Oaklawn Report #13

The Racing Festival of the South is now upon us!  Racingdudes.com will be your one stop website for this special week at Oaklawn.  We have a special guest handicapper, the “Oaklawn Wizard” that will give you in-depth analysis of every race.  You can find his info under the “Oaklawn Wizard” tab.  Our free picks will be in their normal spot as well.  Also we will have a new Racing Festival article posted everyday.

3 Stars of the Week:

-1st Star –Good Deed (KY) – Good Deed came into the Prima Donna Stakes as the second choice, but clearly she should have been the first choice.  She grabbed the lead very early in the race, and totally dominated her competition winning by almost five lengths.  The win moves Good Deed’s record to four wins and six starts, and sets her up very well for a successful sprinting campaign, most likely at Churchill Downs.  She was beaten badly when stepping up to Graded competition however, so it remains to be seen how classy she can be.

-2nd Star – Laurie’s Rocket (KY) – Also the second choice, Laurie’s Rocket proved he should have been the favorite as well.  The highly thought of Apprehender set a solid pace, and Laurie’s Rocket was able to take advantage and fly past him with ease.  The winning margin was only a length, but that doesn’t show how dominant Laurie’s Rocket actually was in the race.  Trainer Dallas Stewart had taken a few shots with this horse running him in the Smarty Jones and Southwest Stakes, but it’s clear that six furlongs in this horses best distance.

-3rd Star – It Happened Again (KY) – Last year It Happened Again was awesome at Oaklawn, winning three of four races, with his only loss coming in the Oaklawn Handicap.  This year he had struggled badly in three races, and looked as though his Oaklawn form was not going to come around.  Saturday he turned those thoughts around with an incredible performance in an allowance race.  After breaking badly, It Happened Again was last for much of the race, and looked as though he may once again be defeated.  But, once they came into the stretch he was full of run, and made a mockery of the field winning by six lengths.  He’ll head to Prairie Meadows next, where he should be very formidable in their older male division.

Biggest Flop of the Week:

– Kate’s Main Man (IA) – Since winning the Essex Stakes at Oaklawn last year, Kate’s Main Man has struggled to find his form.  Saturday’s allowance race was another step in the wrong direction.  Kate’s Main Man set the pace, but faded badly to finish seventh, well beaten by winner It Happened Again.  He’ll now most likely head to Prairie Meadows in Iowa now, where he will face state bred competition.  Maybe the drop in class will help him.

Trainer Standings:

Rank	Trainer Name	Starts	1st	2nd	3rd	Earnings	Win%	Top3	Top3%
1	Allen Milligan	162	28	16	21	$600,544	17%	65	40%
2	Steven M. Asmussen	131	26	24	12	$718,518	20%	62	47%
3	Steve Hobby	77	20	13	9	$740,620	26%	42	55%
3	Brad H. Cox	77	20	17	12	$359,207	26%	49	64%
5	Jamie Ness	61	18	14	7	$307,806	30%	39	64%
6	Joseph R. Martin	92	17	14	20	$438,584	18%	51	55%
7	Chris Richard	60	16	4	9	$355,685	27%	29	48%
8	W. Bret Calhoun	68	13	8	9	$358,923	19%	30	44%
9	Donnie K. Von Hemel	75	11	12	5	$481,305	15%	28	37%
9	Ron Moquett	111	11	24	10	$387,224	10%	45	41%
9	Stanley W. Roberts	99	11	14	10	$305,163	11%	35	35%
9	Cody Autrey	60	11	5	12	$185,208	18%	28	47%
13	McLean Robertson	78	10	8	5	$307,825	13%	23	29%
13	Ingrid Mason	56	10	9	9	$221,790	18%	28	50%
15	Randy L. Morse	101	9	13	18	$310,940	9%	40	40%
15	Kenny P. Smith	90	9	15	8	$245,750	10%	32	36%
15	J. R. Caldwell	90	9	15	6	$192,879	10%	30	33%
15	Timothy E. Martin	95	9	6	13	$188,750	9%	28	29%
15	Richard D. Jackson	67	9	5	10	$182,210	13%	24	36%

Owner Standings:

Rank	Jockey Name	Starts	1st	2nd	3rd	Earnings	Win%	Top3	Top3%
1	M. Clifton Berry	232	47	36	22	$1,164,135	20%	105	45%
2	Terry J. Thompson	255	45	27	32	$1,206,896	18%	104	41%
3	Alex Birzer	221	36	35	23	$804,237	16%	94	43%
4	Luis S. Quinonez	198	32	32	23	$1,097,643	16%	87	44%
5	Israel Ocampo	169	24	22	23	$638,475	14%	69	41%
6	Jon Kenton Court	177	23	23	18	$912,705	13%	64	36%
7	Lindey Wade	186	21	15	28	$584,640	11%	64	34%
8	Alex Cintron	188	20	22	34	$533,820	11%	76	40%
8	Roberto Morales	171	20	10	16	$358,153	12%	46	27%
10	Ramon A. Vazquez	172	19	22	22	$511,187	11%	63	37%
11	Carlos H. Marquez, Jr.	97	16	16	11	$471,604	16%	43	44%
11	David Mello	173	16	17	17	$387,338	9%	50	29%
13	Calvin H. Borel	97	14	16	12	$485,164	14%	42	43%
13	Alex Canchari	168	14	13	20	$294,158	8%	47	28%
13	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	123	14	16	10	$289,398	11%	40	33%
16	Shane Laviolette	139	13	16	11	$358,460	9%	40	29%

Preview to Next Week:

Wed., April 11  Fantasy (Gr. 2)  3-YO, Fillies 1 1/16-Miles $300,000

Thurs., April 12  Carousel  4-YO & Up, F&M 6 Furlongs ♠$75,000

Thurs., April 12  Redbud Stakes  4-YO & up, F & M, 1 1/16-Miles $100,000

Fri., April 13  Instant Racing  3-YO, Fillies 1 Mile $100,000

Fri., April 13  Apple Blossom Handicap (Gr. 1)  4-YO & Up, F&M 1 1/16-Miles  $500,000

Sat., April 14  Northern Spur  3-YO 1 Mile  $100,000

Sat., April 14  Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (Gr. 3)  4-YO & Up 6 Furlongs  $200,000

Sat., April 14  Oaklawn Handicap (Gr. 2)  4-YO & Up 1 1/8-Miles $350,000

Sat., April 14  Arkansas Derby (Gr. 1)  3-YO 1 1/8-Miles $1,000,000