HOT SPRINGS — Comedero heading to Nodouble
The big horse is heading this way.
Trainer Michael Stidham said Arkansas-bred sprint sensation Comedero is being pointed toward the $50,000 Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes on April 2 at Oaklawn Park.
“That’s the race we’re targeting right now,” Stidham said.
Comedero, a 4-year old Posse gelding bred by McDowell Farm of Sparkman, posted a bullet half-mile in :46 on Sunday morning at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, where Stidham is based.
It was the fourth published workout this year for Comedero, who hasn’t started since running fourth in the $250,000 Gallant Bob Stakes on Oct. 9 at Philadelphia Park.
“He’s doing good, real good,” Stidham said.
Comedero won 5 of 8 starts last year, including Oaklawn’s Mountain Valley Stakes and Rainbow Stakes by a combined 14 1-2 lengths, and earned $467,600.
Comedero has bankrolled $548,300 in his career, which leaves him $298,450 short of surpassing Nodouble as the leading Arkansas-bred money-winner in history.
Nodouble, the country’s two-time champion handicap male (1969-1970), was a career winner of $846,749.
Comedero has won 8 of 12 starts overall, including seven stakes.
The Nodouble is restricted to horses bred in Arkansas, but Comedero is a five-time stakes winner in open company.
Arkansas strong
All About Allie took command in the final furlong under Cliff Berry en route to a 2 1/4-length victory over odds-on favorite Explosive Disco in Sunday’s $50,000 Rainbow Miss Stakes for 3-year-old fillies bred in Arkansas.
The victory allowed owners Jimmie and Roy Sanders and trainer David Whited a sweep of the two biggest races for Arkansas bred 3-year-olds.
The Sanders brothers and Whited won Saturday’s $50,000 Rainbow Stakes for colts and geldings with Rattlesnake Holler.
All About Allie ran 6 furlongs over a fast track in 1:11.57.
All About Allie, the 3-2 second choice, paid $5, $2.80 and $2.10. Explosive Disco paid $2.60 and $2.10.
Bulindamarie, who finished third, paid $2.40.
Angel Fire, Rusty Codeand Ile St. Rosie completed the order of finish.
All About Allie won for the fourth time in six starts and increased her career earnings to $119,120.
A daughter of Storm and a Half, Arkansas’ leading stallion, All About Allie is a three-time stakes winner.
She is named after Jimmie Sanders’ 14-year-old granddaughter, a resident of Lead Hill.
Jimmie Sanders is a cattle farmer from Marshall.
Roy Sanders (also the filly’s breeder) is a Little Rock attorney.
Whited, who had never won an Oaklawn stakes race as a trainer until Saturday, operates a training facility west of Hot Springs.
Glint’s debut
Unbeaten Glint is scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut in Saturday’s $60,000 Mountain Valley Stakes, trainer Kellyn Gorder said.
Asked if the Mountain Valley, at 6 furlongs, is a stepping stone toward the $300,000 Grade II Rebel Stakes at 1 mile, 1/16th, on March 19, Gorder said, “Ideally, yes.”
Glint will ridden for the first time in the Mountain Valley by Terry Thompson, Oaklawn’s leading rider the past two years.
A son of Sharp Humor, Glint has had eight published workouts at Oaklawn since Jan. 8, including a half-mile in :50 on Sunday morning.
“He had three real good breezes in a row, so we came back with something pretty easy,” Gorder said.
Glint hasn’t started since winning the $100,000 Fitz Dixon Memorial Juvenile Stakes on Sept. 25 at Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania.
Glint broke his maiden Sept. 1 at Hoosier Park in Indiana, his only other start.
Sports, Pages 15 on 02/28/2011