Oaklawn Report #10

3 Stars of the Week:

-1st Star – Secret Circle (KY) – The worries about this horse getting the Kentucky Derby distance are still legit, but you cannot question this horses heart and talent.  For the second straight race Secret Circle had to dig deep in the stretch to fight off a pesky Scatman, and then had to hold off a late charge from Optimizer.  It’s clearly obvious that if this horse sees a horse in front of him, he’ll do everything in his power to get passed him.  His win in the rebel makes him five for six for his career, with his only loss being to Out Of Bounds by a neck at Santa Anita early in the year.  Trainer Bob Baffert has already said Secret Circle is likely to come back for the Arkansas Derby so it looks like we will have the possibility of an “Oaklawn Crown” this year.

-2nd Star –  Tiz Miz Sue (KY)  – After trying eight times to get a win at Oaklawn, the ninth time was a charm from Tiz Miz Sue, as she was dominate in winning the Grade 3 Azeri Stakes this Saturday.  She sat a length off the front-runners for most of the race, then exploded down the lane to win by three lengths.  Tiz Miz Sue received a 102 beyer number for her effort, which was the exact beyer that Havre De Grace ran in her come back race this weekend.  From here you would think the Apple Blossom is the obvious choice for Tiz Miz Sue, and it could be the next start for Havre De Grace as well.

-3rd Star – Optimizer (KY) – Welcome back to the triple crown hunt D Wayne Lukas!  Optimizer was completely written off by almost everyone, but within a few strides late Saturday afternoon he became a player in the Kentucky Derby picture.  Lukas has always said Optimizer can run all day, and he sure looked like he could judging by the way he ran in The Rebel.  Optimizer was just hitting his best stride very late in the race, and passed several rivals within seconds, but fell short by a head to Secret Circle.  If you watch the gallop out after the race, Optimizer is well clear of the others just a few short steps after the wire.  One issue that has me a little concerned is the fact he did not change his leads.  That is something that will have to be corrected for him to move forward.

Flop of the Week:

– Absinthe Minded (KY) – While Optimizer brought joy to the Lukas barn, Absinthe Minded was a huge disappointment.  Her form at Oaklawn had been flawless, but in the Azeri she pressed the pace and came up empty in the stretch finishing a fading fourth.  It was a giant step backwards for her.  Hopefully it was just a bounce off a big performance, and she’ll come back running in the Apple Blossom.

Dudes View of the Rebel:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7-scZGzzDA&feature=player_detailpage]

Trainer Standings:

Rank	Trainer Name	Starts	1st	2nd	3rd	Earnings	Win%	Top3	Top3%
1	Steven M. Asmussen	86	20	17	9	$529,380	23%	46	53%
1	Allen Milligan	121	20	9	15	$400,738	17%	44	36%
3	Brad H. Cox	65	18	15	10	$312,608	28%	43	66%
4	Steve Hobby	59	15	9	7	$560,923	25%	31	53%
5	Joseph R. Martin	63	14	9	13	$345,063	22%	36	57%
6	Jamie Ness	46	13	12	5	$200,336	28%	30	65%
7	W. Bret Calhoun	52	11	4	9	$290,132	21%	24	46%
7	Chris Richard	41	11	3	7	$210,124	27%	21	51%
9	Ron Moquett	85	10	19	4	$302,940	12%	33	39%
9	McLean Robertson	60	10	6	4	$274,491	17%	20	33%
11	Donnie K. Von Hemel	64	9	11	5	$408,267	14%	25	39%
11	Cody Autrey	48	9	5	8	$136,518	19%	22	46%
13	Ingrid Mason	41	8	7	7	$169,435	20%	22	54%
13	Richard D. Jackson	49	8	4	7	$147,095	16%	19	39%
15	D. Wayne Lukas	84	7	7	10	$440,242	8%	24	29%

Jockey Standings:

Rank	Jockey Name	Starts	1st	2nd	3rd	Earnings	Win%	Top3	Top3%
1	M. Clifton Berry	167	38	25	18	$908,237	23%	81	49%
2	Terry J. Thompson	206	37	21	25	$946,145	18%	83	40%
3	Luis S. Quinonez	148	25	25	16	$891,213	17%	66	45%
3	Alex Birzer	164	25	27	19	$522,800	15%	71	43%
5	Israel Ocampo	135	20	17	18	$522,038	15%	55	41%
6	Lindey Wade	141	17	13	20	$423,595	12%	50	35%
6	Ramon A. Vazquez	118	17	14	14	$411,141	14%	45	38%
6	Alex Cintron	141	17	16	24	$390,992	12%	57	40%
6	Roberto Morales	139	17	9	12	$303,221	12%	38	27%
10	Jon Kenton Court	124	14	18	14	$637,078	11%	46	37%
10	David Mello	135	14	13	13	$324,794	10%	40	30%
12	Carlos H. Marquez, Jr.	85	12	16	10	$368,943	14%	38	45%
13	Channing Hill	89	11	8	12	$404,637	12%	31	35%
13	Joe M. Johnson	77	11	8	11	$299,732	14%	30	39%
13	Martin Escobar	85	11	6	6	$171,164	13%	23	27%

Preview of Next Week:

– The Hot Spring Stakes: For Four Year Olds and upward.  6 furlongs. Purse $75,000.

– The Arkansas Breeders – Female Division: For Fillies and Mares Three Year Olds and upward.  1 and 1/16th Mile.  Purse $50,000