Cuts remove Round Pond from Apple
HOT SPRINGS — There will be no rematch between Round Pond and Happy Ticket, at least not in the $ 500, 000 Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap on Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.
Owner Rick Porter and trainer John Servis decided not to enter Round Pond after she didn’t train satisfactorily Thursday morning because of cuts that were recently discovered on the inside of her mouth, Servis said.
Happy Ticket, the 119-pound high weight, was subsequently installed as the 3-2 program favorite for the Apple Blossom, the country’s biggest race during the spring for older fillies and mares.
Star Parade, Spun Sugar, Platinum Ballet, La Reason and Hollywood Story were also entered in the 1 1 / 16-mile race.
But the biggest news was the horse who wasn’t entered — Round Pond, a Grade I stakes winner who edged Happy Ticket by a neck to win the $ 175, 000 Grade III Azeri Breeders’ Cup on March 11 at Oaklawn.
“I’m not disappointed, it’s just one less horse I’ve got to worry about beating,” said Happy Ticket’s trainer, Andrew Leggio. “But I was looking forward to the matchup between the two horses. I don’t want to see any horse get hurt, whether it be Round Pond or a long shot in the race.”
Servis said the cuts are related to the bit and could have opened because Round Pond has become so aggressive during her training.
“The mouth’s not 100 percent yet,” Servis said. “More than anything, it’s not fair to her to be running if she’s not 100 percent.”
Although critical of an explanation he said he received from racing secretary Pat Pope regarding Star Parade’s 117-pound assignment, Servis said it was the cuts, not the weights, that kept the 4-year-old from starting. Round Pond was assigned 119 pounds.
“I’m not happy about them [the weights ], but I’d run,” Servis said. “I know Mr. Porter would want to run.”
Round Pond was scheduled to gallop a strong mile in about two minutes Thursday morning, but Servis said he instructed jockey Stewart Elliott to pull her up at the wire after traveling only 5 furlongs.
Servis said Round Pond went too fast too early, not what the trainer was seeking on the eve of a $ 500, 000 Grade I race.
“I told him I was looking for a 1: 55 mile,” Servis said. “She went: 13 2-5 the first eighth. That ain’t no 1: 55 mile.”
Servis said Round Pond could make her next start in the $ 300, 000 Grade II Louisville Breeders’ Cup Handicap on May 5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
The Apple Blossom will be the ninth of 12 live races. Post time is 5: 05 p. m. Eight is enough
An evenly matched field of eight is entered in Saturday’s $ 500, 000 Grade II Oaklawn Handicap for older horses at 1 1 / 8 miles.
The 5-2 program favorite is Buzzards Bay, who is coming off an easy victory in the $ 150, 000 Grade III All-American Handicap on Feb. 20 at Golden Gate Fields in northern California.
Buzzards Bay recorded his biggest career victory in last year’s $ 750, 000 Grade I Santa Anita Derby. He then finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby.
Magnum is the early 3-1 second choice.
In his last start, he finished second in the $ 1 million Grade I Santa Anita Handicap on March 4 at Santa Anita in Southern California.
Purim, an impressive winner of the $ 150, 000 Grade III Razorback Handicap on March 12 at Oaklawn, is listed at 4-1.
Also entered are With Distinction, Andromeda’s Hero, Master Command, It’s No Joke and Gouldings Green. A special superfecta will be offered on the Oaklawn Handicap. Under Arkansas rules, the wager can still be offered if a scratch reduces the field to seven. Post time for the Oaklawn Handicap, the 11 th race, is 6: 05 p. m. Holthus horses
Trainer Bob Holthus said Lawyer Ron and Red Raymond galloped 2 miles Thursday morning in preparation for the $ 1 million Grade II Arkansas Derby on April 15.
Holthus said both horses will gallop 2 miles again today before breezing five-eighths of a mile Saturday, their final major workout before the Arkansas Derby.
Holthus said Lawyer Ron will work a little after 7 a. m. because jockey John McKee has to catch an early flight in order to ride Malameeze in Saturday’s $ 500, 000 Grade II Illinois Derby at Hawthorne in suburban Chicago.
Red Raymond will work approximately two hours later, shortly after the break to renovate the racing surface, Holthus said. Jockey Luis Quinonez will be aboard.
Lawyer Ron and Red Raymond finished 1-2 in the $ 300, 000 Grade III Rebel Stakes on March 18 at Oaklawn.
Lawyer Ron will likely be the heavy Arkansas Derby favorite off five consecutive victories. Hello, Larry
The intriguing Sayhellotolarry moved another step closer to the $ 1 million Grade II Arkansas Derby on April 15 by breezing three-quarters of a mile Sunday in 1: 13. 85 under jockey Calvin Borel. The colt galloped out an additional furlong in 1: 27. 08.
“It was maybe even a little quicker than I wanted, but Calvin wasn’t asking him for anything extra,” trainer Harold Williams said. “He came out of it good. We’re on track.”
Weather permitting, Williams said Sayhellotolarry will probably work an easy half-mile Sunday morning.
A son of 1998 Arkansas Derby winner Victory Gallop, Sayhellotolarry will be making his stakes debut after two impressive victories earlier in the meeting. Final furlong
Chindi, who is scheduled to be paraded before the public Sunday afternoon, arrived at Oaklawn on Wednesday, trainer Steve Hobby of Hot Springs said. Hobby said the popular 12-year-old gelding was scheduled to be clipped Thursday and will probably go to the track this morning. “I better take a little edge off him so he doesn’t buck Doocy off or something,” Hobby said, referring to Tim Doocy, Chindi’s regular rider. Chindi, who retired with more than $ 1 million in earnings, has been turned out at owner Carol Ricks’ farm in Oklahoma. … That Tat, a candidate for next Thursday’s $ 150, 000 Grade III Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, breezed a half-mile in: 48. 42 on Thursday morning under jockey Jamie Theriot. … Maggie Slew, reportedly one of Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew’s final four foals, is scheduled to make her 3-year-old debut Saturday for trainer David Vance. … Big Fred, winner of the $ 50, 000 Vulcan Stakes on March 26 at Oaklawn, is entered in an entrylevel allowance race Saturday. The Vulcan is for 3-year-olds bred in Alabama.
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