Oaklawn Park report

Ten or more assembling for Derby

HOT SPRINGS - At least 10 horses are under consideration for Saturday’s $1 million Grade I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, racing secretary Pat Pope said.

Pope listed eight expected starters early Sunday afternoon for the 1 1-8-mile race: Carve, Den’s Legacy, Falling Sky, Heaven’s Runway, Overanalyze, Oxbow, Texas Bling and War Academy.

Carve is owned by Mike Langford of Jonesboro.

Pope said unbeaten Demonic is booked on a flight from California that is scheduled to arrive in Arkansas on Wednesday.

Demonic hasn’t started since winning his career debut at 7 furlongs Jan. 13 at Santa Anita near Los Angeles.

Demonic’s trainer, John Sadler, won the 2010 Arkansas Derby with Line of David.

Wednesday’s flight is also scheduled to carry Den’s Legacy, owned by Little Rock-based Westrock Stables LLC (Joe and Scott Ford), and War Academy.

Both horses are trained by Bob Baffert, who won last year’s Arkansas Derby with Bodemeister.

Pope said he believes Looking Cool will run in the Arkansas Derby, but the Carl Nafzger-trained colt is also a candidate for Saturday’s $100,000 Northern Spur Stakes.

Post positions for the Arkansas Derby will be drawn at 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday near the information booth on the first floor.

The race will be televised live by NBC Sports Network (5 p.m.-6 p.m. Central).

Racing fatality

Tiz Wily was euthanized after breaking down near the quarter pole of Sunday’s third race, a sprint for $20,000-$15,000 maiden claimers.

Steward John Ferrara said Tiz Wily, who walked into the horse ambulance before being taken off the track, suffered a broken left knee.

It was the seventh race related fatal breakdown of the meeting.

Terry Thompson bailed off the 3-year-old gelding as he was breaking down and wasn’t seriously injured.

Tiz Wily was owned and trained by Clay Loetscher, who operates Ten Mile Creek Training Center outside Benton.

The ‘Devil’ did it

Devil and a Half slipped through along the rail late on the second turn en route to 6-length victory in the $60,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes (male division) for state-breds Sunday afternoon.

Devil and a Half, who won the race last year, represented the third winner on the card for Mac Robertson, who surpassed Steve Asmussen in the race for leading trainer.

Robertson leads Asmussen 28-26 with four days remaining in the meeting.

Humble Smarty, the slight 2-1 favorite over Devil and a Half, finished second, a length ahead of Presidential Colors.

The Arkansas Breeders’ was the first career stakes victory for Canchari, according to the Oaklawn media relations department.

Devil and a Half, a 6-yearold gelded son of Storm and a Half, ran 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:46.54.

Devil and a Half had lost seven consecutive races since winning last year’s Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes.

Robertson had claimed the gelding for $30,000 on Jan. 17.

CLASSIX fever

Four winning CLASSIX tickets were sold Sunday, each worth $39,675.50.

All the tickets were sold off track, according to Oaklawn.

The carryover entering Sunday was $75,741.10.

The CLASSIX requires bettors to select the winners of races 3-8.

The only winning favorite in Sunday’s CLASSIX races was W W Olma ($6.80) in the sixth race.

Other CLASSIX winners were Wakarusa ($14.40) in the third race, Joanna’s Rat Pack ($18.60) in the fourth race, Reorganization ($21.20) in the fifth race, I Am the Sheriff ($12.80) in the seventh race and Devil and a Half ($6.80) in the eighth race.

There were 106 5 of 6 consolation tickets sold, including 89 at Oaklawn.

Each of those tickets was worth $260.80.

Sure bet

Unbeaten Gentlemen’s Bet will make his stakes debut in Saturday’s $250,000 Grade III Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs said.

Moquett said Robby Albarado will ride Gentlemen’s Bet, who is owned by Harry Rosenblum of Little Rock.

Gentlemen’s Bet has won all three career starts, including two allowance/ optional claiming events this year at Oaklawn.

Gentlemen’s Bet was assigned 114 pounds.

Other scheduled starters in the 6-furlong race are Justin Phillip (119), Laurie’s Rocket (117), Apprehender (116), Picko’s Pride (113) and Amanecer de Oro (112).

Rulings

Jockey Alex Canchari has withdrawn his appeal of a three-day riding suspension and will begin serving his days Friday.

Canchari was originally suspended March 28-March30 for a March 17 riding infraction.

Canchari recorded his first career stakes victory Sunday aboard Devil and a Half in the $60,000 Arkansas Breeders’.

Final furlong

A small fire Tuesday morning in a sleeping room in barn 2 was believed to be caused by clothing too close to a heater, said David Longinotti, Oaklawn’s assistant general manager/racing. No humans or horses were in the injured in the fire that was quickly extinguished, Longinotti said. Several horses were displaced. … Cyber Secret breezed a half-mile in :48.80 on Sunday morning in preparation for Saturday’s $500,000 Grade II Oaklawn Handicap for older horses. … Multiple stakes winner Rose to Gold is the 6-5 program favorite for Wednesday’s $400,000 Grade III Fantasy Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. … Seven older fillies and mares are entered in Friday’s $500,000 Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap at 1 1-16 miles: Tiz Miz Sue, Grace Hall, Don’t Tell Sophia, Summer Applause, She’s All In, On Fire Baby and Bryan’s Jewel. … Unbeaten Devious d’Oro is among 10 entered in Friday’s $75,000 Instant Racing for 3-year-old fillies at 6 furlongs. … There have been 312 claims, totaling $4,503,500 at the meeting.

Day 50 at a glance

ATTENDANCE 9,037 ON-TRACK HANDLE $601,717.90 OFF-TRACK HANDLE $1,772,166.15 TOTAL HANDLE $2,373,884.05 CLASSIX CARRYOVER None SUNDAY’S STARS Ricardo Santana Jr., who will be Oaklawn’s youngest riding champion in 43 years, rode two winners.

Santana, 19, has had 13 multiple wins days since March 1. Trainer Mac Robertson surged to the top of the trainer standings with three victories. He won two races Saturday.

WEDNESDAY’S TIMES First post for the nine races is 1:30 p.m. Gates open at 11 a.m.

WEDNESDAY’S TELEVISION HRTV (full card), “Oaklawn Today” replays (8 p.m., Resort Cable Channel 5 11 p.m., KARZ, Channel 42, Little Rock, 11 p.m.) WEDNESDAY’S RADIO “Oaklawn Morning Line” (8:45 a.m., KVRE-FM, 92.9, Hot Springs Village) WEDNESDAY’S “DAWN AT OAKLAWN” (8 A.M.-10:30 A.M., SOUTH GRANDSTAND APRON) Host: Terry Wallace. Special guest: Trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel. Barn tours. Presented by Westrock Coffee.

Sports, Pages 15 on 04/08/2013

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