Mourinho eyes Southwest

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Mourinho emerged from his win in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Monday at Oaklawn in good order, and he will be considered for the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest here Feb. 19, trainer Bob Baffert said Wednesday.

The California-based Mourinho picked up 10 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby in the Smarty Jones, a one-mile race that he won wire to wire. For his 3 1/4-length victory, Mourinho earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 99.

“He shipped, and he shipped really well,” Baffert said. “He’s got a great mind. He’s fast. He’s a quick horse. And he came back really well. He looks good. It looks like it didn’t take too much out of him. A horse that can ship and run gives you a little confidence. We’ll probably ship out again, but I won’t know for a while.

“I like to wait, work them after the race, see what their energy level is.”

Mourinho, who races for Phoenix Thoroughbred III, was winning his first stakes race after running second in a pair of stakes in Southern California, the Grade 3 Bob Hope and the Speakeasy. Earlier in his career, Mourinho won a maiden special weight race over Instilled Regard, who last Saturday won the Lecomte at Fair Grounds.

“Mourinho, he’s not hard on himself,” Baffert said. “He’s easy on himself training. He’s really light on his feet.”

Combatant rallied for second in the Smarty Jones and earned four points for the Kentucky Derby. It was the second race in a row he’s made a run at a speed horse from Southern California. He put in a sustained bid for second in the $400,000 Springboard Mile, won by Greyvitos.

“Combatant, I thought he ran well,” trainer Steve Asmussen said Wednesday. “The race – it was a five-horse field, and lone speed, and a short-stretch mile.

“Most likely, he’ll end up in the Southwest.”

Asmussen said weather will be a factor in plans for Combatant. A winter storm forced the cancellation of racing Thursday at Oaklawn and led to the cancellation of training here Tuesday and Wednesday.

Combatant earned a careerhigh 94 Beyer in the Smarty Jones.

Tap Daddy, also from the barn of Asmussen, finished third the Smarty Jones.

“He’s most likely to go back to turf,” said Asmussen.

Tap Daddy was third in the Grade 3 Bourbon last year at Keeneland.

Sassy Sienna on the rise

Sassy Sienna turned in an impressive performance on the Smarty Jones card Monday, when the 3-year-old filly drew off by 9 1/2 lengths in an optional $62,500 claiming race at a mile. The race came one start after Sassy Sienna finished fifth in the $100,000 Trapeze at Remington.

Last year, Sassy Sienna ran fourth in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland and finished third in the $100,000 P.G. Johnson on turf at Saratoga. She earned a career-higher Beyer Speed Figure of 77 on Monday.

“She ran really well,” trainer Brad Cox said Wednesday. “We were pleased with it, and she’s come out of it good. I expected her to run really well in Oklahoma, and she ran a very even, flat race over there. She came out of it in good shape and obviously looked like she was definitely ready to run. That race Monday was what I expected in Oklahoma.”

Cox said Sassy Sienna would be considered for the Martha Washington or Honeybee, both route stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Oaklawn.

“We’ll probably point for one of the two, depending on how she’s doing,” said Cox. “She likes a distance. She likes two turns. I think she’ll run on dirt or turf, but right now, we’ll keep her on dirt.”

Gary Stevens rode Sassy Sienna on Monday for owner Zayat Stable.

Another promising 3-yearold filly winner last weekend at Oaklawn was Mia d’Oro, who won a maiden special weight at a mile by two lengths on Sunday, earning a career-high Beyer Figure of 77.

“She’s a nice-pedigreed filly,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro for Breeze Easy LLC.

Mia d’Oro is a half-sister to Weemissfrankie. Asmussen said plans are to be determined for Mia d’Oro’s next start.

◗ Mia Mischief, trained by Asmussen, and Amy’s Challenge will launch their 3-yearold seasons Saturday in the $125,000 Dixie Belle at Oaklawn. The six-furlong race was drawn Wednesday.

◗ Torrent makes her first start since running third in the Grade 2 Raven Run in October at Keeneland in the ninth race Friday at Oaklawn.

COADY PHOTOGRAPHY Mourinho wins the Smarty Jones Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths last Monday, earning a 99 Beyer.