National interest keen in Arkansas stakes today
Oaklawn Park has been holding stakes races for Arkansas-bred horses since the 1970s, the Rainbow arriving in the last days of Richard Nixon’s presidency and the Rainbow Miss under Jimmy Carter’s watch.
Extraordinary circumstances are responsible for both races falling within the national racing spotlight today, 3-year-old males going in the 47th Rainbow and fillies from the foal crop of 2017 in the 42nd Rainbow Miss. Unlike some major races at the track switched because of the COVID-19 pandemic — the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, for instance, from April 11 to May 2 — dates for the Rainbow and Rainbow Miss are unchanged from the time Oaklawn’s 2020 stakes schedule was announced last year.
With tracks in New York, Kentucky and California closed, bettors who might normally pass on Oklahoma racing have taken keen interest in the product at Remington Park (Oklahoma City) and Will Rogers Downs (Tulsa). Oaklawn, offering the highest purses in track history before a recent coronavirus-related slashing, is a magnet for horsemen across the country and thus also to horse players.
Even in a second month with grandstands empty, Oaklawn handled more than $16 million last weekend on what in past years would be the closing-day card featuring the Arkansas Derby. The Rainbow and Rainbow Miss thus should spike interest in Arkansas-bred racing on the eve of two major races for older horses at the track (Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap and Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap).
Hot Springs lumberman John Ed Anthony is owner-breeder of two of the eight Rainbow Miss fillies with The Mary Rose and Sekani meet winners for trainer Will VanMeter. Choctaw Charlie is the only maiden but has meet seconds by a head and neck for Hot Springs trainer John Henry Prather Jr.
The probable favorite, Proud Victoria, comes from the barn of Hot Springs resident Ron Moquett,
who has won the last two runnings of the Rainbow Miss. A two-time winner, the Laurie’s Rocket filly impressed when fourth against older rivals in the $125,000 Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Feb. 29. Ricardo Santana Jr. reclaims the mount after winning aboard the filly Feb. 1 and also aboard Bye Bye J for Conway owners Alex and JoAnn Lieblong in the Rainbow Miss last year. Owner JRitaYoung Thoroughbreds LLC won the 2018 Rainbow Miss with Georgia’s Reward, ridden by David Cabrera.
Four meet winners vie in the Rainbow, although program favorite Zaino Boyz comes from Florida. Past Oaklawn champion Chris Hartman has taken over the training of the Daaher colt, whose race-high 78 Beyer Speed Figure came in a 3 3/4-length victory March 14 going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park. The bay colt has two bullet works at Gulfstream since that race, going five furlongs in 59 3-5 seconds April 10. With Joe Talamo aboard, look for Zaino Boyz on the lead, where he’s been at every call in three victories from seven starts.
Tempt Fate won his first start for Hot Springs native Jerry Caroom by 6 1/4 lengths April 3 with a Beyer Speed Figure of 66. Now with trainer Carl Deville, Tempt Fate (by Hamazing Destiny) is one of eight Joe Sharp trainees disqualified at Fair Grounds after testing positive for illegal medication following a New Orleans victory.
Caroom, whose Hoonani Road took the 2018 Rainbow among seven consecutive Oaklawn victories (a streak stopped earlier this meeting), claimed the dark bay or brown Tempt Fate, a May foal, for $40,000 Feb. 14. Corey Lanerie lands the mount after Talamo, the colt’s previous rider, took Zaino Boyz.
Oaklawn veterans Don Von Hemel and Dash Goff join forces in the Rainbow with the Goffowned Flat Out colt, Captain Don. Sold for $20,000 as a yearling, Captain Don sent Von Hemel to the Oaklawn winner’s circle for the first time since 2018 when dusting state-bred maidens by 3 1/2 lengths Feb. 9 at six furlongs. Von Hemel, whose sons Donnie and Kelly (also trainers) have meet victories, reigned as Oaklawn’s training champion in 1981.
Goff’s father, the late Gene Goff, of Fayetteville, raced 1968 Arkansas Derby winner Nodouble, whose $846,479 career earnings are the most by an Arkansas-bred horse. Oaklawn holds stakes races for older Arkansas-breds honoring Nodouble and Downthedustyroad, the latter formerly campaigning for Hot Springs owner-breeder Tommy Walls and Mountain Pine-based trainer Rick Jackson. Downthedustyroad later was sold and became a Grade 1 winner in California (La Brea, at Santa Anita) for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
First post is 1:05 p.m. with the Rainbow Miss (race 5) at 3:06 p.m. and the Rainbow (race 9) set for 5:09 p.m.