Tag: Racing

Millionaire Mr. Wireless returns to Oaklawn in search of his fourth career stakes victory in Friday's inaugural $150,000 Lake Ouachita for older horses at 1 1/16 miles.

Probable post time for the Lake Ouachita, the 10th of 11 races on the penultimate day of the 68-day meeting, is 5:46 p.m. (Central). Racing begins at 12:20 p.m.

The projected nine-horse Lake Ouachita field from the rail out:

1. Forza Di Oro, Isaac Castillo to ride, 117 pounds, 9-2 on the morning line;
2. Joe Frazier, Kylee Jordan, 117, 15-1;
3. Mailman Money, Gabriel Saez, 117, 6-1;
4. Ain't Life Grand, Martin Garcia, 119, 12-1;
5. Icarus, David Cohen, 121, 30-1;
6. Great Escape, Francisco Arrieta, 121, 8-1;
7. Mr. Wireless, Deshawn Parker, 119, 2-1,
8. Frosted Grace, Cristian Torres, 121, 3-1; and
9. Perfect Flight, Mitchell Murrill, 119, 15-1.

Program favorite Mr. Wireless, as a 3-year-old, ran twice at the 2021 Oaklawn meeting, breaking his maiden at a mile and clearing his first allowance condition at 1 1/16 miles. Both victories were by a nose. The maiden victory was over future Grade 1 winner Stilleto Boy, who finished a close third in the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles April 22. Mr. Wireless also won the $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) and $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3) later in 2021 and the $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes at 1 mile and 70 yards July 9 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Mr. Wireless made his last four starts at Fair Grounds – all stakes – and recorded three runner-up finishes before finishing third, beaten 5 ½ lengths by West Will Power, in the $500,000 New Orleans Classic (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles March 25. West Will Power is the 2-1 program favorite for the $600,000 Alysheba Stakes (G2) for older horses at 1 1/16 miles Friday at Churchill Downs. Also entered in the Alysheba are 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike; Last Samurai, winner of the 2022 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and runner-up this year; Grade 1 winner Art Collector; and Grade 2 winner Smile Happy, third in this year's $400,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3). Mr. Wireless was nominated to the Alysheba, but trainer Bret Calhoun opted for the more conservative route.

“He's a gelding and we really don't have a whole lot to prove and those are the top races,” Calhoun said. “He's run hard all winter and been unfortunate not to win and we thought we needed to find a place that wasn't quite as competitive as a race like that.”

Mr. Wireless ($1,000,907) surpassed $1 million career earnings in the New Orleans Classic. The 5-year-old son of Dialed In has compiled a 6-4-2 record from 16 career starts.

“He tries every single time,” Calhoun said. “He's had a very successful career. He's been a little unfortunate in his last few, but it's not from lack of effort.”

Grade 3 winner Forza Di Oro exits a third-place finish in the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) for older horses at 1 1/16 miles March 18 at Oaklawn for trainer Brad Cox. Forza Di Oro made his previous two starts at Fair Grounds, finishing third, just behind Mr. Wireless, in the $100,000 Tenacious Stakes Dec. 26 and $150,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) Jan. 21. Both races were 1 1/16 miles. Forza Di Oro is seeking his first victory since a July 2021 allowance at Saratoga – West Will Power was second – when with Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

“Knocking on the door,” said Cox, who also now trains West Will Power. “Thought his last race was really good. Hopefully, it (class relief) will get him over the top and get him to the winner's circle because he hasn't been there in a while.”

Robertino Diodoro, Oaklawn's leading trainer this season, is scheduled to send out Grade 3 winner Great Escape and Frosted Grace. Both horses exit allowance victories at the 2022-2023 Oaklawn meeting. Great Escape captured the $200,000 Canadian Derby (G3) Aug. 20 at Century Mile, setting a track record (2:01.35) for 1 ¼ miles.

“Both horses are doing good,” Diodoro said. “Unfortunately, they're going to be running against each other.”

