LITTLE ROCK — Borel still
shooting
for 5,000
It appears Calvin Borel will reach his latest career riding milestone at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs when live racing resumes Jan. 11.
Jerry Hissam of Hot Springs, Borel’s longtime agent, said last week that the jockey is expected to have only four mounts this month in his pursuit of 5,000 career victories.
Borel, 46, had two mounts Saturday at Gulfstream Park near Miami and recorded his 4,998th career victory aboard Tiban in the $100,000 Express Stakes, part of the 14th annual Claiming Crown series. Borel’s other mount, Victory Notion, finished seventh in the $100,000 Iron Horse Stakes.
Hissam said Borel is scheduled to have two mounts — both maidens — Dec. 13 at Fair Grounds in New Orleans before he begins riding at Oaklawn.
One mount is expected to be Boss Man Rocket, an $800,000 2-year-old purchase in March by Frank Fletcher of North Little Rock.
“Wherever it happens to fall, it falls,” Hissam said of 5,000 victories. “The nice thing about it is he won his 3,000th career race here at Oaklawn, he won his 4,000th career race here, and now it looks like he might get 5,000 here.
“Could be unfortunate for Oaklawn, I guess, if he would do it out of town, but I would be very surprised.”
Only 25 riders in North American history have reached 5,000 career victories, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization.
Borel was Oaklawn’s leading rider in 1995 and 2001.
Talking horses
There were 347 horses on the grounds Saturday morning, according to David Longinotti, Oaklawn’s assistant general manager/ racing.
Longinotti said horses trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel, Dan Peitz, Tim Ice and Lon Wiggins were among the latest arrivals.
Ice’s eight-horse contingent includes Brown Almighty, the Arkansasowned colt who is scheduled to make his dirt and 3-yearold debut in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 21.
Co-owner Richard Robertson of Camden said Brown Almighty arrived Thursday night after being based the previous few weeks at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
“He looks like a million bucks,” Robertson said.
Robertson said Brown Almighty is expected to go to the track today.
Grades are in
Oaklawn’s signature race for 3-year-old fillies, the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes on April 10, has been downgraded from Grade II to Grade III in 2013 by The American Graded Stakes Committee.
The Fantasy was Grade I — the highest rating — from 1978-1989 before being dropped to Grade II in 1990.
Oaklawn officials had hoped the Fantasy would regain Grade I status after champion and Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra won the race in 2009 and champion Blind Luck won the race in 2010. David Longinotti, Oaklawn’s assistant general manager/ racing, said Oaklawn was a “little bit” surprised the race was downgraded.
“It’s produced two 3-year-old champions in the last four years and a Horse of the Year,” Longinotti said. “Of course, the important point this year is it still has a maximum number of points to get into the Kentucky Oaks. That time of the year, that’s what is more important than grades.”
The first four finishers in the Fantasy will earn 100, 40, 20 and 10 points, respectively, in the new “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” eligibility system.
The points system, which replaces graded stakes earnings, also will be used to determine starting preference for the Kentucky Derby.
Oaklawn will again have 10 graded races in 2013, with the nine others retaining the same grade as 2012.
The $1 million Arkansas Derby and $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap are Grade I events.
The purse for the Fantasy, which had previously been $300,000, will be a record in 2013.
Report card
A rundown of Oaklawn Park’s 10 graded stakes races for the 2013 season: GRADE I $1 million Arkansas Derby, $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap GRADE II $600,000 Rebel Stakes, $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap GRADE III $300,000 Southwest Stakes, $250,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, $150,000 Azeri Stakes, $150,000 Honeybee Stakes, $150,000 Razorback Handicap, $400,000 Fantasy Stakes
Sports, Pages 25 on 12/02/2012