Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Bella Dona goes for 10 straight in Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap
Bella Dona will have her work cut out for her Sunday when she attempts to win her 10th consecutive race in the $100,000 Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap at Sunland Park.
Bella Dona will be making her first start since October and facing male rivals in the Mt. Cristo Rey, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up bred in New Mexico. She will be break from post 11 in the field of 12 and is co-high-weighted at 123 pounds with Hollywood Henry.
Bella Dona has not made a wrong move dating back to Sept. 19, 2021. She began her streak that day, defeating male rivals in the $232,000 New Mexico State Fair Futurity at the Downs of Albuquerque. Bella Dona has since won nothing but stakes, all in races restricted to horses bred in New Mexico.
Bella Dona, who was scratched from a stakes earlier this meet at Sunland, breezed five-eighths in 59.40 seconds Feb. 28 as part of her prep work for Sunday. Luis Fuentes has the mount for trainer Simon Buechler.
The 4-year-old daughter of Attila’s Storm races for her breeders, Robert and Del Rae Driggers, and Ben Lee Ivey.
Heart Rhythm Kentucky-bound
Trainer John Ortiz said Heart Rhythm is under consideration for the Grade 3, $300,000 Commonwealth at Keeneland following his allowance win Thursday at Oaklawn Park.
The Commonwealth, for 4-year-olds and up at seven furlongs, will be held April 8.
Heart Rhythm finished with a flourish Thursday, when he won a six-furlong allowance in the slop in a sharp 1:09.80. For the effort, he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 93.
“He had a fantastic gallopout,” Ortiz said. “He’s a very versatile horse. He’s got tactical speed, can sit off of it.
“I like six and a half, seven [furlongs], up to a one-turn mile for him,” Ortiz said. “We’ll see what our next destination with him will be. The Commonwealth is a definite consideration.”
Heart Rhythm, who recently placed in a pair of sprint stakes at Fair Grounds, races for TEC Racing.
Ortiz also trains Gar Hole, who is coming off a win in the Nodouble Stakes over six furlongs at Oaklawn. He won in 1:10 in the slop and earned a Beyer of 91.
“He’s got to be the fastest Arkansas-bred in the world right now,” said Ortiz.
He said that Gar Hole, owned by breeder Shortleaf Stable, could make his next start in Kentucky.
Corona Bolt to stay at one turn
Triple Crown nominee Corona Bolt is 3 for 3 at one turn following a sharp allowance victory at Oaklawn and will likely remain in the sprint ranks for now, according to trainer Brad Cox.
Corona Bolt zipped six furlongs in 1:09.41 on a fast track March 5 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 93.
“He ran good, came out of it in good order,” Cox said. “I don’t know where we’re going next, but we’ll be thinking about one turn.”
Corona Bolt was cutting back from a sixth-place finish in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn. Prior to the start, he won the Sugar Bowl, a sprint stakes at Fair Grounds.
Calhoun loaded for TTA Derby
Vietnam Victory is one of three starters trainer Bret Calhoun could have in the new $100,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Derby on March 25 at Sam Houston Race Park.
The mile and 70-yard race for Texas-breds is open to graduates of Texas Thoroughbred Association auctions. The race is part of the $700,000 Texas Champions Day card.
Vietnam Victory improved his record to 3 for 4 when he won his second stakes in the Groovy in January at Sam Houston. For the effort, Vietnam Victory earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 81. The horse will move to two turns for the TTA Derby.
Calhoun said stakes-placed Send the Boss is also targeting the race, and that he also could enter Fair Grounds allowance winner Release McCraken.
Calhoun said Sam Houston allowance winner Santa Fe Gold is targeting the fillies counterpart, the new $100,000 TTA Oaks.
On the same Texas Champions Day card, Gold Pilot, winner of last month’s H-Town Stakes at Sam Houston, will go in the $100,000 Star of Texas, according to Calhoun. He also has stakes winner Tolonda working toward the card’s $100,000 Yellow Rose.
◗ Two Eagles River, a recent allowance winner at Oaklawn, is scheduled to make his next start in the track’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby, said co-owner Michael Robinson.
◗ Oaklawn is nearing its Hall of Fame Day celebration March 18. There are 20 to 25 members of the National Horse Racing Hall of Fame who have indicated they plan to be in attendance for the event, said Wayne Smith, general manager of Oaklawn. There will be an autograph session among other activities for the event, first held in 2022.
◗ The Arkansas Racetrack Chaplaincy will conduct its annual Banquet Bash on March 16 at the event center at Oaklawn, said co-chaplain Robi Heffington. There will be a live and silent auction for a variety of items, including a new “Owner for a Day” experience at Oaklawn.
◗ The Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Horsemen’s Association is scheduled to have its annual awards banquet on April 7 in the event center at Oaklawn, said executive secretary Deana Echols.