Horton, Stewart Will Point Last Samurai To 2022 Oaklawn Handicap

Prominent Arkansas owner Willis Horton won the 2021 Oaklawn Handicap on his 81st birthday. Horton may have an opportunity to celebrate again in 2022 with Last Samurai, who recorded his biggest career victory to date in Saturday's inaugural $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Ark.

Ridden by Jon Court, a Horton favorite, Last Samurai ($10.20) edged 2021 Arkansas Derby winner Super Stock by three-quarters of a length in a meet-best 1:43.70 over a fast track. The Poinsettia was among four stakes races Oaklawn created in December to accommodate its earliest opening in history, and the last chance for Last Samurai to compete on a big stage against 3-year-olds.

“Well, I mean, he's turning 4 here pretty soon,” Fair Grounds-based trainer Dallas Stewart said by phone moments after winning the Poinsettia. “Just going to take our time with him. The main goal with him would be the Oaklawn Handicap.”

The $1 million Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap is April 23. The 1 1/8-mile race, Oaklawn's signature two-turn event for older horses, was won last season by Silver State, co-owned by Horton and Winchell Thoroughbreds (Ron and Joan Winchell). Silver State also won the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes and $500,000 Essex Handicap earlier in the meeting for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Like Super Stock, Last Samurai was making his first start at Oaklawn since last April's Arkansas Derby. Last Samurai finished a non-threatening fifth. The Malibu Moon colt also finished fifth behind champion Essential Quality in the $750,000 G3 Southwest Stakes last February, Oaklawn's second of four Kentucky Derby points races. Last Samurai was exiting races longer in advance of the Poinsettia, including a runner-up finish in the $200,000 G3 Greenwood Cup Stakes (1 ½ miles) Sept. 25 at Parx in Bensalem, Penn., and a troubled third in a Nov. 6 allowance event (1 ¼ miles) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.  He was an allowance winner at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Aug. 10 at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va.

“Listen, he's a 3-year-old running against 3-year-olds,” Stewart said. “It's a two-turn race. I don't know if he knows the difference between a mile and a sixteenth and a mile and an eighth.”

Last Samurai's first career stakes victory, and third in 12 starts overall, pushed his career earnings to $312,744. Horton purchased the colt for $175,000 at the 2020 OBS March sale of 2-year-olds in training. Last Samurai received a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 95, a career high, for his Poinsettia victory.

“I think he's going to be a real nice 4-year-old,” Stewart said. “It's nice that Oaklawn's running in December. Good opportunity to run horses. I really appreciate the meet here, being in December. We've got some nice horses to run there.”

Stewart made an 11th-hour decision to split his stable, initially sending a handful of runners to Oaklawn for the expanded 2021-2022 meeting that began Dec. 3. In addition to Last Samurai, millionaire G2 winner Long Range Toddy and Curly Tail, a 2-year-old son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, are on the grounds for Stewart. Horton also owns Long Range Toddy and Curly Tail.

Stewart said he will eventually have about 10 horses at Oaklawn, including “four or five” for Horton.

Stewart and Horton teamed to win two of Oaklawn's biggest races for 3-year-old fillies last season, $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes and $300,000 G3 Honeybee Stakes, with Will's Secret. Court was aboard for both victories, as well as Long Range Toddy in the first division of Oaklawn's $750,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds in 2019.

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Last Samurai represented Court's first stakes victory since he turned 61 in November.

“Dallas really wasn't specific about instructions,” Court said. “He knows that I know the horse. But we go over just basically how he's run before and how I've had success with him and we kind of went from there. But the owners have been really good and we communicate on how they would like to see the strategy turn out. It turned out very well today, especially when you end up in the winner's circle.”

The Poinsettia was the 702nd career Oaklawn victory for Court (No. 6 all time) and 36th stakes triumph. Court was Oaklawn's leading rider in 2000.

Stewart's Oaklawn division is overseen by assistant Jade Cunningham, who worked as an exercise rider at last season's meeting for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Stewart is a former Lukas assistant.

Oaklawn's first major two-turn race for older horses in 2022 is the $150,000 Fifth Season at one mile Jan. 15.

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Last Samurai Holds Off Super Stock To Win Poinsettia At Oaklawn

Jon Court, still riding winners at age 61, showed that a jockey can turn in a bold ride at any age with his late-stretch move on Last Samurai to win the inaugural Poinsettia Stakes at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Ark. After stalking the pace, a wide move on the far turn gave Last Samurai the clear running lane he needed to battle Super Stock and emerge victorious by three-quarters of a length.

