Oaklawn Park report

HOT SPRINGS — Hobby tries Lukas-like maneuver

Big Lute has been the most impressive maiden winner this year at Oaklawn Park to date, cruising to a 4 3/4-length victory in his Feb. 1 debut sprinting.

That was enough for trainer Steve Hobby of Hot Springs to send the son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion Midnight Lute into today’s $300,000 Grade III Southwest Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1-16 miles.

“I told Wayne yesterday that this was more of a Lukas move than a Hobby move,” Hobby said with a laugh during training hours Sunday morning.

“He said, ‘Don’t knock it.’ ”

Lukas, of course, is Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, known for sending maiden graduates straight into the teeth of graded stakes competition.

Hobby said an ideal scenario for Big Lute would have been another entry level allowance sprint, then try two turns.

But by that time, Hobby said, it would be summer and, obviously, too late for a push to make the Kentucky Derby.

“I wish we could have done this more conventional,” Hobby said. “But weighing out all the options, it just really didn’t work out that way.”

Big Lute is owned by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong of Conway.

Big Lute was also under consideration for a 1 1/16-mile entry-level allowance race Sunday, which was won by Carve, owned by Mike Langford of Jonesboro.

The Southwest winner will receive 10 points under the new “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points system.

The runner-up will receive 4 points, third place 2 points and fourth place 1 point.

Second chance

Officer Alex flopped in his 3-year old debut, finishing a well-beaten sixth in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 21.

But trainer Lynn Whiting is giving the son of Officer a second chance in the Southwest.

Officer Alex entered the Smarty Jones off a victory in the $75,000 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes on Dec. 8 at Parx near Philadelphia.

“He failed to come away from there in the Smarty Jones, and everything went to hell from there on,” Whiting said.

Officer Alex was last away in the nine-horse field, hung four-wide on the second turn and lost a shoe in the race before finishing 13 1/4 lengths behind Will Take Charge.

“Just a comedy of errors,” Whiting said. “You can’t beat decent horses if you don’t have a good trip. He just had a little too much to overcome.”

Officer Alex will break from the rail today under new rider Luis Quinonez.

Whiting said Officer Alex should be a forward factor with a clean break.

“You never really like to be in the 1 hole, but I think he should be in the race early,” Whiting said. “He should in close attendance to what may be a hot pace.”

Whiting won the Southwest in 1985 with Clever Allemont, who was campaigned by the late Cal Partee of Magnolia.

Two chances

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas is scheduled to send out two runners in the Southwest, including Will Take Charge, owned by Willis Horton of Marshall.

Will Take Charge won the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 21.

The trainer’s other entrant, Channel Isle, returns to stakes competition after winning a Jan. 26 entry-level allowance race at a mile.

“They’re in good shape,” Lukas said.

“They don’t compromise each other.

Two contrasting styles.”

Will Take Charge figures to lay just behind the leaders under regular rider Jon Court.

Channel Isle hasn’t flashed early speed in any of his three career starts on dirt.

Day 22 at a glance

ATTENDANCE 11,209 ON-TRACK HANDLE $874,434.40 OFF-TRACK HANDLE $1,870,554.45 TOTAL HANDLE $2,744,998.85 CLASSIX CARRYOVER $303,751.93 TODAY’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.) TODAY’S 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) TODAY’S SIMULCASTING SCHEDULE Aqueduct (11:30 a.m.), Laurel (11:35 a.m.), Gulfstream Park (11:45 a.m.), Fair Grounds (1 p.m.), Santa Anita (2:30 p.m.), Golden Gate Fields (2:45 p.m.) CLASSIX FEVER

The largest CLASSIX carryover in almost 14 years awaits fans today after the multi-race wager wasn’t hit for the eighth consecutive racing day Sunday afternoon. The carryover reached $303,751.93, the largest at Oaklawn since April 9, 1999, when it was a record $793,356, according to Bobby Geiger, the track’s director of gaming and wagering. Geiger said this is “certainly the highest” carryover since Oaklawn lowered the minimum wager on the CLASSIX from $2 to $1 for the 2012 live meeting. The $793,356 figure was built on a $2 base wager. The carryover entering Sunday was $156,976.81, and an additional $247,728.79 was wagered into the pool. The CLASSIX requires bettors to select the winners of races 3-8. There were 15 consolation 5 of 6 tickets sold Sunday, each worth $3,261.60. The consolation tickets were sold off track.

BOREL’S BACK

Calvin Borel is named on three horses today in pursuit of his 5,000th career victory. Borel (4,999 victories) is trying to become the 26th jockey in North America with 5,000 victories. Borel is scheduled to ride Atticus the Man in the third race, Fevernthefunkhouse in the eighth race and Hezunusal in the 10th race. Borel was winless in two mounts Saturday, his first action since Dec. 28 because of a broken wrist. Borel is named on one horse Thursday.

SPRING FEVER

Long shot Seeking Ms Shelley, in her apparent final career start before heading to the breeding shed, overhauled Lulu Wong on the outside in deep stretch for a half-length victory in Sunday’s $60,000 Spring Fever Stakes for older filly and mare sprinters. Lady Diva Ga Ga, the 4-5 favorite, finished another half length farther back in third, while Rocket Twentyone, owned by Frank Fletcher of North Little Rock, finished fourth. Owned and bred by country music superstar Toby Keith, Seeking Ms Shelley survived a claim of foul to win for the 10th time in 19 career starts. Jockey Jon Court, who rode Lady Diva Ga Ga, claimed foul against Seeking Ms Shelley for alleged interference late in the turn. But stewards allowed the result to stand. Seeking Ms Shelley paid $38.20, $13.40 and $6.20. Lulu Wong paid $5.60 and $3.60. Lady Diva Ga Ga paid $2.40. Ridden by Robby Albarado, Seeking Ms Shelly ran 5 /2 furlongs over a fast track in 1:04.62. The Spring Fever was the second career stakes victory for Seeking Ms Shelley and increased her earnings to $258,352. It’s good to see her go out this way,” winning trainer Joe Duhon said. “She’s done everything right.”

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