HOT SPRINGS — Albarado stays hot over cold
- Weather is all that has stopped jockey Robby Albarado through the first two racing days at Oaklawn Park.
Albarado rode four more winners Thursday and isalready 7 of 14 at the meeting.
Albarado rode three winners last Friday, the first day of Oaklawn’s scheduled 56-day meeting, but racingwas canceled Saturday and Sunday after heavy rain led to unsafe track conditions.
Two of Albarado’s winners Thursday - Special Kid ($5.20) and Bubble Conditions ($10.40) - were for trainer Cody Autrey.
Albarado and Autrey teamed for two victories opening day.
Albarado’s other victories Thursday were aboard Desire to Change ($3.40) for trainer Dan Peitz, a Little Rock native, and Indian Clarkie ($3.80) for owner David Clark, who formerly owned Iron Horse Farm in Perryville.
Rocketing in
Trainer Tim Glyshaw, who is based at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, is scheduled to send three horses to Oaklawn early next week, including Boss Man Rocket, a candidate for the $300,000 Grade III Southwest Stakes for 3-year-olds Feb. 18.
Boss Man Rocket, a War Front colt purchased for $800,000 last year by FrankFletcher of North Little Rock, earned a career-high 86 Beyer speed figure for a front-running 4 1/2-length maiden victory last Friday at Fair Grounds.
“He did what he was supposed to do,” said Kathy Howard of Hot Springs, Fletcher’s racing manager.
Howard said Boss Man Rocket is being pointed for a 1-mile entry-level allowance spot Jan. 26, which, if all goes well, would be a steppingstone for the Southwest.
Boss Man Rocket made his first two career starts last summer in New York for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott before being transferred to Glyshaw last fall.
In his first start for Glyshaw, Boss Man Rocket ran third in a Dec. 13 turf sprint at Fair Grounds under Calvin Borel.
Howard said it hasn’t been decided who will ride Boss Man Rocket on Jan. 26.
Howard said Glyshaw is also sending Franks Officer Gal, a 3-year-old Officer filly who hasn’t started since finishing sixth in the $60,000 Letellier Memorial Stakes on Dec. 22 at Fair Grounds.
Fletcher also owns Franks Officer Gal.
Atigun update
Atigun is targeting the $150,000 Grade III Razorback Handicap on March 9 to begin his 4-year-old campaign, said Phil Bauer, who oversees trainer Kenny McPeek’s Oaklawn division.
Owned by John Ed Anthony of Hot Springs, Atigun hasn’t started since finishing third in the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita near Los Angeles.
Bauer said Atigun was freshened after the Marathon for a two-race campaign at Oaklawn, beginning with the Razorback.
The $500,000 GradeII Oaklawn Handicap on April 13 is the major spring objective for Atigun, who also ran third in the Belmont Stakes, fourth in the Grade I Travers and Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup and fifth in the Grade I Arkansas Derby last year.
On the tab
Two scheduled starters for Monday’s $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes had their final workouts Thursday morning.
Arkansas-owned Brown Almighty worked 3 furlongs in :36.40. Officer Alex zipped 5 furlongs in :59.60.
Trainer Lynn Whiting said Officer Alex will be ridden again by Stewart Elliott, who was the regular rider of Smarty Jones.
Texas Bling and Will Take Charge had their final workouts for the Smarty Jones on Saturday.
Will Take Charge went 5 furlongs in 1:02.80. Texas Bling covered 6 furlongs in 1:18.80.
Final furlong
Trainer Steve Hobby of Hot Springs said multiple stakes winner Tiz Miz Sue is scheduled to work this morning. She is scheduled to make her 2013 debut in the $150,000 Grade III Azeri Stakes on March 16, Hobby said. … Top Priority, a 3-year-old full brother to Tiz Miz Sue, will work this weekend, Hobby said. Top Priority, sixth in his only career start, hasn’t worked since Dec. 24 because of a minor problem, Hobby said. … Trainer Al Stall’s first starter of the meeting, Shrill, was claimed out of Thursday’s featured eighth race for $55,000 by Michael Biehler. … Bahama Bound is among nine older fillies and mares entered in Saturday’s $75,000 Pippin Stakes. She will be making her first start for trainer Grant Forster.
Sports, Pages 24 on 01/18/2013