Asmussen can turn two pieces of silver into Handicap gold

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Silver State has emerged as one of the top older horses this meet at Oaklawn Park and on Saturday will be seeking his fifth straight win when he chases after the track’s richest offering for his division, the Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap.

Silver State has won his last four races in a streak that includes the $150,000 Fifth Season on Jan. 23 and the $500,000 Essex on March 13, both route races at Oaklawn. His current run started in an October allowance at Keeneland, with all of the wins coming under Ricardo Santana Jr.

“He’s run some amazing races and this is just an extremely good opportunity in the [Oaklawn] Handicap,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains Silver State for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton. “I’m very pleased with how he’s trained since the Essex.”

Silver State worked fiveeighths at Oaklawn in a sharp 1:00.40 on April 5 and had his final prep Monday, breezing a half-mile in 50 seconds.

Oaklawn’s series for older horses includes the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap, which on Feb. 27 was won by eventual Dubai World Cup hero Mystic Guide. Silver Prospector, also trained by Asmussen. was second in the race and will make his next start in the Oaklawn Handicap.

“Not a bad horse to chase in – the highest-rated horse in the world right now,” Asmussen said. “We know [Silver Prospector] likes Oaklawn.”

Silver Prospector won last year’s Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn for owners Ed and Susie Orr.

Asmussen, who leads the trainer standings at Oaklawn, has won three of the six stakes run so far during this meet’s Racing Festival of the South.

The $4.9 million series closes Saturday with the Oaklawn Handicap and the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom.

Asmussen said Another Broad is being pointed for the Apple Blossom.

Asmussen-trained festival winners this meet are Super Stock in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby; Pauline’s Pearl in the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy; and Abrogate in the $200,000 Purple Martin.

Outside of the festival, the final major race of the meet is the $300,000 Oaklawn Invitational on May 1. Scarred is possible for that race, Asmussen said. The 1 1/8-mile stakes is for 3-year-olds. Scarred is a son of Into Mischief who is coming off a sharp allowance win at Oaklawn.

Trainer Bret Calhoun on Monday was just starting to look over options for a springsummer campaign for By My Standards, who went over $2 million in earnings Saturday with his nose victory in the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile.

The race was the horse’s first start since November. Calhoun said the multiple Grade 2 winner was to travel Monday to Kentucky.

“Nice comeback race for him, for sure,” said Calhoun.

By My Standards has a couple of upcoming opportunities at his home track of Churchill Downs. Calhoun said the $125,000 Blame on May 29 is an option for the horse’s next start. That race could set him up for a return to Grade 2 competition in the $600,000 Stephen Foster over a mile and an eighth June 26.

The hope is to nail down a Grade 1 win with By My Standards this year, and the Churchill races could be the right path back to the Whitney at Saratoga, said Calhoun. Last year, By My Standards ran second in the Grade 1 Whitney, which was won by eventual champion Improbable.

“It would be his first shot at a Grade 1 this year,” Calhoun said. “This seems like a pretty logical schedule right now, but that’s just a first few glances and thoughts. Nothing’s set in stone.”

By My Standards is owned by Allied Racing Stable, which had a new partner in the Oaklawn Mile in Spendthrift Farm.

Calhoun had another stakes win Saturday, when Silver Dust captured the Grade 3 Ben Ali at Keeneland for owner Tom Durant.

Monomoy Girl, Letruska work

Champion Monomoy Girl and Group 1 winner Letruska put in workouts Sunday at Oaklawn Park as they move closer to a start in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap.

The 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom shares a card with the Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap. The stakes close out the Racing Festival of the South, a run of eight major races over the meet’s first three Saturdays in April.

Monomoy Girl, who is coming off a win in the Grade 3 Bayakoa at Oaklawn, worked a halfmile in 47.60 seconds on a track rated fast. Letruska earned the bullet, going the same distance in 47.20. The move was the fastest of 80 at the distance Sunday at Oaklawn.

Letruska is coming off a narrow loss in the Grade 2 Azeri at Oaklawn, beaten a head by last year’s Kentucky Oaks winner, She dares the devil.

Monomoy Girl, trained by Brad Cox, will be the 124-pound highweight for the Apple Blossom. Champion Swiss Skydiver is weighted next at 122. She is being pointed to the race, trainer Ken McPeek told Daily Racing Form’s Marty McGee.

Get rid of what ailesu, winner of the Pippin at Oaklawn, breezed at the track Sunday, going a half-mile in 49.40 seconds. She is under consideration for the Apple Blossom, according to Cox.

Another Broad also was on the Oaklawn tab Sunday, going three-eighths in 38 seconds in preparation for the Apple Blossom.

BARBARA D. LIVINGSTON Silver State takes the Essex Handicap by a neck. He has won four races in a row since returning from a seven-month layoff.