Colt ready to make next step
The long-range goal for Gentlemen’s Bet is the Breeders’ Cup Sprint this fall, owner Harry Rosenblum of Little Rock said.
The immediate goal is becoming a stakes winner.
Gentlemen’s Bet gets another chance in the $125,000 Iowa Sprint today at Prairie Meadows in Iowa.
Probable post time for the 6-furlong race is 9:50 p.m.
Central.
The only loss in five lifetime starts for Gentlemen’s Bet was a third-place finish in his initial stakes attempt - the $250,000 Grade III Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on April 13 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.
Following the race, Rosenblum said the 4-yearold colt’s rider, Robby Albarado, called Gentlemen’s Bet a “Breeders’ Cup horse.”
“He’s doing better than he’s ever done,” Rosenblum said. “We’re going to step it up on the company that he’s keeping.”
Trained by Ron Moquett of Hot Springs, Gentlemen’s Bet is coming off a powerful front-running 5 3/4-length third-level allowance/ optional claiming victory May 17 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
Gentlemen’s Bet ran 6 furlongs in 1:07.90 (the track record is 1:07.55) and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 107, among the highest in the country this year.
Gentlemen’s Bet, the 3-1 second choice in the program for the Iowa Sprint, is scheduled to break from post 2 under Albarado.
The 3-5 program favorite in the five-horse field is Delaunay, who is seeking his seventh consecutive victory.
Rosenblum said the hope is the Iowa Sprint is a steppingstone to either the $400,000 Grade I Vanderbilt on Aug. 4 or the $500,000 Grade I Forego on Aug. 31.
Both races are at Saratoga in upstate New York.
Back on track
On Fire Baby, who missed the $175,000 Grade II Fleur de Lis on June 15 at Churchill Downs because of a fever, returned to the track late last week and will probably breeze Saturday at Churchill, trainer Gary “Red Dog” Hartlage said.
Hartlage said he has no specific next-race plans for On Fire Baby, who won the $500,000 Grade I Apple Blossom on April 12 at Oaklawn.
Staying put
Ricardo Santana Jr., Oaklawn’s leading rider this year, will remain in the Kentucky area after the Churchill spring/summer meeting ends Sunday, said his agent, Ruben Munoz.
In a text message, Munoz said Santana will ride at Indiana Downs and Ellis Park to “build business,” but will “ship” to ride for trainer Steve Asmussen, the jockey’s main client.
Santana is Churchill’s fourth-leading rider with 24 victories.
Final furlong
Win Willy, winner of the 2011 Oaklawn Handicap, became a millionaire with a victory in the $50,000 Joe French Memorial Stakes on June 1 at Delaware Park. … Owner Alex Lieblong of Conway said 3-year-olds Big Lute (chipped knee) and Marshall Raylan (cracked knee) will rejoin trainer Steve Hobby at Churchill and point for late-summer comeback races. Lieblong said Oaklawn maiden winner For Greater Glory is pointing for the $200,000 Grade II Dwyer for 3-year-olds July 6 at Belmont Park in New York. … Oaklawn winners Our Double Play and Bashaar are entered in Saturday’s $250,000 Grade III Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows.
Sports, Pages 24 on 06/28/2013