Fires eyes G2 Oaklawn Handicap for stakes winner
Trainer Jinks Fires, of Hot Springs, said Friday major stakes winner Colonels dark temp er is under consideration for the Grade 2 $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap for older horses April 14 at Oaklawn Park.
Owned by auto racing legend A.J.Foyt, Colonel s dark temper finished second in his 4-year-old
debut, a March 11 allowance/optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles under Jon Court, the trainer’s son-inlaw and regular rider.
Fires said he would ideally like to get another race in Colonels dark temp er before a possible start in the Oaklawn Handicap, but that will not be possible because of the tight time window.
“It’s a wait and see situation right now,” Fires said.
Colonel s dark temp er had not started since finishing fourth in the Grade 3$400,000 Oklahoma Derby Sept. 24 at Remington Park after emerging from the race with a stress fracture in a front leg, Fires said. The injury necessitated a minor surgical procedure to promote bone growth.
Fires said Colonels dark temp er did not come around as quickly as hoped following the injury, adding the colt also lost training time because of weather.
Colonels dark temp er returned to the work tab Thursday morning, covering 5 furlongs in 1:00.80 under Court. Breezing over a fast track, clockers caught Colonels dark temp er galloping out a mile in 1:42.80.
It was an “eventful” move, Fires said, since Colonels dark temp er was about to begin his work at the 5-furlong pole when the warning siren was activated because of a loose horse on the track.
“It turned out good,” Fires said. “We had to pull him up and start over again.”
The well-traveled Colonels dark temp er made 10 starts last year, winning his career debut at Oaklawn, an allowance race at Churchill Downs and the Grade 3 $750,000 West Virginia Derby Aug. 5 at Mountaineer Racetrack.
Colonels dark temp er, as on of Colonel John, has a 3-3-2 record from 11 lifetime starts and earnings of $726,235.
Trainer Robertino Diodoro said Inside Straight, a recent arrival from Turf Paradise, is pointing for a second straight victory in the Oaklawn Handicap. Inside Straight worked a half-mile in :49.20 Saturday morning.
Goats Town, who beat Colonels dark temp er earlier this month, is also under consideration for the Oaklawn Handicap, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said.