HOT SPRINGS — Blinkers bring on 1st victory
His first stakes victory was also his first victory.
Breaking his maiden in his fifth career start, Rattlesnake Holler surged to the lead on the outside approaching the wire to win the $50,000 Rainbow Stakes for 3-yearold Arkansas-bred colts and geldings Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.
Rattlesnake Holler, who was ridden by Eddie Razo, finished a head in front of Ile St. Roy, while Codes Diamond finished another length farther back in third.
Toga’s Storm, Tis’ Timeless, Lexis Brief Flame, Spanas Storm, Destinare, Half a Well, Woo Pig Sooie and Heza Rainbow completed the order of finish.
Hesajet and The Bay Phantom were late scratches.
Rattlesnake Holler paid $46.80, $18.60 and $6. Ile St.
Roy paid $6.60 and $3.60.
Codes Diamond paid $2.40.
Codes Diamond, Spanas Storm and Heza Rainbow were the favored 9-5 entry.
Rattlesnake Holler ran three-quarters of a mile over a fast track in 1:10.05.
Trainer David Whited, who has a training facility west of Hot Springs, said equipping Rattlesnake Holler in blinkers for the first time Saturday made the difference.
“Everybody that rides him said if I put blinkers on him that he’ll win,” said Whited, a former jockey. “He could focus more.”
Rattlesnake Holler races for brothers Jimmie and Roy Sanders.
Roy Sanders is a Little Rock attorney. Jimmie Sanders is a cattle farmer from Marshall.
Rattlesnake Holler, hesaid, is a point on his Searcy County land.
Jimmie and Roy Sanders won the 2003 Rainbow Miss Stakes for Arkansasbred 3-year-old fillies with Impetuous Molly, the dam of Rattlesnake Holler.
The brothers and Whited have the program favorite for today’s Rainbow Miss Stakes in All About Allie.
First turn
Trainer Steve Hobby of Hot Springs said Tiz Miz Sue will likely make her next start in the $100,000 Grade III Azeri Stakes on March 19.
In her 4-year-old debut, Tiz Miz Sue finished third in last Saturday’s $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes. “I thought she ran super,” Hobby said. “She got tired, but she was supposed to.” Hobby said Tiz Miz Sue is nominated to the $100,000 New Orleans Ladies on March 12 at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. … Tidal Pool tuned up for the Azeri by working a half-mile in :48.60 Saturday morning, equaling the fastest time recorded at the distance Staying put
Owner Bob Yagos of Jacksonville doesn’t plan to sell his multiple stakes winner, Archarcharch, according to two sources.
Yagos rejected an offer Saturday, meaning Archarcharch will remain at Oaklawn with trainer Jinks Fires of Hot Springs.
Yagos couldn’t be reached for comment Saturday night.
But in comments made following Archarcharch’s victory in the $250,000 Grade III Southwest Stakes on Monday, Yagos said he expected his phone to ring.
“I’m sure it will,” Yagos said. “I don’t think we’ll sell him. I think we’ll keep him.”
Yagos said he also turned down offers to sell Archarcharch following his maiden victory in the $60,000 Sugar Bowl Stakes on Dec. 18 at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.
Fires said last week that Archarcharch is being pointed toward the $300,000 Grade II Rebel Stakes, along with stablemate Bluegrass Jam, owned by Patricia and Buddy Blass of Little Rock.
Rulings
The Arkansas Racing Commission voted unanimously Saturday morning to uphold a threeday suspension for jockey William Antongeorgi III.
State steward Stan Bowker said Antongeorgi will begin his suspension Friday.
Stewards cited Antongeorgi for allowing his mount, Shadowmaker, “to angle in toward the rail down the backstretch without being clear” in last Sunday’s sixth race.
The incident caused Roses for the Lady, Indian Bluff and Cinnabean to steady, according to a ruling released last week.
Shadowmaker won the race for $15,000 Arkansasbred maiden claiming fillies by a half-length.
Although there were no objections or a stewards’ inquiry on the race, Bowker said horses clearing rivals before dropping over has been a point of emphasis at the meeting.
Bowker told the commission that stewards believed the incident didn’t affect the outcome of the race, but it was a safety issue for horses and riders.
Even without an objection or inquiry on a race, Bowker said jockeys aren’t immune from being sanctioned by stewards.
To clarify that point, the commission voted unanimously Saturday morning to amend language regarding jostle/interference rules.
Under rule 2348, stewards may fine and/or suspend a jockey for violation of any rule of the commission, whether or not the jockey is disqualified in connection with the incident in question.
Sports, Pages 26 on 02/27/2011