Heart issue befalls filly during race
HOT SPRINGS - Finesse was euthanized Friday at Oaklawn Park after collapsing of an apparent “cardiac issue” shortly after the finish of the seventh race, a first-level allowance/ optional claiming sprint for older fillies and mares, state steward Stan Bowker said.
Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. was thrown after the 4-year old Medaglia d’Oro filly, seconds after a runner-up finish, fell galloping out and plowing head-first into the ground near the inner rail.
Santana tumbled under the inner rail, just into the infield near the 7 ½ -furlong marker.
Track and medical personnel rushed to the scene.
Finesse was euthanized on the track, Bowker said.
Santana walked back to the jockeys’ room and rode the final two races.
Finesse, who was making her first start since Nov.
13, was bred and owned by Padua Stables LLC (Satish Sanan) and trained by Steve Asmussen.
Blooming flower
USA Thoroughbred Racing Management, LLC, which is headed by Mark Cornett of Naples, Fla., privately purchased the promising 3-year-old Arkansas-bred filly Delta Flower on behalf of four entities, including Richard Robertson of Camden.
Robertson confirmed Friday morning that he is a co-owner of Delta Flower, who is scheduled to make her stakes debut in the $75,000 Rainbow Miss on March 29 at Oaklawn.
Trainer Stanley Roberts of Forrest City said he sold Delta Flower to Cornett on March 15, a week after she beat open company in a maiden special weights sprint.
Roberts, who owned and bred the filly in partnership, continues to train Delta Flower and will saddle her in the Rainbow Miss.
Robertson said Delta Flower will be sent to a yet-to-be announced trainer in Kentucky following the Rainbow Miss, a 6-furlong race restricted to 3-year-old Arkansas-bred fillies.
Final furlong
The infield will not be open today because of anticipated rain. … Jake Mo ran the fastest 6 furlongs of the meeting (1:09.48) in a 5 ¼ -length victory in Friday’s $62,000 third-level allowance/optional claiming feature. … Owner/trainer J.R. Caldwell won a 12-way shake, or blind draw, to claim Bless My Halo out of Friday’s fourth race for $7,500. Through 39 days of racing, there have been 294 claims totaling $4,529,500. … Toroparu, a 3-year-old Latent Heat gelding co-owned by basketball legend Dan Issel, worked a half-mile in :48.80 on Friday morning for trainer Dale Romans. Toroparu finished sixth in his March 9 career debut.
At the post DAY 39 ATTENDANCE 6,695.
ON-TRACK HANDLE $567,397.30.
OFF-TRACK HANDLE $1,835,757.77. TOTAL HANDLE $2,403,155.07 CLASSIX CARRYOVER $2,837.49 FRIDAY’S STARS Ramon Vazquez rode two winners.
TODAY’S TIMES First post for the 10 races is 1:05 p.m. Gates open at 11 a.m. TELEVISION HRTV (races 7-10), 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). SPECIAL GUEST Trainer Brad Cox.
DAWN AT OAKLAWN (7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., south apron). SPECIAL GUEST Jerry Hissam of Hot Springs, agent for Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel.
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 simulcasting schedule Tampa Bay Downs (11:25 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 (2:30 p.m.), Penn National (5 p.m.), Wheeling (5:45 p.m.), Charles Town (6 p.m.), Mountaineer (6 p.m.), Southland (7:30 p.m.).
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)
Sports, Pages 24 on 03/22/2014