Oaklawn Park report

— It could be March for Borel

The Calvin Borel watch is about to enter a new month.

Borel was winless in three mounts Sunday afternoon at Oaklawn Park, leaving him still one short of becoming the 26th jockey in North American racing with 5,000 victories.

Borel finished fourth aboard favored Maiden Warrior in the third race, fourth aboard favored Mr Garde in the fifth race and third aboard Graceful Rage, the 7-2 second choice in the ninth race for trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs.

Maiden Warrior is trained by Borel’s older brother, Cecil.

Graceful Rage held a narrow lead inside the sixteenth pole before weakening to finish two lengths behind fast-closing debut winner Devious d’oro.

Calvin Borel is named on one horse Thursday - the final day of February.

Borel is winless since in 10 mounts since his last victory, Dec. 28 at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

He is returning slowly from a broken wrist diagnosed in early January.

A ‘Humble’ horse

Heavily favored Humble Smarty powered to a front running 4 1/4-length victory in the $60,000 Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes for older Arkansas-bred sprinters Sunday afternoon.

Humble Smarty, a 9-yearold Mutakddim gelding, was among the last horses started by James Danaher, the popular Pine Bluff owner/ breeder/trainer who retired at the age of 85 following the 2007 Oaklawn meeting.

Humble Smarty was part of Danaher’s plethora of “Humble” horses, spawned from a biblical verse, Matthew 23:12.

After retiring, Danaher transferred his horses to assistant Brett Creighton, who still owns Humble Smarty.

The gelding is now trained by Jerry Donaldson.

The Nodouble victory was Humble Smarty’s 17th in 70 starts. He has earned $492,133.

He covered 6 furlongs over a fast track in 1:11.19 and paid $4.40 as the 6-5 favorite.

Humble Smarty was the only winner to lead at every point of call in 36 races run during Oaklawn’s four-day race week.

‘Duke’ retired

Duke of Mischief, winner of the $500,000 Grade II Oaklawn Handicap in 2010, has been retired, said Alex Lieblong of Conway, who owned the 7-year-old son of Graeme Hall.

In his final career start, Duke of Mischief finished seventh in a Feb. 15 allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream Park near Miami, his ninth loss in a row.

“That was his final shot,” Lieblong said Sunday morning. “You could tell he didn’t want to play anymore.”

Lieblong said a stallion deal is pending for Duke of Mischief, who retires with a 7-5-0 record from 30 lifetime starts and earnings of $1,905,747.

“He was an honest horse,” Lieblong said.

Getting closer

Trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel said Alternation remains on target for the $150,000 Grade III Razorback Handicap on March 9 following a long breeze Sunday morning.

Alternation breezed 7 furlongs in 1:28.60, the most extensive work of the year for the millionaire and multiple stakes winner.

Alternation recorded splits of :13 for his opening eighth of a mile, :25.40 for a quarter-mile, :37.60 for 3 furlongs, :49.80 for a half mile and 1:03 for 5 furlongs.

Alternation galloped out a mile in 1:42.80.

“Got a little late toward the end,” Von Hemel said.

“Still getting there.”

Alternation won the Razorback last year. He hasn’t started since Oct. 6.

Bling, bling

Trainer Danele Durham wasted no time gearing up Texas Bling for his next start, the $600,000 Grade II Rebel Stakes for 3-year-olds March 16.

Texas Bling posted a half-mile bullet Sunday morning (:47.60) under Cliff Berry, a move six days after the colt finished ninth in the $300,000 Grade III Southwest Stakes.

“That’ll work,” Durham said. “He’s back, baby.”

Texas Bling entered the Southwest off a narrow loss in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 21.

“Everybody has one they get to throw out,” Durham said. “That was ours.”Baby talk

Multiple graded stakes winner On Fire Baby worked a half-mile in :49 on Sunday morning under regular rider Joe Johnson.

After covering her opening 3 furlongs in :36.20, On Fire Baby galloped out 5 furlongs in 1:03.60.

On Fire Baby, who hasn’t started since May 28, worked from the 3-furlong pole to the 7-furlong pole.

“She was a little overanxious to do what she wanted to do,” trainer Gary “Red Dog” Hartlage said.

“She wasn’t supposed to go that fast the first part. But Joe just let her do her thing. For her first work, it was good.”

Hartlage said the $500,000 Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap on April 12 is a possibility, if everything falls right.

Boustierre update

Unbeaten Boustierre, the 3-year-old Empire Maker filly who was badly bruised in a Jan. 26 training accident, continues to improve, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Friday morning.

“It’s a long process, but I think we’re out of the woods, as far as losing her,” Lukas said. “She’s getting better every day.”

Lukas said Boustierre is now walking twice daily - still “not very well,” he added - and able to lay down.

Lukas said Boustierre was unable to lay down for approximately two weeks after the accident.

“That’s the big part, because they founder if they can’t lay down,” Lukas said.

Founder is a potentially debilitating circulatory disorder of the foot.

A Jan. 18 winner at 1 1/16 miles, Boustierre was injured after colliding with a pony ridden outrider John Garges.

Final furlong

For Greater Glory will make his stakes debut in the $75,000 John Battaglia Memorial for 3-year-olds Saturday at Turfway Park in Kentucky, said Alex Lieblong of Conway, who owns the colt with wife JoAnn. For Greater Glory, a son of champion Afleet Alex, earned a 78 Beyer Speed Figure for a Feb. 3 maiden victory at Oaklawn at 1 1/16 miles. … Unbeaten Arkansas-bred Jan’s Perfect Star breezed a half-mile in :50.40 on Sunday morning, her first work since being sold earlier this month and transferred to trainer Randy Morse. … Trainer Mac Robertson said he has no specific next-race plans for multiple stakes winner Win Willy, who worked a half-mile in :52 on Sunday morning. . … Trainer Dan White of Hot Springs saddled his first career winner when Indian Bluff won Sunday’s first race.

There have been 157 claims totaling $2,327,000 through the first 27 days of racing.

... Bahama Bound, well beaten in two stakes races at the meeting, left Oaklawn for Kentucky on Sunday morning after being sold as a broodmare prospect, trainer Grant Forster said.

Day 27 at a glance

ATTENDANCE 5,152 ON-TRACK HANDLE $466,849.20 OFF-TRACK HANDLE $1,576,665.14 TOTAL HANDLE $2,043,514.34 CLASSIX CARRYOVER $23,825.09 SUNDAY’S STARS Devious d’Oro, a 3-year-old Medaglia d’Oro filly for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel, passed the entire field, 11 horses, in the final 300 yards to win her career debut under Luis Quinonez. Devious d’Oro, who broke from the rail, swung to the far outside turning for home after being blocked along the inside. She covered 6 furlongs in 1:12.84 and paid $40.20 to win.

Sports, Pages 17 on 02/25/2013

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