HOT SPRINGS - Officer Alex didn’t win the Arkansas Derby, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t win a stakes race this year at Oaklawn Park.
Officer Alex and jockey Alex Birzer edged Bobcat Jim to win the $75,000 Bachelor for 3-year-old sprinters Saturday afternoon. Officer Alex finished a nose ahead of Bobcat Jim, who led nearly every step under Shane Laviolette.
Stormy Holiday, who closed to finish third, was followed, in order, by Fevernthefunkhouse, Estrickator, King Henny, He Has Bling and 9-5 favorite Tour Guide.
Officer Alex paid $12.20, $5.60 and $5. Bobcat Jim paid $5 and $4.60. Stormy Holiday paid $7.60.
Officer Alex ran 6 furlongs over a fast track in 1:10.90.
Trainer Lynn Whiting tried to mold Officer Alex into an Arkansas Derby candidate but called an audible after the colt was badly beaten in two starts around two turns - the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 21 and the $300,000 Grade III Southwest Stakes on Feb. 18.
“That made us switch back to sprinting,” Whiting said.
Officer Alex punched his ticket to the Bachelor with a 4 ¾ -length allowance victory March 24.
In the Bachelor, Officer Alex raced fifth down the backstretch and on the turn as Bobcat Jim, owned by country music superstar Toby Keith, carved out a :21.51 opening quarter and a :45.17 half-mile. But Officer Alex needed the length of the stretch to finally collar Bobcat Jim on the outside in the final strides.
“Lynn told me in the paddock how he thought the race would go, and it went exactly that way,” Birzer said after riding Officer Alex for the first time. “It worked out perfectly. He rolled up to the leader pretty easily, but that horse dug back in. He’s a smart horse and getting better.”
Officer Alex improved his career earnings to $151,572 following his fourth victory from seven lifetime starts.
The Pennsylvania-bred son of Officer races for Choctaw Racing Stable (Perry Sutherland) and Winning Horses Stable LLC (Frank Arnold Jr.).
Officer Alex, in his final start at 2, won the $76,000 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes on Dec. 8 at Parx near Philadelphia.
“We’ll go to Churchill and see what’s next,” Whiting said. “There are a lot of options. He’s a Pennsylvania-bred, so Ben Franklin may be calling.”
Sports, Pages 33 on 04/07/2013