Oaklawn report

Arkansan set to lead RCI in ‘15

HOT SPRINGS - Mark Lamberth of Batesville, a member of the Arkansas Racing Commission, is chairman elect of the Association of Racing Commissioners International.

Lamberth, 64, was tapped by the RCI’s board of directors Wednesday morning, the final day of the organization’s three-day conference in Lexington, Ky.

RCI is charged with setting standards for racing regulation, medication policy and drug testing, among other things. It is made up of racing commissioners and regulatory officials from across the country.

“It’s an honor,” Lamberth said. “I’m going to be getting to do some things I never thought I would be able to do.”

Lamberth will serve as chairman-elect until April 2015 before beginning a one year term as chairman. A horse owner, Lamberth has been on the RCI’s model rules committee.

John Ward, trainer of 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos, is the new RCI chairman, Lamberth said. Ward is also executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Lamberth was appointed to the state racing commission in January 2011 by Gov. Mike Beebe.

Cecil Alexander of Heber Springs, a former RCI chairman, continues to head the state racing commission, Lamberth said.

The champions

Ricardo Santana Jr. (50 victories) has clinched his second consecutive Oaklawn riding title with three days remaining in the meeting. Danny Caldwell (24 victories) has also clinched his first Oaklawn owner’s title.

The trainer’s race has yet to be decided, although two time defending champion Steve Asmussen is in the driver’s seat.

Asmussen leads Federico Villafranco 27-25 in search of his sixth Oaklawn training title since 2007. Asmussen has entered 22 horses for the last three days. Villafranco, who trains privately for Caldwell, has entered seven horses.

Saturday’s card

Saturday’s closing card features 12 races, including four stakes.

Racing begins at 12:10 p.m., with the scheduled post time for the $100,000 Northern Spur for 3-yearolds, the first of four consecutive stakes races, at 4:10 p.m.

The Northern Spur will be followed by the $100,000 Instant Racing for 3-year-old fillies (4:49 p.m.), $600,000 Grade II Oaklawn Handicap for older horses (5:27 p.m.) and the $1 million Grade I Arkansas Derby for 3-yearolds (6:07 p.m.).

Champion Will Take Charge, co-owned by Willis Horton of Marshall, is the even-money program favorite for the Oaklawn Handicap.

Will Take Charge, which will carry top weight of 123 pounds, is scheduled to break from post 2 under regular rider Luis Saez.

Also entered in the 1 1/8-mile race are Revolutionary, Right to Vote, Carve, Moreno, Golden Lad and Prayer for Relief.

Right to Vote is owned by Fort Smith-based B J D Thoroughbreds (Lee and Joyce Didier) and trained by Ron Moquett of Hot Springs. Carve is owned by Mike Langford of Jonesboro.

The 1-mile Northern Spur drew 10 horses, including Six Spot, Bourbonize, Sheltowee’s Boy and Unstoppable Colby.

Jojo Warrior is scheduled to make her 2014 debut in the 6-furlong Instant Racing. A Triple Crown nominee by Pioneerof the Nile, Jojo Warrior won her only career start by 3 ¼ lengths last fall at Del Mar near San Diego.

Also entered is unbeaten Sweetmarys Success, who is trained by Wesley Ward.

Back in the saddle

Dave Mello, Oaklawn’s second-leading jockey this year with 35 victories, is scheduled to ride Apprehender in today’s $300,000 Grade III Count Fleet Sprint Handicap for older horses.

Mello was scheduled to begin a three-day suspension today for a riding suspension late last month.

But Mello is allowed to ride in designated stakes races like the Count Fleet, as long he substitutes another day of suspension. Mello is not named on horses Friday and Saturday at Oaklawn.

Final furlong

Embattled jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. took off his final two mounts Wednesday after injuring his left leg as the horses were warming up for Wednesday’s third race.

Arroyo, who continues to ride on court-ordered stays of three riding suspensions handed down by Oaklawn stewards earlier in the meeting, had already been taken off three horses he was scheduled to ride Wednesday for trainer Cody Autrey, who persuaded the jockey to ride at Oaklawn for the first time this year and has been his biggest supporter. … Joe Petalino, Oaklawn’s leading trainer in 2000, saddled his first winner of the meeting in Wednesday’s sixth race, Imma Bee Sexy, who overcame a horrific start to get up by a neck under Belen Quinonez. … Hal Wiggins, the original trainer of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, attended Wednesday’s races. … Close Hatches is the 3-5 program favorite for Friday’s $600,000 Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.

Also entered are Rose to Gold, Stanwyck, defending champion On Fire Baby and Let Faith Arise. The Apple Blossom is the 10th of 11 races, with probable post time 6:12 p.m. Also on the card is the $100,000 Bachelor Stakes for 3-yearold sprinters. Pimpernel is the 2-1 program favorite for the 6-furlong Bachelor. A winner of two consecutive races in Southern California for trainer Bob Baffert, Pimpernel is out of Xtra Heat, a 25-time stakes winner and finalist this year for induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

At the post

DAY 50 ATTENDANCE 4,225 ON-TRACK HANDLE $379,077.70 OFF-TRACK HANDLE $1,599,444.07 TOTAL HANDLE $1,978,521.77 CLASSIX CARRYOVER $9,321.39 TODAY’S TIMES First post for the 10 races is 1:30 p.m. Gates open at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION HRTV (full card), TVG (full card). Oaklawn Replay Show (8 p.m., Resort Cable Channel 5, Hot Springs; 11 p.m., KARZ-TV, channel 42, Little Rock).

At the track

TODAY’S “DAWN AT OAKLAWN” (7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., south apron). Special guest HRTV personality Zoe Cadman. Free admission. Barn tours at 7:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

PRICES Admission $2; parking in Oaklawn lots $2; reserved seats $2.50 weekdays, $4.50 weekends; programs $2.

Daily Racing Form $5, $6.50, $7.50. Tip sheets $2-$5.

TODAY’S WAGERING MENU Win-place-show, exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagering offered on all races Daily double (races 1-2, 9-10) CLASSIX (races 3-8) Pick-3 (rolling begins with race 2) Pick-4 (races 2-5, races 7-10) TODAY’S SIMULCASTING SCHEDULE Keeneland (12:05 p.m.), Pimlico (12:10 p.m.), Aqueduct (12:20 p.m.), Golden Gate Fields (2:45 p.m.), Santa Anita (3 p.m.), Penn National (5 p.m.), Evangeline (5:40 p.m.), Charles Town (6 p.m.), Lone Star (6:35 p.m.).