Flash of Mischief got the best of a clean break, getting out to an early lead over Myopic and Super Stock into the first turn. Down the backstretch, Flash of Mischief was a length in front, with Last Samurai stalking in fourth. Into the far turn, Flash of Mischief still held the advantage, with Court moving Last Samurai three-wide to find a running lane for their stretch bid.

Into the Oaklawn straight, Flash of Mischief held a half-length lead with Last Samurai and Super Stock driving on his outside. Those two dueled down the latter part of the stretch, with Last Samurai digging in to take over the lead inside the last sixteenth of a mile. He was three-quarters of a length in front at the wire, with Super Stock second and Flash of Mischief holding on for third. Defeater, Ram, Myopic, and Simovitch rounded out the field.

The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:43.70. Find this race's chart here.

Last Samurai paid $10.20, $4.40, and $3.00. Super Stock paid $3.60 and $2.40. Flash of Mischief paid $2.80.

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Last Samurai is by Mailbu Moon out of the First Samurai mare Lady Samuri. He is trained by Dallas Stewart and owned by Willis Horton Racing, who purchased the colt from consigner Gene Recio for $175,000 at the March 2020 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale. With his win in the Poinsettia, the 3-year-old colt has two wins in nine starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of three wins in 12 starts and career earnings of $312,744.

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Hawthorne Derby Draws Field Of Seven; The Pizza Man Stakes Debuts Sunday

After rain dominated the first two weeks of racing for the fall Thoroughbred meet at Hawthorne Race Course, clear skies and warm temperatures have prevailed this week as three stakes races will return to the Hawthorne turf.

On Saturday afternoon a pair of turf stakes have been carded: the $60,000 added Illini Princes Stakes and $100,000 Hawthorne Derby, presented by BetMakers. On Sunday, the newly named The Pizza Man Stakes will be contested.

The Illini Princess is for Illinois-bred females, 3-year-olds and up to go at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The Hawthorne Derby, presented by BetMakers is an open stakes event for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on the grass. The Pizza Man Stakes is for Illinois-breds, 3-year-olds and up, also to be run at 1 1/16 miles on the Hawthorne turf.

A look at the three turf stakes:

Saturday – Race 4 – $60,000 Added Illini Princess Stakes

To be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, the $60,000 added Illini Princess Stakes is for Illinois-bred females, 3-year-olds and upward. The 2019 champ of this race returns as Bramble Queen is the 2-1 morning line favorite for owner Ballybrit Stable, LLC and trainer Mike Dini. A ten-time winner from 36 career starts, the well-traveled Bramble Queen has earned over $330,000 on her career. This summer, Bramble Queen became graded stakes placed when she rallied to finish third in the Grade 3 Modesty at Arlington Park. She followed that race with a victory in the Mike Spellman Memorial Stakes on August 14. Jareth Loveberry rides on Saturday.

Emmanuel Esquivel returns to Hawthorne to ride 4-1 second-choice W W Fitzy for trainer Cipriano Contreras. Despite only a couple of turf starts, W W Fitzy has been excellent on the main track, winning a tough optional-claiming allowance race this spring at Oaklawn and most recently taking a starter race at Belterra.

Three-year-old filly Katie M'Lady has been excellent on the turf for owners Cherrywood Racing Stables, II & Oak Rock Racing LLC. Trained by Michele Boyce, Katie M'Lady has won four of five turf starts on her young career, including a front-end score in the Sharon Kirby Memorial Stakes at Arlington on August 7. Regular rider Julio Felix will be aboard once again as Katie M'Lady is 5-1 in the morning line.

