HOT SPRINGS - Mallard’s Bro nailed two-time defending champion Devil and a Half in the shadow of the wire to win the $75,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes (open division) by a neck Friday afternoon.
Mallard’s Bro is a 4-yearold half-brother to stablemate The Mallard Man, who won the inaugural Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes in 2011 and finished sixth in Friday’s race.
The 1 1/16-mile race, run on a sloppy track, was for Arkansas-breds, 3-year-olds and upward.
Devil and a Half finished a head in front of Presidential Colors, who was followed, in order, by Backontheroad, Tour de Rock, The Mallard Man, Pistolpackinpenny, Best of Birdstone, 2-1 favorite Trace Creek, Humble Smarty and Road to Saleeta.
Humble Smarty and Road to Saleeta, who set a quick pace, were both distanced.
Mallard’s Bro, who was coupled in the wagering with The Mallard Man, paid $9.80, $4.80 and $3.20. Devil and a Half paid $4.60 and $4. Presidential Colors paid $10.20.
Mallard’s Bro represented the meet-high seventh stakes victory for jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., who is closing in on his second consecutive Oaklawn riding title.
Mallard’s Bro races for trainer Al Cates of Hot Springs and owner Five Star Racing Stable, headed by Benton concrete contractor Rick Christian.
Cates and Five Star were also part of The Mallard Man’s victory in the 2011 Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes.
Mallard’s Bro was void of early speed Friday as Road to Saleeta zipped through an opening quarter-mile of :22.58 and a half-mile in :46.59.
Mallard’s Bro, almost 15 lengths off the lead after a half-mile, began to advance toward the front on the second turn and weaved his way through traffic in the stretch to collar Devil and a Half on the outside in the final strides.
The winner ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.77.
“He finished well,” Santana said.
Devil and a Half, who also ran second to The Mallard Man in the 2011 Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes, led by a half-length in midstretch.
Mallard’s Bro was coming off a third-place finish against state-breds in a second-level allowance/optional claimer Feb. 27.
“He came out of it great and was training really good,” Cates said. “We had a good rider who rode an excellent race.”
Mallard’s Bro, a gelded son of It’s No Joke, won for the third time in 16 lifetime starts to increase his earnings to $123,664.
Mallard’s Bro and The Mallard Man, an 8-yearold Sunday Break gelding, are both out of Y Worry B Happy.
Sports, Pages 24 on 03/29/2014