oaklawn park | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘A Serious Horse’: Maiden Winner Caddo River To Point For Smarty Jones

Powerful maiden winner Caddo River will make his stakes and two-turn debut in the $150,000 Smarty Jones for 3-year-olds Jan. 22 at Oaklawn, the colt's trainer Brad Cox said Tuesday morning.

The one-mile Smarty Jones is Oaklawn's first of four Kentucky Derby points races, a series that continues with the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 15, $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) March 13 and the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 10.

A homebred for Arkansas lumberman John Ed Anthony's Shortleaf Stable, the lightly raced Caddo River finished second in his first two career starts in New York, both 7 furlongs, before concluding his 2-year-old campaign with a front-running 9 ½-length maiden victory Nov. 15 at Churchill Downs. Caddo River, as the odds-on favorite, covered a mile over a fast track in 1:35.22 to earn a career-high 104 Equibase speed rating, a 15-point increase over his previous start.

“He's a very good colt,” Cox said. “He ran against two really good colts in New York. He was able to break his maiden, one turn at Churchill. He's big, tall, rangy, leggy colt. I really do think that he's going to be better around two turns. He's got what I think it takes to be a serious horse. He's got speed and he can carry it.”

Caddo River has been based at Oaklawn since late December and already logged two half-mile workouts locally, including a :48 move over a fast track Sunday morning that ranked the third-fastest out of 85 published at the distance.

Caddo River is by 2007 Kentucky Derby runner-up Hard Spun and out of the Anthony-raced Pangburn, an allowance winner at the 2015 Oaklawn meeting. Pangburn then finished third in the $150,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) and fourth in the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3), Oaklawn's two biggest events for 3-year-old fillies. All three races were 1 1/16 miles.

“It appears as though he can carry it,” Cox said, referring to Caddo River's speed. “We'll find out this next race around two turns, but I think he's a very, very good colt.”

Cox has several other promising Kentucky Derby prospects, notably probable juvenile champion Essential Quality, who is unbeaten in three career starts. The Fair Grounds-based Essential Quality is under consideration for the Southwest, Cox said.

The post ‘A Serious Horse’: Maiden Winner Caddo River To Point For Smarty Jones appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Oaklawn To Welcome Limited Number Of Fans For 2021 Meet

Pursuant to the Arkansas Department of Health directive, Oaklawn plans to conduct the 2021 live meet with limited spectators. The 57-day season runs Friday, Jan. 22 – Saturday, May 1.

“We've been working on plans covering numerous scenarios and we're happy to announce we will be welcoming back race fans in 2021, albeit on a limited basis,” General Manager Wayne Smith said. “We know that the fans are what make Oaklawn so special, but our main concern is for the safety and well-being of our guests and team members. We appreciate the support we have received from the Arkansas Department of Health in developing this plan. We will be working with them throughout the live season and will adjust as needed.”

In accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Arkansas Department of Health, Oaklawn has submitted a plan to allow a limited number of spectators at the races during the 2021 live race meet highlighted by the following:

· General admission into the Grandstand will not be allowed initially in 2021.

· Entrance into the Grandstand will strictly be for guests with a racing credential and/or reservation for that day's races. Doors will open at 11 am.

· Current seasonal box seat holders and current Oaklawn Jockey Club members may enter the Grandstand with weekly reservations required. Detailed correspondence to be sent separately to these individuals.

· Restaurants inside the Grandstand, following Arkansas Department of Health directives, will be open to the public with weekly reservations required.

· Simulcast will be open Wednesday–Sunday, 11am–8pm to limited capacity with weekly reservations required.

· Social distancing will be enforced.

· All guests and team members will be required to have non-invasive temperature checks as they enter the facility. Anyone presenting a temp at/over 100 degrees Fahrenheit will not be permitted inside the building.

· All guests and team members will be required to wear masks at all times.

· Smoking will not be allowed anywhere inside the facility, including the casino.

