Willy set to start as 8-year-old
HOT SPRINGS - Millionaire Win Willy, the popular late-running son of 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos, is scheduled to make his 8-year-old debut Friday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.
Trainer Mac Robertson said he hopes the 1-mile allowance/optional claimer is a prep for the $100,000 Essex Handicap on Feb. 15.
“He looks good,” Robertson said.
Win Willy hasn’t started since surpassing $1 million in career earnings with a victory in the $50,000 Joseph French Memorial Stakes on June 1 at Delaware Park.
Win Willy was turned out for approximately four months after the race because “he wasn’t sweating right,” Robertson said.
Win Willy has recorded five workouts this season at Oaklawn and will breeze this morning, Robertson said.
Also entered in Friday’s race are multiple stakes winners Donoharm and Stachys and Right to Vote,who was entered for a $100,000 claiming tag.
Win Willy won the $350,000 Grade II Oaklawn Handicap in 2011.
Rose gone
Jockey Jeremy Rose took off his two mounts Sunday and is leaving Oaklawn, according to his agent, Gene Short of Hot Springs.
Short said Rose received an offer Saturday to ride first-call on the East Coast for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Graham Motion.
Short said he told Rose, best known as the regular rider of 2005 champion male Afleet Alex, that he should accept the offer because Motion has quality and quantity.
“He asked me what I thought,” Short said. “I told him, ‘Pack your bags.’ ”
Rose, 34, was 0 for 12 at the meeting, but missed several days because of the flu.
Rose was Oaklawn’s leading jockey in 2005.
He returned for the 2011 meeting, and also left early after winning 2 of 12 starts.
Rose returned to ride at the 2011 meeting because of training newcomer Tony Dutrow.
Short said Rose plans to return to Oaklawn in 2015 because Dutrow may return as well.
Short also represents Norberto Arroyo Jr., Oaklawn’s leading rider this year.
On the track
Louies Flower and Smack Smack recorded workouts Sunday morning in preparation for the $300,000 Grade III Southwest Stakes for 3-year-olds Feb. 17.
Louies Flower breezed a strong 6 furlongs in 1:14.20, fastest of eight works recorded at the distance.
Louies Flower, who won the $250,000 Springboard Mile on Dec.
15 at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, galloped out 7 furlongs in 1:27.40.
Smack Smack, third in the Springboard Mile, worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.40.
Will Take Charge, in another step toward his 2014 debut in the $500,000 Grade I Donn Handicap on Feb.
9 at Gulfstream Park near Miami, worked 6 furlongs from the gate in 1:14.80.
Will Take Charge, the 2013 champion 3-year-old male, worked in company with stablemate Rooster Cruiser, who was credited with 6 furlongs in 1:17.20.
Will Take Charge had splits of :36.60 for 3 furlongs and :49.40 for a half-mile.
Will Take Charge and Rooster Cruiser, a 3-year-old who broke his maiden for a $30,000 claiming tag last fall, are owned by Willis Horton of Marshall.
Final furlong
Sunday’s lone winning CLASSIX ticket ($22,919.60) was sold at Oaklawn. … There have been 82 claims totaling $1,227,000 through the first 12 days of racing. … Prominent Oklahoma owner Danny Caldwell claimed Dreaming Blue out of Sunday’s eighth race for a meet-high $62,500. … Lasting Impact won Sunday’s fourth race for the three-horse N P H Stable of Nancy Ury-Holthus and her husband, trainer Paul Holthus. N P H’s other horses, Majestic Shoes and Signature Event, were winners earlier in the meeting. … On behalf of owners Michael and Paige Hui of Little Rock, trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs claimed Buck James out of Sunday’s fourth race for $16,000. The trio had lost the 3-year-old Macho Uno colt, named after Camden Fairview’s football coach, through a $15,000 claim last fall in his final start at 2. Michael Hui and Buck James - the coach - were classmates at Arkansas-Monticello. … J Gray, named for Texas tailback Johnathan Gray, won Sunday’s first race to give trainer Danele Durham her first victory of the meeting. … Unbeaten Kiss Moon worked 5 furlongs in 1:03.60 on Sunday morning. She is nominated to Saturday’s $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. … Multiple stakes winner Picko’s Pride will make his 2014 debut in the $100,000 King Cotton Stakes on Feb. 8, trainer Mac Robertson said.
AT THE POST DAY 12 ATTENDANCE (4,476) ON-TRACK HANDLE ($424,783.80) OFF-TRACK HANDLE ($1,868,594.26) TOTAL HANDLE ($2,293,378.06).
CLASSIX CARRYOVER None.
SUNDAY’S STARS Jockey Terry Thompson and trainer David Vance teamed for two victories, including Goodnight Diva for owner Frank Vozel of Little Rock.
THURSDAY’S TIMES First post for the nine races is 1:30 p.m. Gates open at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION HRTV, TVG 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.
THURSDAY’S WAGERING MENU Win-place-show, exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagering offered on all races Daily double (races 1-2, 8-9) CLASSIX (races 3-8) Pick-3 (rolling begins with race 2) Pick-4 (races 2-5 races 6-9) THURSDAY’S SIMULCASTING SCHEDULE Aqueduct (11:25 a.m.), Laurel (11:35 a.m.), Gulfstream Park (11:40 a.m.), Fair Grounds (1 p.m.), Golden Gate Fields (2:45 p.m.), Santa Anita (3 p.m.), Penn National (5 p.m.), Delta Downs (5:45 p.m.), Charles Town (6 p.m.).
Sports, Pages 16 on 01/27/2014