PP Horse Trainer Jockey M/L

1 Bramble Queen M. Dini J. Loveberry 2-1

2 Northern Alliance H. Rodriguez A. Rodriguez 30-1

3 Embarrassing H. Rodriguez J. Lopez 30-1

4 White Lies P. Miller A. Quinonez 20-1

5 W W Fitzy C. Contreras E. Esquivel 4-1

6 Launch Away M. Perez V. Santiago 12-1

7 Twelve Red Roses C. Banks E. Perez 50-1

8 Summer Day A. Mitchell R. Bowen 8-1

9 Cat Attack M. Boyce C. Roman 6-1

10 Beyond Proper C. Block J. Tavares 10-1

11 Katie M'Lady M. Boyce J. Felix 5-1

Saturday – Race 6 – $100,000 Hawthorne Derby Presented by BetMakers

After a three-year break, the Hawthorne Derby returns to the turf course to be contested at 1 1/8 miles. A competitive field of seven is led by 5-2 morning line favorite Last Samurai from the barn of trainer Dallas Stewart. Owned by Willis Horton Racing, LLC, Last Samurai just began his turf career this summer with a near miss in a Churchill allowance on June 6. He won his next out, a turf allowance score at Colonial before running ninth in the Dueling Grounds Derby on September 5. His most recent race was a near miss, losing by a neck in the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup at Parx on September 25. Jon Court rides on Saturday.

Trainer Brad Cox sends 7-2 second-choice Royal Prince for owner Steve Landers Racing, LLC. A winner of four of 11 starts in his career on the grass, Royal Prince has scored three times this year, taking the Black Gold at Fair Grounds, Bayou City at Sam Houston and most recently the Caesars via disqualification at Indiana Grand on September 8. Fernando De La Cruz rode in the Caesars and gets the return ride Saturday.

After four starts in Ireland to open his career, Modus Operandi (Ire) makes his second turf start in North America for trainer Brendan Walsh. The son of Frankel (GB), Modus Operandi started two weeks ago on the Keeneland turf, closing late after a slow start to finish sixth. The 4-1 third-choice in the Hawthorne Derby, Modus Operandi will be ridden on Saturday by Alonso Quinonez.

PP Horse Trainer Jockey M/L

1 Grey Streak G. Arnold, II D. Carroll 9-2

2 Last Samurai D. Stewart J. Court 5-2

3 Temper Tantrum A. Hernandez C. Emigh 8-1

4 Modus Operandi (Ire) B. Walsh A. Quinonez 4-1

5 Battle Scars C. Block D. Parker 20-1

6 Royal Prince B. Cox F. De La Cruz 7-2

7 Mohs P. McBurney J. Loveberry 5-1

Sunday – Race 5 – $60,000 Added The Pizza Man Stakes

Best known for his victory in the 2015 Arlington Million, Illinois-bred The Pizza Man broke his maiden over the Hawthorne turf course in 2012 and later that fall won The Buck's Boy Handicap, the namesake of this stakes event until this year. Weather could be a factor for the Sunday event as rain is in the forecast for this 1 1/16 mile turf event for Illinois-bred three-year-olds and up.

The wide-open field of 11 is led by 4-1 morning line choice Fly Nightly for owners Marsico Brothers Racing and trainer Brittany Vanden Berg. Fly Nightly has found the board in 10 of 11 starts on the year, including five victories. Claimed for $20,000 in May, Fly Nightly won a state-bred allowance in his second start for his new connections and followed that race with an open-allowance score. He finished fifth in the state-bred Black Tie Affair stakes on the Arlington turf before running a good third in another tough open allowance in his last out. Chris Emigh rides on Sunday.

Fifteen-time turf winner Cammack runs for owner Team Block and trainer Chris Block. The 2018 winner of this race and 2019 runner-up, Cammack is still going strong at 11-years-old as he was second two starts back in the Black Tie Affair. Jose Lopez will be aboard Cammack once again.

PP Horse Trainer Jockey M/L

1 Land Mark Deal C. Block D. Parker 6-1

2 Ioya Again C. Block J. Tavares 5-1

3 Fly Nightly B. Vanden Berg C. Emigh 4-1

4 One Way Home M. Perez R. Bowen 15-1

5 Cammack C. Block J. Lopez 9-2

6 What's Up Dude M. Cristel V. Santiago 12-1

7 Readthecliffnotes M. Boyce E. Perez 15-1

8 Blue Sky Kowboy M. Boyce C. Roman 6-1

9 Richiesgotgame L. Rivelli J. Loveberry 12-1

10 Iwillpersevere M. Slager S. Uske 30-1

11 Coming Up Aces P. Miller A. Quinonez 12-1

Hawthorne Race Course, Chicago's Hometown Track, races three meets in 2021. The spring thoroughbred meet concluded on April 25. The summer Suburban Downs at Hawthorne harness meet began Friday, May 7 and concluded on September 26. The fall thoroughbred meet opened October 8 and races through December 27. First post daily in October and November is 3:10 PM. In December, first post moves to 12:55 PM. For any information about Hawthorne Race Course visit the website www.HawthorneRaceCourse.com.

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