Restaurant reservations may be made starting Jan. 18 by calling 501-363-4710.

Simulcast reservations may be made starting January 18 by calling 501-363-4320.

For additional details and future updates, please visit oaklawn.com.

The post Oaklawn To Welcome Limited Number Of Fans For 2021 Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Oaklawn to Allow Limited Spectators

The 57-day meeting at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, AR, is set to be conducted with a limited number of spectators, pursuant to the directives of the Arkansas Department of Health.

“We’ve been working on plans covering numerous scenarios and we’re happy to announce we will be welcoming back race fans in 2021, albeit on a limited basis,” General Manager Wayne Smith said. “We know that the fans are what make Oaklawn so special, but our main concern is for the safety and well-being of our guests and team members. We appreciate the support we have received from the Arkansas Department of Health in developing this plan. We will be working with them throughout the live season and will adjust as needed.”

Oaklawn officials released the following guidelines:

General admission into the Grandstand will not be allowed initially in 2021.

Entrance into the Grandstand will strictly be for guests with a racing credential and/or reservation for that day’s races. Doors will open at 11 am.

Current seasonal box seat holders and current Oaklawn Jockey Club members may enter the Grandstand with weekly reservations required. Detailed correspondence to be sent separately to these individuals.

Restaurants inside the Grandstand, following Arkansas Department of Health directives, will be open to the public with weekly reservations required.

Simulcast will be open Wednesday–Sunday, 11a.m.–8 p.m. to limited capacity with weekly reservations required.

Social distancing will be enforced.

All guests and team members will be required to have non-invasive temperature checks as they enter the facility. Anyone presenting a temp at/over 100 degrees Fahrenheit will not be permitted inside the building.

All guests and team members will be required to wear masks at all times.

Smoking will not be allowed anywhere inside the facility, including the casino.

The post Oaklawn to Allow Limited Spectators appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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‘Eager To Go’: Derby Hopeful Keepmeinmind Arrives At Oaklawn Park

After traveling Sunday and resting Monday, Tuesday was a work day for one of the country's top 2-year-olds of 2020.

Keepmeinmind galloped approximately a mile under regular exercise rider Saul Salas on a cloudy, cold Tuesday morning at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. It was the colt's first trip to the track at a racing venue since breaking his maiden in the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs.

Keepmeinmind arrived Sunday night in Hot Springs after previously being based at WinStar Farm in Kentucky, where he had been in light training since a last-to-first victory in the Grade 2Kentucky Jockey Club, a 1 1/16-mile event that anchored Churchill's Stars of Tomorrow II program.

“He seemed all eager to go,” trainer Robertino Diodoro said after Keepmeinmind returned to the barn. “It was good to have him back in the barn. One step at a time.”

Diodoro reiterated there is no timetable regarding Keepmeinmind's 3-year-old debut, or even a regular workout schedule.

Oaklawn's first of four Kentucky Derby points races is the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 22, but Diodoro said Keepmeinmind is not a candidate for the 1-mile race. A late-running son of Laoban, Keepmeinmind raced four times this year (all routes), finishing second in the $400,000 Breeders' Futurity (G1) Oct. 3 at Keeneland and third in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 6 at Keeneland before his breakthrough victory as the 2-1 favorite in the Kentucky Jockey Club. His last three starts have been at 1 1/16 miles. Oaklawn's Kentucky Derby points series continues with the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 15.

“Nothing set in stone,” Diodoro said. “Like the old saying: 'Let the horse tell us when he's ready to do something.' ”

David Cohen, Oaklawn's leading jockey in 2019, has ridden Keepmeinmind three times, including his victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club. Silver Prospector won the 2019 Kentucky Jockey Club before finishing fourth in the Smarty Jones – his 3-year-old debut – and then capturing the Southwest.

The post ‘Eager To Go’: Derby Hopeful Keepmeinmind Arrives At Oaklawn Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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