Three Stars of the Week
– 1st Star: Apropos (KY) – This was easily the best performance of the week, and this is also the most impressive horse of the meet so far. Apropos came into the American Beauty off only twelve days rest, but she totally outclassed a tough field to win with ease. She also had to overcome a tricky rail trip, and was up against several horses who had prior success at Oaklawn. The victory makes her three for three over the Oaklawn oval so you’d have to think she will keep running here with the rest of the older filly and mare sprint races in mind.
– 2nd Star: Stealcase (KY) – It’s hard to believe Stealcase hadn’t been in the winners circle since 2012, but Sunday’s feature changed all that as he was MUCH the best winning by several lengths in an allowance race. This was actually his second race of the meet as he finished third on opening weekend in the Fifth Season Stakes. The win will most likely propel him back into stakes action, with races like the Essex, Razorback, and Oaklawn Handicap still on the schedule for the rest of the meet. We’ve seen what this horse is capable when he’s at his very best, and he could be rounding into form at the right time to make a big impact at Oaklawn.
– 3rd Star: Jan’s Perfect Star (AR) – Arkansas’ best home bred returned Thursday, and had a very workman like effort in winning an allowance race by a length. The race most likely served as a prep to the some of the bigger Arkansas bred stakes down the road at Oaklawn as she was never really asked to do much in this one. The horse has proven she can win against open company, but with Oaklawn being the only track in Arkansas you’d have to assume they’ll take advantage of the state bred class drop in competition.
Flop of the Week
– Sky America (KY) – It was up in the air whether Sky America would take to the dirt in the feature race on Friday, and it was clear she didn’t like it to well. After winning at Keeneland on debut, and finishing third in a stakes at Woodbine, Sky America finished a well beaten sixth in a first level allowance try. With Casse horses mostly running on the synthetics or turf during the spring/summer months, perhaps this is one to keep in mind during that time period.
Trainer Standings
Rank |
Trainer Name |
Sts |
1st | 2nd |
3rd |
Total $ |
|
Win% |
Top3 |
Top3% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Autrey | 29 | 10 | 4 | 3 | $274,979 | 34% | 17 | 59% | |
| 2 | Chris A. Hartman | 21 | 6 | 3 | 2 | $145,537 | 29% | 11 | 52% | |
| 2 | Chris Richard | 19 | 6 | 2 | 0 | $130,250 | 32% | 8 | 42% | |
| 4 | Federico Villafranco | 19 | 5 | 4 | 4 | $91,849 | 26% | 13 | 68% | |
| 5 | Steven M. Asmussen | 28 | 4 | 5 | 2 | $225,698 | 14% | 11 | 39% | |
| 5 | Brad H. Cox | 20 | 4 | 3 | 3 | $108,713 | 20% | 10 | 50% | |
| 7 | David R. Vance | 11 | 4 | 1 | 1 | $98,465 | 36% | 6 | 55% | |
| 8 | Philip A. Sims | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | $129,684 | 27% | 6 | 55% | |
| 8 | D. Wayne Lukas | 25 | 3 | 2 | 6 | $104,036 | 12% | 11 | 44% | |
| 8 | Roger A. Brueggemann | 16 | 3 | 2 | 3 | $90,162 | 19% | 8 | 50% | |
| 8 | Gary G. Hartlage | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | $65,935 | 43% | 4 | 57% | |
| 8 | Paul E. Holthus | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | $37,431 | 43% | 4 | 57% |
Jockey Standings
| Rank |
Jockey Name |
Sts |
1st | 2nd |
3rd |
Total $ |
|
Win% |
Top3 |
Top3% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norberto Arroyo, Jr. | 50 | 12 | 8 | 5 | $353,660 | 24% | 25 | 50% | |
| 2 | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | 58 | 8 | 11 | 5 | $401,597 | 14% | 24 | 41% | |
| 2 | David Mello | 42 | 8 | 6 | 4 | $144,359 | 19% | 18 | 43% | |
| 4 | Terry J. Thompson | 48 | 7 | 6 | 5 | $232,469 | 15% | 18 | 38% | |
| 5 | Alex Birzer | 54 | 6 | 6 | 4 | $178,798 | 11% | 16 | 30% | |
| 6 | Channing Hill | 35 | 5 | 4 | 6 | $238,212 | 14% | 15 | 43% | |
| 6 | Israel Ocampo | 35 | 5 | 5 | 5 | $168,515 | 14% | 15 | 43% | |
| 6 | Ken S. Tohill | 30 | 5 | 4 | 4 | $157,734 | 17% | 13 | 43% | |
| 6 | Seth B. Martinez | 20 | 5 | 2 | 3 | $120,839 | 25% | 10 | 50% | |
| 10 | M. Clifton Berry | 31 | 4 | 3 | 5 | $164,666 | 13% | 12 | 39% | |
| 10 | Jon Kenton Court | 40 | 4 | 6 | 3 | $119,589 | 10% | 13 | 33% | |
| 10 | Joe M. Johnson | 13 | 4 | 0 | 2 | $79,091 | 31% | 6 | 46% | |
| 10 | Jareth Loveberry | 20 | 4 | 0 | 5 | $58,318 | 20% | 9 | 45% |
Preview to Next Week
– Saturday: The Martha Washington Stakes – 3-year-old fillies – One Mile – Purse: $100,000
