LITTLE ROCK — Filly gets Florida vacation

On Fire Baby, among the leading 3-year-old fillies at the 2012 Oaklawn Park meeting in Hot Springs, was sent to Florida late last week, where she will be turned out for approximately a month, trainer Gary “Red Dog” Hartlage said.

Hartlage said On Fire Baby has an apparent minor muscle issue and the hope is she will join the trainer’s stable at Oaklawn in January.

“Hopefully, she comes back and we’ll hopefully make at least two of the stakes at Oaklawn,” Hartlage said.

On Fire Baby resumed training in September after a 90-day freshening because of a minor knee problem, and had two published workouts early last month at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

But Hartlage said the filly wasn’t quite right physically.

“She either pulled a muscle or did something in her back end a little bit,” Hartlage said.

“Whatever it was, I didn’t want to keep on training her here. She can go to Florida, where it’s warm and get some sunshine on her back.”

Hartlage said On Fire Baby has returned to where she was broken, Eisaman Equine, near Ocala.

On Fire Baby won the $125,000 Grade III Honeybee Stakes on March 10 at Oaklawn, but she hasn’t raced since May 28.

Berry picking

Two-time defending Oaklawn riding champion Cliff Berry recorded his 4,000th career thoroughbred victory Oct. 27 at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

Berry, 50, is only the 65th rider in North American history to reach the milestone, according to Equibase, racing’s official data-gathering organization.

Hobby horses

Grand Sensation provided trainer Steve Hobby of Hot Springs with his 992nd career victory in Wednesday’s fourth race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Grand Sensation also gave two-time Oaklawn riding champion Calvin Borel his 4,987th career victory.

Grand Sensation is owned by one of Hobby’s major clients, Alex and JoAnn Lieblong of Conway.

Hobby lost a local client after the 2012 Oaklawn meeting ended when Bill and Jane Hardin (Little Rock-based Hardin Farms LLC) dissolved their stable - formed about five years ago - because of a divorce.

Hobby said “about seven” horses owned by Hardin Farms were subsequently claimed or sold privately.

Cresran LLC (Carol Ricks) and Joe Colley bought two of the horses, Lulu Wong and Night Seeker, who remain under Hobby’s care.

Night Seeker was the most expensive horse Hardin Farms purchased at auction ($275,000), Hobby said.

“I would be surprised if either one of them got back in the business,” Hobby said of the Hardins.

Hardin Farms won 16 races from 114 starts in 2008-2012 and its horses earned $371,077, according to Equibase.

Final furlong

Amie’s Dini, winner of this year’s $75,000 Martha Washington Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Oaklawn, sold for $175,000 at Monday’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale in Lexington, Ky. Trained by Ron Moquett of Hot Springs, Amie’s Dini sold for only $3,000 as a yearling. ... At the same sale, Brushed by a Star, a multiple Grade II stakes winner, sold for $400,000.

Trained by Grant Forster for a partnership that included Chris and Dee Dee Allison and Roger Riley, all of Little Rock, Brushed by a Star sold for just $10,000 as a yearling.

She trained at Oaklawn earlier this year. ... Havre de Grace, who wintered at Oaklawn and was a two-time stakes winner in Hot Springs during her 2011 Horse of the Year campaign, sold for $10 million at the Fasig-Tipton Sale. ... Oaklawn announced last week a policy regarding a recent outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), a highly contagious disease, at Hawthorne near Chicago. All horses (both thoroughbreds and ponies) entering the Oaklawn stable area must have a current health certificate that shows vaccination for EHV-1 not more than 60 days old and not less than 14 days old before their arrival. Many trainers at Hawthorne winter at Oaklawn. But David Longinotti, Oaklawn’s assistant general manager/racing, said he doesn’t expect EHV-1 to be a problem at the 2013 meeting that begins Jan. 11. … Oaklawn’s barn area opens Monday. The track opens for training Nov. 19. … Launch Commander is scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut Wednesday at Churchill for owners Alex and JoAnn Lieblong of Conway and trainer Steve Hobby of Hot Springs. Stakes-placed at 2, Launch Commander had his 2012 campaign delayed because of knee and throat surgery. … Glowing Report, who raced at the past three Oaklawn meetings, is entered in the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale (today-Nov. 16). In foal to Proud Citizen, Glowing Report is owned by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and Mark Lamberth of Batesville.

Sports, Pages 17 on 11/06/2012