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
