Leofric considered for Essex

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Arkansas businessman Steve Landers and Oaklawn leading trainer Brad Cox have some decisions to make with a couple of older horses who ran big races on the same card here Feb. 19.

Leofric was second in the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap, won by Hawaakom. Leofric was making his graded stakes debut one start after a neck win in a third-level allowance Jan. 14 at Oaklawn. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 96 in the Razorback.

“He performed really well, came out of it in great shape,” Cox said Monday. “We’ll nominate to the Essex. He’s had two hard races over this track already, so it’s possible we’ll wait for the Oaklawn Handicap. We’ll lean on him to make the decision.”

The $300,000 Essex Handicap will be run March 17 at Oaklawn. The Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap is April 14.

Dazzling Gem won an allowance three starts earlier on the Razorback card. He stalked the pace, overtook the leaders, and sailed home, earning a Beyer of 99. Dazzling Gem is now 3 for 6 at Oaklawn.

“He’s possible for the Essex, as well,” Cox said. “We’re probably leaning more toward running him as opposed to Leofric. But we’ll see as the time gets closer.”

Dazzling Gem is by Misremembered, and Leofric is a son of Candy Ride. Both are 5.

Landers, who owns both horses, operates car dealerships in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Cox has won 17 races this meet at Oaklawn and enters Thursday’s card with a two-win advantage in the trainer standings. He has had 49 starts and is winning races at a 35 percent rate at Oaklawn.

Cox attacking weekend stakes

Cox plans to have starters in both stakes Saturday at Oaklawn.

He said that Golden Mischief is targeting the $125,000 Spring Fever. The 5 1/2-furlong race is for fillies and mares. Golden Mischief last raced in September and won the Flashy Lady over older rivals at Remington Park.

Golden Mischief was purchased at auction and sent to Cox by Juddmonte Farms, he said.

“We picked her up in December,” Cox said. “She’s been training really well getting ready for her 4-year-old debut.”

Golden Mischief breezed Monday at Oaklawn, going a half-mile in 48.40 seconds. Cox said Fernando De La Cruz is scheduled to ride Golden Mischief.

Cox said Five O One is on deck for the $100,000 Nodouble, a six-furlong race for 3-yearolds and up bred in Arkansas. He won the allowance prep for the race Jan. 28 by 4 1/4 lengths, and earned a career-high Beyer of 85. He is owned by Flurry Racing Stables.

The multiple stakes winner Weast Hill, who was third in the allowance prep in his first start since September, also is targeting the Nodouble, according to his trainer, Shea Stuart.

Sprinters featured Thursday

The featured eighth race Thursday at Oaklawn is an optional $62,500 claiming race for 3-year-olds over six furlongs, and the chief contenders appear to be Grade One, Best of Greeley, and Saratoga debut winner Pure Shot.

Grade One set the pace and finished fourth at this same distance and level Feb. 11 at Oaklawn. Earlier in his career, he was an 11-length maiden special weight sprint winner at Hawthorne. Alex Canchari has the mount for trainer Jimmy DiVito.

Best of Greeley closed to be fifth in the same Feb. 11 race that Grade One exits, while Pure Shot has worked sharply for what will be his first start since capturing a maiden special weight sprint Aug. 19 at Saratoga.

Filly claimed in 21-way shake

Rick Rogers and trainer Tim Dixon won a 21-way shake for Liam’s World, who finished second as the favorite in the first race Sunday at Oaklawn. The race winner, Queen’s Kate, also was claimed – by the former connections of Liam’s World, M & M Racing and trainer Robertino Diodoro. The claiming price for both horses was $10,000.

There have been 215 claims for $3.3 million this meet at Oaklawn.

◗ Oaklawn will move the start of its early pick four from the second race to the first race starting Thursday, the track announced after receiving approval for the change from the Arkansas Racing Commission.