AT THE POST

DAY 3 of 57 ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE 5,250 TOTAL HANDLE $3,212,823 OFF-TRACK HANDLE $2,753,389 ON-TRACK HANDLE $459,434

TODAY’S SIMULCAST SCHEDULE Aqueduct, 11:20 a.m.; Parx, 11:25 a.m.; Laurel Park, 11:30 a.m.; Gulfstream Park, 11:35 a.m.; Mahoning Valley, 11:45 a.m.; Fair Grounds, 1 p.m.; Turf Paradise, 1:40 p.m; Santa Anita, 2:30 p.m.; Golden Gate, 2:45 p.m.

SUNDAY’S STARS

Jon Kenton Court rode two winners for trainer William “Jinks” Fires. Court took Arch Revenge (by 2011 Arkansas Derby champion Archarcharch) to the winner’s circle in the second, a $25,000 claiming race, when he defeated Guska Mon Shoes and Jareth Loveberry by a neck. Arch Revenge paid $9.60, $3.80 and $3.20 for the win. Court and Fires teamed up again in the fifth, a $22,000 maiden claiming 6-furlong race, as Vilonia Strong won by 4 1/2 lengths over Luis Quinonez and Zack Ridge Road and returned $19, $8.80 and $5.20.

SONNETEER’S PLANS

Hours after Sonneteer’s breakthrough victory in the $125,000 Fifth Season Stakes for older horses Friday at Oaklawn, trainer Keith Desormeaux was already plotting his next move. That move is a return trip to Arkansas.

The Southern California-based Sonneteer won for the second time in 18 lifetime starts, overhauling Futile on the outside in deep stretch to win the 1 1/16mile Fifth Season, his 4-year-old debut, by three-quarters of a length under C.J. McMahon.

Sonneteer, as a maiden, ran twice last year at Oaklawn, finishing second in the $900,000 Rebel Stakes and fourth in the $1 million Arkansas Derby, before running 16th in the Kentucky Derby.

“There’s no doubt that would have happened a lot sooner if his home base was Oaklawn,” Desormeaux said, referring to a second victory. “No doubt about that. I don’t think I’ve ever had a horse that has such an affinity for a certain track. Really is amazing. That’s why we play this game. It’s got plenty of variables that are fun.”

Desormeaux said Sonneteer will be pointed for the $500,000 Razorback Handicap at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 19, Oaklawn’s second of three major preps for

the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 14.

OUR MAJESTY RETURNS

Dazzling 2017 Oaklawn debut winner

Our Majesty is scheduled to make her 4-year-old debut in Thursday’s eighth race, a second-level allowance/optional claimer for older fillies and mares at 6 furlongs.

Our Majesty will be making her first start since finishing second, beaten 3 ¾ lengths, in the $150,000 Miss Preakness Stakes on May 19 at Pimlico.

“After the Maryland race, she hit a growth spurt and looked like she needed to mature,” trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs said. “She had never done anything wrong. I think that race took something out of her.”

Our Majesty was a 5 ½-length debut winner last February and crossed the finish line first in her next start, the $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes last March at Oaklawn, but was disqualified and placed fourth for interference shortly after the start of the 6-furlong race.

In her only other 2017 start, Our Majesty was a sharp first-level allowance winner last April at Keeneland.

Information for this report was contributed by the Oaklawn media department.

Court