Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Warrior’s Map clearly a contender
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Warrior’s Map disappeared into a sea of fog while setting the pace in his last start. Trainer Larry Jones is hoping for clearer conditions Friday when Warrior’s Map returns in the featured eighth race at Oaklawn Park.
The conditioned allowance is for 4-year-olds and up at a mile. It also carries a claiming option of $40,000. The field of 10 is a strong one and includes Grade 2 winner Green Light Go – who was entered before running in last Saturday’s Essex at Oaklawn – and three-time stakes winner Strong Tide.
Warrior’s Map is one of three horses in the field who exit a Feb. 27 race at this same level, run over 1 1/16 miles in the slop at Oaklawn. It went as the 11th race on the Southwest Stakes program, which was hit with an overwhelming amount of rain. As the horses moved into the final turn, announcer Vic Stauffer could no longer see the field, which was being led by Warrior’s Map.
“The fog was so bad that day, you couldn’t see the race or call the race,” Jones said. “The first two calls, [Warrior’s Map] had been in front – and speed did not hold that day.”
Warrior’s Map ended up ninth, one start after being a close third to The Sound in a conditioned allowance at Oaklawn. For that effort, Warrior’s Map earned a careerhigh Beyer Speed Figure of 86. A repeat of the performance or of his first-level allowance win in January at Fair Grounds for which he earned a Beyer of 83 would put him right in the mix Friday.
“This horse always finishes well,” Jones said. “He’s training well. We’re hoping for a different outcome Friday. He’s coming to hand pretty nicely as a 4-year-old.”
Warrior’s Map is a son of Liam’s Map and the mare Warrior Maid, a four-time stakes winner who earned $496,109. He races for his breeder, Russell Welch. Luis Quinonez has the mount from post 10.
All West exits the same race as Warrior’s Map, finishing third. Beaver Hat also comes out of the race, finishing eighth.
The one-two finishers from the race were the stakes winners Lone Rock and Chris and Dave.
Caribbean will get good support Friday off a runner-up finish to Rated R Superstar in a $50,000 claiming race Jan. 30 at Oaklawn. Rated R Superstar returned to run second in the Essex.
Proverb is making his first start since October. He has won at this mile distance at Oaklawn, where the race ends at the sixteenth pole. He also is stakes-placed over the local track. Defender won at a mile here in his last start, and the Beyer of 90 that he earned is the best last-race number in the field Friday.
Strong Tide is moving from turf back to dirt. When he last ran on dirt, he won the $100,000 To Much Coffee Stakes at 1 1/16 miles in November at Indiana Grand.