Candidates emerge for G2 $750K Oaklawn Handicap

Grade 3 $500,000 Razorback Handicap winner Hawaakom was scheduled to arrive at Oaklawn Park Saturday to continue preparations for the Grade 2

$750,000 Oaklawn Handicap for older horses on April

14, co-owner/trainer Wes Hawley said this week. Hawaakom is based at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans and has breezed three times since the Razorback, the last a 5-furlong bullet (:59.60) last Friday morning. Hawley said he plans to work Hawaakom Friday or Saturday, adding Corey Lanerie “is supposed to be coming in to ride.”

Lanerie guided Hawaakom to a rail-skimming

3 1/4-length victory in the Razorback, pushing the gelding’s career earnings $925,405. Hawaakom ran second in the 2017 Razorback to eventual Horse of the Year Gun Gunner.

Colonelsdarktemper remains a candidate for the Oaklawn Handicap and worked 6 furlongs in 1:12.80 after the renovation break Friday morning for trainer Jinks Fires, of Hot Springs. Colonelsdarktemper galloped out 7 furlongs in 1:25.

Owned by auto racing legend A.J. Foyt, Colonelsdarktemper 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-in-law and regular rider. Fires said he would have preferred to get another race in Colonelsdarktemper, but was unable to do so.

Colonelsdarktemper not started since finishing fourth in the Grade 3 $400,000 Oklahoma Derby Sept. 24 at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. Fires said a a stress fracture in Colonelsdarktemper’s front leg required a minor surgical procedure to promote bone growth.

Trainer Kenny McPeek said Saturday Blueridge Traveler is pointing for the Oaklawn Handicap. Blueridge Traveler finished third in the $300,000 Essex Handicap on March 17 in his last start.

The Razorback and Essex are the final two major local preps for the Oaklawn Handicap.

Blueridge Traveler worked 5 furlongs in 1:03 Saturday morning.

Also pointing for the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap is 2017 winner Inside Straight, as well as Grade

1 winner and millionaire Accelerate. Accelerate worked a half-mile in :48.80 over a fast track Monday morning at Santa Anita Park in California for trainer John Sadler.

Shotgun Kowboy will not be a candidate for the Oaklawn Handicap after March 23 allowance/optional claiming victory for older horses. Breeder/owner/ trainer C.R. Trout said Friday the 1 1/8-mile race “is a little quick back for him.”

Instead, Shotgun Kowboy is being pointed for the Grade 3 $200,000 Steve Sexton Mile on May 6 at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, with the gelding’s subsequent scheduled start coming in the Grade 3

$300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap on July 6 in Iowa. Shotgun Kowboy surpassed $1 million in career earnings with Feb. 3 allowance score.

“That’s about all we’ve got on the agenda until Oklahoma starts,” Trout said.

A 6-year-old son of Kodiak Kowboy, the Oklahoma-bred Shotgun Kowboy has an 11-5-3 record from 27 starts and earnings of $1,095,826. In addition to his two allowance victories, Shotgun Kowboy ran seventh in the $125,000 Fifth Season Stakes on Jan. 12 and ninth in the Razorback Handicap.

The Oklahoma-based Trout said he envisions Shotgun Kowboy, “if he stays sound,” running in 2019.

“He’s as sound as a dollar,” Trout said. “He doesn’t have any issues, as far as health. As long as he wants to run, that’s what he’ll do. When he doesn’t, we’ll turn him out with the dry cows.”

Shotgun Kowboy was a front-running 2 ½-length winner at 1 1/16 miles on March 23.

Oaklawn will not host live racing today in observance of Easter. The track is scheduled to hold races five days this week from Wednesday through Sunday.