Ain't Life Grand won the $200,000 Iowa Derby at 1 1/16 miles July 9 at Prairie Meadows and, in his 4-year-old debut, finished seventh behind Frosted Grace in a March 18 allowance at 1 1/16 miles for trainer Kelly Von Hemel.

Mailman Money, seeking his first career stakes victory, exits a 1 1/16-mile allowance victory March 24 at Fair Grounds for Calhoun.

The post Oaklawn: Millionaire Mr. Wireless Gets Easier Competition In Friday’s Lake Ouachita appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The filly which gave trainer Kelsey Danner her first graded stakes victory last out in the one-mile Herecomesthebride (G3) has now proven she's just as adept at shorter distances on the turf. During Wednesday's card at Churchill Downs, Danse Macabre ($17.48) and jockey Adam “Biscuit” Beschizza snuck up the inside rail to win the 5 1/2-furlong, $225,000 Mamzelle Overnight Stakes at odds of 7-1. The 3-year-old daughter of Army Mule was in front by 2 1/4 lengths at the wire, stopping the clock in 1:02.98 over the firm turf.

“Was I given any instructions before the race? Yeah, don't get beat,” said Beschizza. “She came away from there well and when I asked her she gave it to me. We made the lead and I was surprised how far in front we went. I was looking around for something that was going to be breathing down my neck, but it never happened. This is a great confidence builder for her. She ran really well.”

It was Danse Macabre's fourth win from seven starts, improving her career earnings to $666,740 for owners NBS Stable (John Ballantyne) and Elements Racing, LLC (Stephen Smith).

Sassy Nature and Shootoutthelights dueled for the early lead while Danse Macabre established position along the inside. American Apple was up close while three-wide, and began to move up the outside around the turn while Beschizza waited behind a narrow gap at the fence on Danse Macabre.

When Sassy Nature went a bit wide heading into the stretch, Danse Macabre pounced and got the jump on the rest of the field. She pulled away to clear the field in the lane, leading under the wire to win by 2 1/4 lengths. American Apple made a big run to be second at 10-1, while Anna's Arabesque checked in third at 21-1.

The remaining order of finish was: My Sweet Affair, B G Warrior, Peacock Lass, Shootoutthelights (2-1 favorite), Sassy Nature, and Lady Hollywood.

Bred in Kentucky by St. Elias Stables, Danse Macabre is out of the Blame mare Slyphide, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Cambodia. An $11,000 short yearling at the Keeneland January sale, Danse Macabre hammered for $55,000 at the OBS March sale. The filly has never finished worse than third, and has now won both of her starts in 2023.

“She really has never done anything wrong, as a 2-year-old or 3-year-old,” Danner said.

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Steven Davison and Randy Gullatt's homebred Warrant was just able to outlast rival Red Run by a neck in Wednesday's $175,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Stakes at Churchill Downs, earning his first stakes victory since September of 2021. The 5-year-old son of Constitution pressed the pace of 6-5 favorite Next, took over at the quarter pole and held off the late charge of Red Run to complete 1 1/2 miles over the fast main track in 2:31.03.

Sent off as the second choice at 3-1, Warrant paid $8.62 to win. The Brad Cox trainee was ridden to victory by Flavien Prat.

Bred in Kentucky by his owners' Twin Creek Farm, Warrant is out of the First Samurai mare Whisper Number, making him a half-brother to graded stakes winner Ms Locust Point. The Isaac Murphy win improves Warrant's career record to 5-5-4 from 15 starts, with earnings now over $1 million.

Red Run settled off the pace in fourth early on, then moved up the rail on the backstretch and ranged into contention around the far turn. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione drove 12-1 chance Red Run down the center of the stretch and nearly caught the winner, but fell a neck short at the wire.

Next had to settle for third, beaten 4 1/2 lengths, while Decision Maker was fourth. Calibrate and Lone Rock completed the order of finish.

Fractions on the race were: :25.44, :49.74, 1:14.74, 1:39.37, and 2:04.63.

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