Sea N Suds forges way in Rainbow

HOT SPRINGS - Sea N Suds, after finding racing room in upper stretch, beat Devilishly Clever by a neck to win the $75,000 Rainbow Stakes for 3-year old Arkansas-bred colts and geldings Sunday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

Sea N Suds, bred and owned by North Little Rock businessman Rickey Smith, won for the second time in three lifetime starts - all this year at Oaklawn - to increase his earnings to $80,850.

Glenn Corbett rode the winner for trainer Kelly Von Hemel.

Devilishly Clever, trained by Stanley Roberts of Forrest City, finished a nose ahead of He Is a Roadster, who was followed, in order, by Spotsback, Du Big, Ol’ Bob, Commander Luke, The Arkansan and Wargamer.

Sea N Suds paid $10, $4.80 and $2.80. Devilishly Clever paid $4.40 and $2.60.

He Is a Roadster, the 7-5 favorite, paid $2.40.

Sea N Suds ran 6 furlongs over a fast track in 1:12.05.

Sea N Suds had to wait for racing room turning for home, but found a clear path after Corbett steered the Primary Suspect colt outside horses just past the threesixteenths pole.

Sea N Suds wore down Devilishly Clever and He Is a Roadster on the outside in the final furlong.

Devilishly Clever and He Is a Roadster were heads apart for the lead in midstretch, while Sea N Suds was about a length behind in third.

“I was able to save some horse around the turn and then swing wide into the clear,” Corbett said. “I had enough horse to finish up and get there today.”

Sea N Suds was coming off a Feb. 15 maiden victory against state-breds.

Future plans for Sea N Suds are pending, Von Hemel said.

On the track

Ride On Curlin worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.60 on Sunday morning under new rider Jon Court in preparation for the $1 million Grade I Arkansas Derby on April 12. Ride On Curlin, who worked from the half-mile pole to the seventh-eighths pole, is coming off a third-place finish in the $600,000 Grade II Rebel Stakes on March 15. Ride On Curlin was one of several horses working Sunday morning toward Racing Festival of the South events.

On Fire Baby, under regular rider Joe Johnson, breezed 5 furlongs in 1:00.40 in preparation for defense of her title in the $600,000 Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap for older fillies and mares April 11.

Kiss Moon (100.40) shared the 5-furlong bullet (fastest work of the morning at that distance) in prepping for Saturday’s $400,000 Grade III Fantasy Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Kiss Moon has worn blinkers for her past two works and will add the equipment for the Fantasy, trainer David Vance said.

Sugar Shock, another scheduled Fantasy starter, covered 5 furlongs in 1:02.20.

Please Explain (Fantasy) and Right to Vote ($600,000 Grade II Oaklawn Handicap for older horses April 12) worked a half-mile in :48.80 and :51.20, respectively.

Carve (Oaklawn Handicap) worked a halfmile in :49.20.

Gentlemen’s Bet breezed a half-mile in :50 for the $300,000 Grade III Count Fleet Sprint Handicap for older horses April 10.

Ms Anna Destiny posted a half-mile bullet (:46.20) for trainer Brad Cox, who said the 6-year-old mare is pointing for Sunday’s $100,000 Carousel for older female sprinters.

Boji Moon update

Trainer Chris Richard said Boji Moon, who was scratched from the $100,000 Gazebo Stakes on March 22 because of a foot abscess,is being pointed for the $100,000 Bachelor Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters April 11.

Boji Moon, who has never been beaten in four career sprint starts, was the 2-1 program favorite for the Gazebo.

Richard said Boji Moon has returned to the track to jog and scheduled to work this weekend. Boji Moon was a two-time stakes winner last year.

The gelding hasn’t started since beating older horses in a second-level allowance sprint Feb. 1.

“No room for anymore setbacks,” Richard said Sunday morning. “If he has one little setback, he won’t make it.”Final furlong

Retired Daily Racing Form columnist Don Grisham of Hot Springs, who suffered a stroke Thursday night, is able to talk to his wife, said longtime friend Abbey Shoemaker of Little Rock, an Equibase representative.

Grisham, 83, is hospitalized at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. … Hall of Fame rider Calvin Borel took off his mounts Sunday because he wasn’t feeling well, said the jockey’s agent, Jerry Hissam, of Hot Springs. Chris Emigh won the fifth race aboard Sammy’s Bandit, originally scheduled to be ridden by Borel. … Grade III winner Dunkin Bend is scheduled to undergo throat surgery to correct a breathing problem today at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital inLexington, Ky., said Mike Langford of Jonesboro, who owns the 3-year-old colt. The breathing issue was discovered after Dunkin Bend ran seventh in the $100,000 Gazebo Stakes on March 22. … Big Lute, scheduled to make his much-delayed 4-year-old debut Saturday, worked 5 furlongs Sunday morning in 1:01.20. … Trainer BradCox said Sheltowee’s Boy, fifth in the $600,000 Grade II Rebel Stakes on March 15, is pointing for the $100,000 Northern Spur Stakes on April 12. … Trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel said Knock Em Flat, a dazzling maiden winner Thursday, is a candidate for the Northern Spur. … Trainer Tim Glyshaw said Taptowne is under consideration for the$600,000 Grade II Oaklawn Handicap on April 12 and the $200,000 Grade III Texas Mile on April 26 at Lone Star Park near Dallas.

Taptowne ran second in last year’s Oaklawn Handicap. … There have been 350 claims totaling $5,364,000 at the meeting. … Leading rider Ricardo Santana Jr.’s 43 victories have come for nine trainers.

At the post DAY 45 ATTENDANCE (6,134) ON-TRACK HANDLE ($437,993.50) OFF-TRACK HANDLE ($1,976,639.54) TOTAL HANDLE ($2,414,633.04).

CLASSIX CARRYOVER $1,381.49.

SUNDAY’S STARS Trainer Brad Cox celebrated his birthday with two victories for the second consecutive day, improving his meet total to 14 from 57 starts for a winning percentage of 25.0.

THURSDAY’S TIMES First post for the nine races is 1:30 p.m. Gates open at 11 a.m.

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

PRICES Admission $2, parking in Oaklawn lots $2, reserved seats $2.50 weekdays, 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 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.), Charles Town (6 p.m.).

Sports, Pages 16 on 03/31/2014