Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Streamline’s strong family ties
The late horseman Harvey Vanier had a direct influence on the result of the Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri last Saturday at Oaklawn Park. Streamline, who won the race, represents the best of the Illinois-based breeding and racing program Vanier operated with his wife, Nancy.
The couple purchased and raced Streamline’s sire, the multiple Grade 3 winner Straight Line, and are behind her female family, including her stakes-winning dam, Love Handles. The Azeri marked the first graded stakes victory for Streamline, and it not only raised the profile of her family but also represented the most significant career victory for her trainer, the Vaniers’ son-inlaw, Brian Williamson.
“It was just an awesome day,” Williamson said. “We’re very happy for Streamline because she’s such a hard tryer, always knocking on the door.”
Williamson trained the Vanier-bred Love Handles and traded training duties with Harvey Vanier on Straight Line, who won 10 races from 26 starts and earned $489,026. Straight Line also raced for Cartwright Thoroughbreds, which is a partner in Streamline.
“We bought Straight Line at the sale and raced him,” Williamson said. “He won a couple of stakes when Harvey had him, and when I took over, I won a stakes or two also. The mare, we had. She was fifth generation. Streamline is sixth generation [for the Vaniers].”
Streamline returned to the track Wednesday at Oaklawn and is a candidate for the track’s Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 15, said Williamson. She ran second in last year’s race following a third-place finish in the Azeri.
“She galloped [Wednesday] and went super,” Williamson said. “We’re here, and she likes the track.”
Streamline is a 5-year-old who debuted with a win in a maiden special weight race for Illinois-breds on July 4, 2015, at Arlington Park. She has won seven races from 17 starts and earned $601,556. Streamline has won on synthetic, turf, and dirt, and in sprints and routes, and has never been worse than fourth.
“She’s quiet, just real relaxed, but then when she has to train, she’s all business,” said Williamson.
Williamson was still savoring Streamline’s win Wednesday.
“It has to go right on top,” Williamson said. “I’ve had some other nice victories. To race both the sire and the mother, it’s a good feeling. That was a really fun day.”
Williamson, 56, launched his training career in 2002.
Eskenformoney, who finished second by a length in the Azeri, will be considered for the Apple Blossom, said trainer Todd Pletcher. She returned to her south Florida base on Sunday.
“We’ll see how she bounces out of [the Azeri],” Pletcher said. “I don’t know if we’ll go back to the Apple Blossom, but it will be under consideration.”
Terra Promessa, who finished fifth as the favorite in the Azeri, emerged from the race in good physical condition, and her plans are to be determined, said trainer Steve Asmussen.
Denman’s Call to Count Fleet?
Denman’s Call, who won the Grade 1 Triple Bend on March 11 at Santa Anita, is being considered for the Grade 3, $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn, trainer Doug O’Neill said Tuesday. The race will be run April 15.
“He could surface there,” O’Neill said. “I’m going to be discussing that more with the owners.”
Denman’s Call races for Gilman Racing, Westside Rentals, and W.C. Racing. The horse was a one-length winner of the Triple Bend, covering the sevenfurlong distance in a rapid 1:20.94 and earning a careerhigh 104 Beyer Speed Figure.
Whitmore earned the same Beyer for his win in the local Count Fleet prep, the Hot Springs Stakes, which also was run March 11.
Fantastic Style retired
Fantastic Style, a Grade 2 winner in Southern California who last raced at Oaklawn, has been retired and is to be bred, O’Neill said Tuesday. A 5-yearold mare by Harlan’s Holiday, Fantastic Style won 5 of 12 starts and earned $427,358.
“She’s been retired,” O’Neill said. “Her owner, Kaleem Shah, decided to retire her, and she was sent to Kentucky.”
Fantastic Style traveled to Oaklawn from Santa Anita this month for the $125,000 Spring Fever and finished fifth, beaten two lengths, after being part of a three-way speed battle. She was the favorite off a runner-up finish to champion Finest City in the Grade 2 Santa Monica.
Fantastic Style’s biggest win came in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. in 2015 at Los Alamitos.
◗ The promising 3-year-old filly Treble will meet older rivals for the first time Friday in the eighth race, a first-level allowance sprint for fillies and mares. She has been favored in both of her starts, and after winning her debut, she ran second in an optional $75,000 claiming sprint. The card also includes a starter allowance over 1 1/2 miles.