-year-old debut in the $100,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 18 at Oaklawn Park.

The 1-mile Smarty Jones is Oaklawn’s first major prep for the $1 million Grade I Arkansas Derby on April 10.

From the first crop of Grade I winner Purge, Perfect Drive led for a little more than three-quarters of a mile before fading to finish fifth in his last start, the $200,000 Springboard Mile Stakes on Dec. 13 at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

Perfect Drive was shadowed by Man Chester Man until the top of the stretch and beaten 6 lengths by Turf Melody.

The Springboard Mile was Perfect Drive’s first start in almost two months, first start on dirt and first start around two turns.

“I didn’t really learn much the other day,” Hobby said. “I didn’t throwanything in or out. I know he’s a nice horse.

We’ve just to got to figure out exactly whether he’s a sprinter or we can stretch him out.”

Perfect Drive races for his breeders, Alex and JoAnn Lieblong of Conway, and is the first foal out of their mare, Mary Alex.

Perfect Drive’s 9-length maiden victory July 30 at Arlington Park in suburban Chicago represented the first winner at stud for Purge, one of only two horses ever favored over champion Smarty Jones.

In 2004, Purge ran second, as the favorite, to Smarty Jones in Oaklawn’s $200,000 Rebel Stakes and fifth to Smarty Jones in the $1 million Grade II Arkansas Derby.

Equipment change

The promising Tiz Miz Sue will make her 3-yearold debut without blinkers, trainer Steve Hobby of Hot Springs said.

Tiz Miz Sue has raced in blinkers in all four of her career starts.

Hobby said he decided to remove blinkers after Tiz Miz Sue “ran off” in the $100,000 Grade III Pocahontas Stakes on Nov.

1 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Tiz Miz Sue dueled through a half-mile in :45.66 before tiring to finish eighth in the 1-mile race.

“She wouldn’t relax,” Hobby said. “She had an inside post and went way too fast too early. I’m taking the blinkers off her to try to get her to relax.”

Tiz Miz Sue has had two published workouts at Oaklawn since the Pocahontas, but Hobby said he’s unsure when Tiz Miz Sue will make her 3-year-old debut.

Tiz Miz Sue finished second to probable 2-yearold filly champion She BeWild in the $150,000 Grade III Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes on Sept. 5 at Arlington Park in suburban Chicago.

“I think she’s the real deal,” Hobby said of Tiz Miz Sue, a daughter of 2000 Horse of the Year Tiznow who races for her breeder, Carol Ricks.

Noteworthy

The Oaklawn Report, a half-hour replay show hosted by Gary Weir, can be seen each race day at 7 p.m. on KATV-DT (Comcast Cable Channel 207) in central Arkansas and on other cable systems across the state. The show will air again the following day at 7 a.m. … Retired trainer Terry Dunlavy of Pearcy said he is hoping to start Missippi Martini and Miss Bulldog, unraced 2-yearold fillies he co-owns with Matt Bond of Memphis, at the coming meeting. Bothfillies were purchased at the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling sale and are trained by Dunlavy’s longtime friend, Lynn Whiting. Dunlavy retired following the 2007Oaklawn meeting. “I’ve still kept an interest in the game, a little bit,” he said. … The track was closed for training Friday in observance of Christmas.

Back on track

Multiple stakes winner Prom Shoes, owned by Patricia and Buddy Blass of Little Rock, breezed a half-mile in :48.40 Tuesday morning, the horse’s first published workout since undergoing minor knee surgery last summer.

Prom Shoes hasn’t started since finishing fifth in an allowance race May 24 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

“We wanted to have him fresh for here,” said Pat Tanner of Glenwood, assistant to trainer Jinks Fires. “It looks like he’s coming back good.”

Prom Shoes is a two-time stakes winner at Oaklawn and again will be pointed for the track’s series of stakes races for older horses, Tanner said.