Oaklawn report

It’s Molly, by golly, in a romp

HOT SPRINGS - Even money favorite Ile St. Molly, bred and owned by North Little Rock businessman James Glover, made it look easy in winning the $60,000 Rainbow Miss Stakes on Friday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

Under confident handling by jockey Robby Albarado, Ile St. Molly took command on the turn and finished 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Sashabye in the 6-furlong race for 3-yearold Arkansas-bred fillies.

Sashabye finished a length ahead of Pistolpackinpenny, who was followed, in order, by Crafty Skill, Miss Addicate, Corner the Storm, Hicks Honey, Proud Kitten, Portobellos Jewel and Minnie Bear. Wild Eyed Kendal was a late scratch.

Ile St. Molly paid $4.20, $2.80 and $2.40.

Sashabye paid $3 and $2.40.

Pistolpackinpenny paid $3.40.

Ile St. Molly ran the distance over a fast track in 1:11.51.

Trained by Kenny Smith, Ile St. Molly won the $50,000 Lady Razorback Futurity in her career debut last fall, but was coming off a fifth-place finish against state-breds in a Feb. 14 entry-level allowance/ optional claimer.

Smith said Ile St. Molly came out of the loss with a lung infection.

“I knew she’d run well today,” Smith said. “She was very professional. She’s the type of filly that can probably tackle open company. I wouldn’t be afraid to try it.”

Ile St. Molly increased her career earnings to $70,620 following her second victory in four lifetime starts.

Smith said Ile St. Molly is a candidate for the $75,000 Instant Racing Stakes on April 12.

Smith and Glover also have, Goods Gone West, the 8-5 program favorite for today’s $60,000 Rainbow Stakes for 3-year-old Arkansas-bred colts and geldings.

Canchari injured

Apprentice jockey Patrick Canchari suffered a broken nose and cut lip after being unseated in Friday’s third race, an Oaklawn official said.

Canchari fell hard to the ground after his mount, Sweet Afleet, clipped heels going into the first turn of the 1 1/16-mile race for $20,000 maiden-claiming fillies and mares.

Canchari remained on the ground for maybe a minute before jogging off the track as the field was on the second turn.

Sweet Afleet didn’t fall in the incident and was captured by an outrider following the race.

Canchari took off his other two scheduled mounts Friday, replaced on both occasions by brother Alex Canchari.

On the tab

Three scheduled starters for the $500,000 Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap on April 12 recorded workouts Friday morning.

Tiz Miz Sue, trained by Steve Hobby of Hot Springs,went a half-mile in :48.40.

Don’t Tell Sophia, under Robby Albarado, popped a half-mile bullet (47:40), covering her final quarter in a sparkling :22.80.

On Fire Baby breezed 7 furlongs in 1:30.20 under regular rider Joe Johnson.

Trainer Gary “Red Dog” Hartlage confirmed following the workout that On Fire Baby would make her 4-year-old debut in the Apple Blossom after a race she entered for Friday didn’t have a sufficient amount of entries to be held.

On Fire Baby, a multiple graded stakes winner, hasn’t started since May 28 because of bruised knees and a muscle problem behind.

“She couldn’t be doing any better,” Hartlage said.

“It’s time to see where we’re at.”

Cyber Secret, who is scheduled to make his next start in the $500,000 Grade II Oaklawn Handicap on April 13, worked 6 furlongs in 1:13.60 on Friday morning for trainer Lynn Whiting and owner Charles Cella.

Atigun, owned by John Ed Anthony of Hot Springs,worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.40 on Friday morning in preparation for the Oaklawn Handicap.

The next step

Ricardo Santana Jr., who has emerged as one of the biggest stories of the Oaklawn meeting, is about to take another step in his promising riding career.

Santana, 19, is planning to ride at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., after the Oaklawn meeting ends April 13, said his agent, Ruben Munoz.

Santana is Oaklawn’s leading jockey this year and was Delaware Park’s leading rider last year.

“Why not take a shot?” Munoz said Friday morning.

“If it doesn’t work out, we can always go back to Delaware.”

The Churchill spring/ summer meeting begins April 27. Racing at Delaware Park begins May 18.

Santana has ridden 50 winners this year at Oaklawn, eight more than runner-up Robby Albarado.

Friday marked Santana’s 12th consecutive racing day with at least one victory.

With only nine days left in the meeting, Santana is about to become Oaklawn’s youngest riding champion in 43 years.

James McKnight was 18 when he won the Oaklawn riding title in 1970.

