By My Standards returns at mile

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – By My Standards established himself as a top older horse last season while winning a trio of Grade 2 races and earning more than $1 million. His connections hope to build on that résumé this year, and the first step comes Saturday in the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile.

By My Standards will be launching his 5-year-old campaign against eight others, including Wells Bayou, winner of last year’s Grade 2 Louisiana Derby; Rushie, winner of last year’s Grade 2 Pat Day Mile; and Blackberry Wine, a local allowance winner at this distance with a Beyer Speed Figure of 99. The Oaklawn Mile, which will end at the sixteenth pole, is one of four stakes on Arkansas Derby Day.

By My Standards, a son of Goldencents who has won four Grade 2 races and earned $1.8 million, is making his first start since November.

“Our main objective this year is to win a Grade 1,” said Bret Calhoun, who trains By My Standards for Allied Racing Stable and new partner Spendthrift Farm. “We’ll get started in this race and start choosing our way to a Grade 1.”

By My Standards won last year’s New Orleans Classic at Fair Grounds before traveling to Arkansas to capture the Oaklawn Handicap. Both races were run over 1 1/8 miles, and he is shortening up to a mile Saturday.

“It might not be his best distance,” Calhoun said. “It’s a good distance to start him back.”

By My Standards last raced Nov. 27, finishing seventh of 14 in the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs. The effort came following an eighth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“For whatever reason, he didn’t run too well his last two races,” Calhoun said. “We opted to freshen him a little bit. He’s training extremely well. He’s been pretty impressive all along on the comeback trail.”

Gabe Saez has the mount from post 6. By My Standards could get a stalking trip behind Wells Bayou, Blackberry Wine, Pioneer Spirit, Home Base, and The Sound.

“We’ll let Gabe figure it out,” Calhoun said.

Rushie is making his first start since finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 7 at Keeneland. The winner, Knicks Go, came back to win the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park. Rushie has since been working sharply at Santa Anita. Joel Rosario has the mount for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Frank’s Rockette tops Carousel

There’s an East vs. West matchup in the $250,000 Carousel, which drew Florida shipper Frank’s Rockette and California shipper Edgeway.

The horses are among six fillies and mares in the sixfurlong sprint.

Frank’s Rockette is returning to Oaklawn, home track of owner Frank Fletcher, following a January visit in which she won the $150,000 American Beauty. Florent Geroux was aboard and again has the mount on the multiple Grade 2 winner for trainer Bill Mott.

Edgeway is back in town for the first time since last meet, when she turned in one of the most impressive debut victories of the season. She enters off an allowance win Feb. 7 at Santa Anita. Rosario has the mount for Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler.

Casual, who is a daughter of multiple Grade 1-winning mare Lady Tak, was second in the $200,000 Spring Fever on Feb. 7 at Oaklawn. The winner, Kimari, returned to win the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount for trainer Steve Asmussen.