Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Top Arkansas-breds prep for Nodouble
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park’s ninth race on Friday has brought together some of the top older Arkansasbreds in training, including Man in the Can and K J’s Nobility.
The conditioned allowance for Arkansas-breds will be run over six furlongs. It is expected to produce starters for the $150,000 Nodouble at the same distance for statebreds on March 27.
“We’re aiming for the Nodouble,” said Carson McCord, owner of K J’s Nobility.
The horse won the race last year and is one of three past Nodouble winners in Friday’s field of seven. The others are Hoonani Road, who won the Nodouble in 2019, and J.E.’s Handmedown, who captured the race in 2018.
K J’s Nobility could go favored Friday off a close fourth-place finish against open-company allowance foes Jan. 22 at Oaklawn. Trained by Renay Borel, he was beaten just 1 3/4 lengths, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 89 that he earned is the best last-race number in the field.
K J’s Nobility also brings a notable company line into Friday’s race. He was third to C Z Rocket in a Churchill Downs allowance last June, and following that start C Z Rocket won a pair of Grade 2 races in Southern California – the Pat O’Brien at Del Mar and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship – before running second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. K J’s Nobility, who is a six-time winner at Oaklawn, will break from post 4 under regular rider Calvin Borel.
McCord, 21, is looking for her second local allowance win in less than a week. She took a conditioned allowance purse for Arkansas-breds here last Sunday, with Bebop Shoes.
Man in the Can had a memorable Oaklawn meet in 2020, when he won two stakes for Arkansas-breds. He captured the $100,000 Rainbow for 3-year-olds at six furlongs in April, then defeated older rivals over 1 1/16 miles in the $165,000 Arkansas Breeders Championship in May. Man in the Can then shipped to Churchill Downs and won an allowance over Dean Martini, who one start later captured the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown.
Man in the Can is a son of the Into Mischief stallion Can the Man. Trainer Ron Moquett said earlier in the meet that the Nodouble and Arkansas Breeders Championship were goals for the horse this season. Man in the Can races for his breeder, JRita Young Thoroughbreds, and Bob LaPenta. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount from post 6.
Hoonani Road boasts a 7-for11 record at Oaklawn, where he has won three stakes. David Cohen has the mount from post 3 for M and M Racing and trainer Robertino Diodoro. The horse’s half-brother Destiny Way breaks from the rail. Joe Talamo has the mount for Jerry Caroom and trainer Carl Deville on Destiny Way.
Bandit Point will get good support off a runner-up finish in a money allowance against open company on Feb. 25 at Oaklawn. Last year, he was second in the Nodouble. Kelsi Harr has the mount for owner and trainer Robert N. Cline.