Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Zito planning Oaklawn string
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito is headed to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.
In a major winter circuit switch, he plans to have a 20-horse division at the upcoming meet, which opens on Jan. 25. Zito had previously wintered at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
“It’s a big change,” he said Monday. “We went to Florida for 30, 35 years.”
Zito said he would continue to have horses in New York this winter, with those runners stabled at Belmont Park.
The Oaklawn division – which will be composed of horses now stabled at Churchill Downs – will be a first for Zito, who won the Kentucky Derby in 1991 with Strike the Gold and again in 1994 with Go for Gin.
“We obviously just shipped horses into Oaklawn,” Zito said. “We never stabled there. We’re going to bring a few horses there, which will be good. I’ve always liked the people there. I’m just going to try it, see what happens.
“I should have probably went a few years ago. I just never got around to it. I’m thankful to Oaklawn for the opportunity. I know a lot of people try to get in there. It’s very popular now.”
Zito said his longtime owners are supportive of the move. He also has some new faces that will be part of the Oaklawn division, among them Dream Walkin’ Farms, the stable owned by Oklahoma-based country artist Toby Keith.
Zito said he is looking forward to Oaklawn’s famously large crowds.
“I’m basically a racetrack nut,” he said. “To begin with, I’m a racetrack fan.”
Zito entered the Hall of Fame in 2005.
Casse returning to Oaklawn
Trainer Mark Casse will be back at Oaklawn Park with a division of horses with the first time since 2016.
Casse on Monday said he plans to have 18 horses on the grounds at the Hot Springs, Ark., track, which starts racing Jan. 25. He said horses that could see action at the meet include Shamrock Rose, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November.
“We’re going to bring an assortment of horses,” Casse said Monday. “It’s great racing. We always try to look for good racing. We’re racing a lot in New Orleans and it helps that we can go back and forth.”
Oaklawn’s program for 3-year-olds is a draw, said Casse. He shipped champion Classic Empire to town in 2017 and the horse won the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby before finishing a troubled fourth in the Kentucky Derby. And last meet, Casse trainee Wonder Gadot came to Oaklawn and was second in the Grade 3 Fantasy in April before going on to run second in the Kentucky Oaks then winning this year’s Queen’s Plate at Woodbine.
“We have a lot of young horses that we think have potential to be Oaks and Derby horses,” Casse said. “The plan would be to [prep at] Oaklawn with some of those horses.”
Casse is a nine-time Sovereign Award winner as champion trainer in Canada.
Nevada rules for Arkansas?
The Arkansas Racing Commission met last week concerning casino gaming rules in Arkansas. The state’s voters passed a measure in November allowing for casinos in four counties, with one designated for Oaklawn Park. The commission is charged with adopting rules to put the gaming – which can include slot machines – in place, said agency attorney Byron Freeland.
Freeland said Arkansas rules will be modeled after gaming rules in place in Nevada.
“The feeling is they’ve been in business for a long time, had the gold standard for rules,” Freeland said. “We’re starting off fresh, have a 120-day deadline, and almost had to look for what other states are doing.”
The rulemaking process could be complete by early February. Drafts were passed out at the meeting Wednesday. There is a publication and comment period as part of the procedure. For now, Oaklawn is able to offer electronic games of skill and historical racing, or instant racing.
Bravazo eager to get going
Bravazo was among the horses to work at Oaklawn on Monday, the first day of official works there. Oaklawn opens Jan. 25. Bravazo went a halfmile in 48.80 seconds.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas told Gulfstream publicity the horse is being pointed for that track’s $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 26. Lukas is based at Oaklawn.
Bravazo was second, beaten by a neck in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in his most recent start Nov. 23. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 102. Bravazo races for his breeder, Calumet Farm.
Oaklawn had 360 horses on the grounds as of Sunday, according to officials. The stable area opened in late November.
◗ The New Mexico Racing Commission on Thursday tabled a vote to award the state’s sixth and final racetrack license with a casino. The matter was tabled due to pending litigation, said Izzy Trejo, executive director of the New Mexico Racing Commission. There are five entities bidding for the license in New Mexico.
◗ The Wednesday night feature at Delta Downs is an optional $40,000 claiming sprint at five furlongs that drew Zoot Suit, who earlier this year was based in New York, and Imma Bling, a stakes winner invading from Churchill Downs.