Meet has tough act to follow

Will Rogers Downs – also known as the House of Welder – on Monday will open its first Thoroughbred meet since becoming a simulcast sensation during the early stages of the pandemic in 2020.

Welder, the Oklahoma-bred phenom, is scheduled to make two stakes appearances at his home track during what will likely be his final year of racing.

“We want him to retire still happy and sound and 100 percent,” said Theresa Luneack, who trains the millionaire for Ra-Max Farms. “Unless something changes, I would venture to guess this is probably his last season.”

Will Rogers, which is located near Tulsa, is scheduled to race 29 days through May 26.

Last year, the track announced it had handled $131 million on its races during the Thoroughbred meet, up nearly 700 percent from $16.8 million during the corresponding season in 2019. It also set a state record for handle on a single card, $7.3 million.

Welder was the horse of the meet after winning the TRAO Classic Sprint for an unprecedented fifth time. Luneack said the $55,000 TRAO Classic Sprint, which will be renewed May 4, is again a goal for Welder. The son of The Visualiser is scheduled to launch his 8-year-old season April 13 at Will Rogers, in the $50,000 Highland Ice.

Welder, who for the past three years has reigned as the Oklahoma-bred of the year, is a winner of 26 of 38 starts for earnings of $1.2 million. He is 10 for 11 at Will Rogers and is based at a farm about two miles from the racing and casino operation.

“He loves the track there,” Luneack said. “That’s definitely his home turf.

“I’m excited for the meet. I always am. I love racing close to home.”

Luneack has six horses entered over the first two cards of the meet. They include Caney’s Ghost, winner of last year’s $55,000 Will Rogers, who goes in a Tuesday allowance that also drew multiple stakes winner Drop of Golden Sun.

The card Monday features two allowances, with the third race luring horse-for-course Pretty Britches, who is 5 for 10 at Will Rogers. Quincy Hamilton has the mount for trainer

Karl Broberg. The other allowance is the eighth. Calculating King will be the first starter since December 2018 for trainer Roger Engel.

Jockey Leandro Goncalves is named on horses on both cards. Through Thursday, he was five wins from 2,000 Thoroughbred victories in North America, according to statistics from Daily Racing Form.

Will Rogers will race Monday and Tuesday this week, then shift to a Monday-throughWednesday schedule for the remainder of the season. First post is 1 p.m. Central.

The track’s calendar of eight stakes starts April 12 with the $50,000 Wilma Mankiller. The meet’s final card will feature a stakes double, the $55,000 More Than Even and $55,000 Cherokee Nation Classic Cup.