Oaklawn Park report

Monday, February 11, 2013

— Next spot charted for good ‘Bet’

Unbeaten Gentlemen’s Bet emerged from his entry-level allowance victory last week in good shape, said the colt’s owner, Harry Rosenblum of Little Rock.

Gentlemen’s Bet, in his 4-year-old debut, earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure for his front-running 2 1/2-length victory Friday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

Under leading rider Robby Albarado, Gentlemen’s Bet ran 6 furlongs in 1:10.62.

The son of Half Ours was making his first start since a 7 1/4-length career debut victory Jan. 5, 2012, at Gulfstream Park near Miami.

“We’re really blessed to have such a good horse,” Rosenblum said.

Rosenblum said Gentlemen’s Bet will be pointed for a second-level allowance sprint.

If he passes that test, Rosenblum said he would like to stretch out the 4-yearold son of Half Ours.

“Our options are totally open now,” Rosenblum said.

Gentlemen’s Bet, if he continues to develop, could be a candidate for route or sprint stakes at the end of the meeting, Rosenblum said.

Gentlemen’s Bet’s 3-year-old campaign was interrupted by a small fracture in his right front ankle.

Hobby horses

Trainer Steve Hobby of Hot Springs recorded his 998th career victory when Got a Stash won Sunday’s third race for owners Betty and Leon Millsap, also of Hot Springs.

Hobby has no horses entered Thursday, the first of five consecutive days of racing at Oaklawn.

Got a Stash was the fourth victory of the meeting for jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr., who is riding at Oaklawn for the first time this year.

Homeister is the second winningest female jockey in North American history.

Jenna Joubert was Oaklawn’s leading female rider last year with four victories.

Rabbit tracks

Sleeve gave Jackrabbit Thoroughbreds LLC (Gary Elmore) its first victory in Sunday’s fourth race, a mile event for older $5,000 claimers.

Elmore is a Lonoke insurance agent and his racing silks leave no doubt about his roots.

Elmore’s silks are purple and white - the colors of Lonoke High School - and adorned with a white rabbit.

Lonoke’s mascot is the Jackrabbit.

Elmore played on Lonoke’s state championship basketball and baseball teams in 1969.

According to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization, Sleeve represents the only two starts for Jackrabbit Thoroughbreds LLC.

On behalf of Jackrabbit Thoroughbreds LLC, trainer Chris Richard claimed Sleeve for $5,000 out of a Dec. 7 victory at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

Sleeve ran fifth in a Jan.

19 race at Oaklawn, his first start for Jackrabbit Thoroughbreds LLC.

The 7-year-old was claimed out of Sunday’s victory by trainer Cody Autrey on behalf of Arkansas-based Lucky Dog Stables.

Claim wars

Sunday was another hectic day at the claim box as 29 claim slips were dropped to take 12 horses for a total of $175,500.

There were nine shakes, or blind draws, held because more than one trainer dropped for the same horse.

Trainer Federico Villafranco, on behalf of Remington Park leading owner Danny Caldwell, won a six-way shake to claim Prospect Knight out of the fifth race for $16,000.

Prospect Knight was among four winners claimed Sunday, the others being Sleeve ($5,000), Bemata ($30,000) and Scamp and a Half ($7,500).

Bemata was the third horse at the meeting claimed off trainer Al Stall and owner/breeders Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider.

They campaigned Blame, the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and champion older male.

Final furlong

The track was upgraded from good to fast forSunday’s final four races.

… Chicago-based Midwest Thoroughbreds, Oaklawn’s leading owner the last two years, now has 10 horses on the grounds with trainer Roger Brueggemann.

Midwest already has about 15 other horses at Oaklawn with trainer Jamie Ness.

… Trainer Phil Sims said Lady Diva Ga Ga, a two time winner at the meeting, may run in Sunday’s $60,000 Spring Fever Stakes for older filly and mare sprinters. It would be her stakes debut. Lady Diva Ga Ga has won her two starts at the meeting by a combined 9 1/2 lengths. The 5 1/2-furlong Spring Fever closed Thursday with 28 nominations.

Day 18 at a glance

ATTENDANCE 4,232 ON-TRACK HANDLE $420,941.30 OFF-TRACK HANDLE $1,935,156.59 TOTAL HANDLE $2,356,097.89.

CLASSIX CARRYOVER $19,275.92.

SUNDAY’S STARS Eddie Martin Jr. rode four winners, including two for trainer Randy Morse. Martin won both ends of the early daily double by a nose.

Thursday’s information

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

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.) RADIO “Oaklawn Morning Line” (8:45 a.m., KVRE-FM, 92.9, Hot Springs Village) PRICES Admission ($2); parking in Oaklawn lots ($2); reserved seats ($2.50 weekdays, $4.50 weekends); programs ($2). Daily Racing Form on track ($5, $6.50); tip sheets ($2-$5)

SIMULCASTING SCHEDULE Tampa Bay Downs (11:25 a.m.), Aqueduct (11:30 a.m.), Gulfstream Park (11:45 a.m.), Fair Grounds (1 p.m.), Golden Gate Fields (2:45 p.m.), Santa Anita (3 p.m.), Penn National (5 p.m.), Delta Downs (5:45 p.m.), Charles Town (6:15 p.m.), Southland (6:30 p.m.).

Sports, Pages 17 on 02/11/2013