Santana has essentially clinched this year’s championship because Friday was Albarado’s final day to ride regularly this season in Hot Springs. Albarado will be at Gulfstream Park in Florida today, then head to Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., for its opening Friday.

Albarado’s agent, Jay Fedor, said the jockey will be at Oaklawn on April 12 to ride Don’t Tell Sophia in the $500,000 Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap for older fillies and mares and the following day to ride Den’s Legacy in the $1 million Grade I Arkansas Derby.

Den’s Legacy is owned by Westrock Stables LLC (Joe and Scott Ford of Little Rock).

Title shot?

Highly regarded Titletown Five is scheduled to make his two-turn debut in today’s $1 million Grade II Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Co-owned by NFL Hall of Famers Paul Hornung and Willie Davis, Titletown Five would lock up a spot in the May 4 Kentucky Derby with a victory.

But it’s a tall order since the speedy son of Tiznow will be stretching out from 6 furlongs to 1 1-8 miles today.

“Very much so,” Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Thursday morning.

Titletown Five, in his 3-year-old debut and first start since undergoing knee surgery, tired to finish second in the $60,000 Gazebo Stakes on March 2 at Oaklawn.

Lukas has put three works into Titletown Five since the Gazebo, including a 6-furlong move March 19.

“I think I trained him a little different,” Lukas said.

“I think I can build off a good performance, but it is a quantum leap, there isn’t any question about it. But we’re behind the 8-ball. More than likely, he’ll have another out somewhere.”

The Louisiana Derby offers 100 points to the winner under the Kentucky Derby eligibility system that will be used if, as expected, the race oversubscribes.

The Kentucky Derby is limited to 20 starters.

Titletown Five has no points. The Louisiana Derby also offers 40 points for second, 20 points for third and 10 points for fourth.

“I don’t have any unrealistic thoughts, but I think he’s going to run well,” Lukas said. “He’s a talented horse.”

In other developments, Lukas said he’s pointing Channel Isle for the $100,000 Grade III Transylvania Stakes on April 5 at Keeneland, where he will face Arkansas owned Brown Almighty;

Broken Spell for the $500,000 Grade I Ashland Stakes on April 6 at Keeneland; and Red Wings for the $100,000 Northern Spur on April 13 at Oaklawn.

Claim wars

There were 12 claims Friday totaling $122,500. Half the claims were made in the first two races.

Through 45 days of the 54-day meeting, 268 claims have totaled $3,810,500. The 297 claims made during last year’s 56-day meeting totaled $3,504,000.

Final furlong

Despite a rain shower shortly before the track opened for training Friday morning, the surface was rated fast for workouts and the 10 races. … Oaklawn is planning to open the infield today for the “Park Within the Park” promotion, including the picnic blanket giveaway. … Jockey Calvin Borel said he will be represented by Doc Danner at the upcoming Churchill Downs meeting. Danner has booked mounts for Borel this season at Oaklawn, replacing Jerry Hissam of Hot Springs (health problems).

… Helen Pitts, the original trainer of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, had her first winner of the meeting in Friday’s third race (Lady Spencer). … Trainer Phil Sims said Lady Diva Ga Ga, a two-time winner at the meeting, is a candidate for the $100,000 Carousel on April 11. … Trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel said he plans to have a 30-horse string at the upcoming Churchill Downs meeting. Von Hemel said he also will have a string at Prairie Meadows in Iowa.

In past years, Von Hemel has been based at Arlington Park in suburban Chicago after the Oaklawn meeting.

… A full sister to multiple stakes winner Tiz Miz Sue was born last week, said trainer Steve Hobby of Hot Springs. “She looks just like Tiz Miz Sue,” Hobby said.

Day 45 at a glance

ATTENDANCE 8,113 ON-TRACK HANDLE $739,118.50 OFF-TRACK HANDLE $1,897,519.81 TOTAL HANDLE $2,636,638.31 CLASSIX CARRYOVER $7,947.20 FRIDAY’S STARS Jockey Robby Albarado swept the late daily double. Trainer Tim Martin of Royal won two races.

TODAY’S TIMES First post for the 10 races is 1 p.m. Gates open at 11 a.m.

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); Oaklawn Race Day (11 a.m., KABZ-FM, 103.7, Little Rock) TODAY’S DAWN AT OAKLAWN (8 a.m.-10:30 a.m./south apron) Host: Terry Wallace. Special guest: Oaklawn track announcer Frank Mirahmadi.