Oaklawn Park report

Honeybee will test filly Taris

HOT SPRINGS - Unbeaten and untested.

Taris will take the biggest step of her young career today at Oaklawn Park when she faces 10 scheduled challengers in the $150,000 Grade III Honeybee Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

The 1 1/16-mile Honeybee is the final major local prep for the $400,000 Grade III Fantasy Stakes on April 5.

Probable post time for the Honeybee, the sixth of nine races, is 3:39 p.m.

The Honeybee shares the card with the $100,000 Hot Springs Stakes for older sprinters. Probable post time for the Hot Springs, the eighth race, is 4:38 p.m.

Taris, who has won her two starts by a combined 17¼ lengths, will represent the first Oaklawn starter for trainer Todd Beattie and Commonwealth New Era Racing, an ownership group formed in 2007 that includes Beattie and Joe Santana, former president of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.

“This is the best horse we’ve ever had,” Santana said after Taris galloped Friday morning. “I’ve owned horses for 25 years. This is the best horse we’ve ever had.”

Pennsylvania-based Commonwealth New Era Racing purchased Taris, a daughter of Flatter, for $90,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Taris debuted with an 11 ¾-length victory Dec. 21 at Aqueduct in New York, then won the $100,000 Wide Country Stakes on Jan. 25 at Laurel in Maryland by 5½ lengths.

Taris, who has led at every point of call in both starts, will be making her first start around two turns today. She is the 2-1 program favorite for the Honeybee.

“Once we got her really training as a 2-year-old, we thought we had something special, but you never know until you get them on the ground,” Santana said.

“Winning by 12 at Aqueduct was jaw-dropping for us, and a lot of other people in the race as well.”

Taris arrived in Hot Springs early Tuesday morning following an 18-hour van ride from Ocala, Fla.

Santana said Beattie sent the filly to Florida to train following the Wide Country to avoid harsh winter weather in the Northeast.

Beattie chose the Honeybee over today $100,000 Caesar’s Wish Stakes at Laurel.

The Honeybee offers 85 points, including 50 to the winner, in the Kentucky Oaks eligibility system used if the race overfills.

The $1 million Grade I Kentucky Oaks on May 2 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., is the country’s biggest race for 3-year-old fillies.

Unlike the Honeybee, the Caesar’s Wish isn’t a Kentucky Oaks points race.

“There’s points to this race, and it’s a graded race,” Santana said. “If we want to let her keep showing how good she is, this was the spot.”

Regular rider Clinton Potts has the mount on Taris, who is scheduled to break from post 2.

Apprehender is the 2-1 program favorite for the Hot Springs, which drew a field of eight.

Trained by Chris Richard, Apprehender won the $100,000 King Cotton Stakes on Feb. 15 in his last start.

Racing begins at 1:05 p.m.

today.

Training fatality

Win Silas, a 3-year-old unstarted half-brother to millionaire Win Willy, was euthanized after being involved in a training accident about a week ago, trainer Mac Robertson said.

Robertson said Win Silas broke a shoulder after colliding with a loose horse. Robertson said Win Silas, a son of Indian Charlie, was close to making his career debut when the accident occurred.

Win Willy worked a half-mile in :49.20 on Friday morning. Robertson said the 8-year-old isn’t a candidate for next Saturday’s $200,000 Grade III Razorback Handicap, but could resurface in an allowance race.

Claim wars

There were 10 claims totaling $257,500 on Friday, pushing season totals to 231 for $3,502,000 after 31 racing dates.

Trainer Chris Richard, on behalf of owner Maggi Moss, won a 12-way shake, or blind draw, to claim Almost a Lady out of her runner-up finish in the ninth race for $7,500.

Two 3-year-olds were claimed out of the fifth race for $50,000 - Triple Crown nominee Bro Rodrigeaux (winner) and No Dishonor (runner-up). They went to trainers Scott Becker and Cody Autrey, respectively.

Trainer Chris Hartman claimed Rhetorical out of the seventh race for $40,000.

Hartman lost him for the same amount through a claim Jan. 19.

Final furlong

Jockey Joe Johnson (jammed back) took off his mounts Friday after being unseated during training hours, according to his agent, Mike Wood of Hot Springs. … Grade III winner Dunkin Bend is pointing for the $100,000 Gazebo Stakes on March 22, trainer Brad Cox said. The 3-year old Dunkirk colt, who was a candidate for next Saturday’s $600,000 Grade II Rebel Stakes, is owned by Mike Langford of Jonesboro. … Cox is scheduled to saddle Langford’s Carve in his 4-year-old debut Sunday.

Carve ran third in last year’s $1 million Grade I Arkansas Derby. … He is a Roadster won Friday’s sixth race to give jockey John McKee his second victory of the meeting. McKee, then backed strongly by Oaklawn training icon Bob Holthus, was Oaklawn’s leading rider in 2004 (71 victories).

At the post

DAY 31 ATTENDANCE 7,736 ON-TRACK HANDLE $583,748.20 OFF-TRACK HANDLE $2,445,121.22 TOTAL HANDLE $3,028,869.42 CLASSIX CARRYOVER $2,756.20

FRIDAY’S STARS Ricardo Santana Jr. rode three winners. Norberto Arroyo Jr. rode two winners.

TODAY’S TIMES First post for the nine races is 1:05 p.m. Gates open at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION HRTV (races 7-9), TVG (full card). Oaklawn Replay Show (8 p.m., Resort Cable Channel 5, Hot Springs; 11 p.m., KARZ, Channel 42, Little Rock).

RADIO Oaklawn Raceday (11 a.m.-11:30 a.m., KABZ-FM, 103.7, Little Rock).

DAWN AT OAKLAWN (7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., south apron).Special guest: Equibase chart caller Jeff Taylor, a Perryville native. Free admission.

PRICES Admission $2. Parking in Oaklawn lots $2. Reserved seats $4.50. 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, 8-9)

CLASSIX (races 3-8)

Pick-3 (rolling begins with race 2)

Pick-4 (races 2-5, races 6-9)

TODAY’S SIMULCASTING SCHEDULE Tampa Bay Downs (11:25 a.m.), Laurel (11:35 a.m.), Calder (11:55 a.m.), Gulfstream Park (12:05 p.m.), Turfway Park (12:10 p.m.), Aqueduct (12:20 p.m.), Fair Grounds (1:25 p.m.), Hawthorne (1:45 p.m.), Santa Anita (2 p.m.), Penn National (5 p.m.), Delta Downs (5:45 p.m.), Wheeling (5:45 p.m.), Charles Town (6 p.m.), Mountaineer (6 p.m.), Sam Houston (7 p.m.), Southland (7:30 p.m.).

Sports, Pages 26 on 03/08/2014

Upcoming Events