Sebastian getting to ‘dictate’ terms
Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2008
HOT SPRINGS — Few horses this year at Oaklawn Park have generated as much buzz as Sebastian County, owned by country music superstar Toby Keith.
At the same time, perhaps few horses are a bigger mystery.
Finally, time for answers.
Sebastian County makes his long-awaited 3-year-old debut in today’s $ 50, 000 Mountain Valley Stakes at three-quarters of a mile.
A Triple Crown nominee trained by Don Von Hemel of Hot Springs, Sebastian County hasn’t started since suffering his only career loss in the $ 200, 000 Grade III Arlington-Washington Breeders’ Cup Futurity on Sept. 1 at Arlington Park in suburban Chicago.
“He’s had a lot of press, maybe more than he deserves,” said Von Hemel, Oaklawn’s leading trainer in 1981. “But one of those reasons is his owner. I’ve never said he’s a [Kentucky ] Derby horse. I’m saying he’s a nice individual and I’m glad I have him.” But if Sebastian County runs well today, Von Hemel said he plans to point the chestnut son of Hennessy — a full brother to unbeaten 2003 Futurity winner Cactus Ridge — toward the $ 300, 000 Grade II Rebel Stakes on March 15, Oaklawn’s final major Arkansas Derby prep.
“We’ve learned to let it come to us and try not to go to it,” Von Hemel said. “The horse is doing good. It’s a good spot for us to start out.” Von Hemel said he began eyeing the Mountain Valley as a potential spot to launch Sebastian County’s 2008 campaign about a month ago, adding the race should help his fitness when trying two turns in the Rebel.
Oaklawn already has run a pair of two-turn Arkansas Derby prep races — the $ 50, 000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 21 and Monday’s $ 250, 000 Grade III Southwest Stakes.
Von Hemel said he never considered either race for Sebastian County, or taking the colt out of town to run.
“We’ve let him dictate the terms,” Von Hemel said. “It’s a long year. There’s a lot of nice races around the country for a 3-year-old this year. A horse has to prove that he’s worthy of hauling around the country. Most of the time you can get them beat right at home.” But Von Hemel said he believes Sebastian County is wound tight enough after recording 10 published workouts at Oaklawn since Christmas Eve, including a three-eighths-mile blowout (: 36. 40 ) Wednesday morning.
In a compact field, Sebastian County is scheduled to break from post 3 under regular rider Larry Sterling Jr. and carry 117 pounds.
Also entered is Carson’s Legacy, winner of the $ 50, 000 Dixieland Stakes on Feb. 19; Ferragamo, a sharp entry-level allowance winner Jan. 20; Kinetic Motion, sixth in the Dixieland, and Mr. L. A., a Jan. 12 maiden winner at Turfway Park.
Sebastian County is a 2-1 cosecond betting choice in the program after winning 2 of 3 starts last year.
Sebastian County broke his maiden July 14 at Arlington, then cleared his first allowance condition there three weeks later.
In the Arlington-Washington Futurity, Sebastian County was beaten 2 lengths after being bumped and racing wide.
Sebastian County was then turned out at Keith’s farm in south central Oklahoma from mid-September until resuming training in early December at Oaklawn.
“I felt like he needed the time mentally and physically,” Von Hemel said. “There wasn’t anything wrong with him. I thought the time would do him a lot of good and we’d have a nice 3-year-old for the coming year.
“ That was the only reason that he was turned out. It was my decision and the owner and farm manager agreed with me because they thought it would be a good idea.” Von Hemel said during Sebastian County’s extended vacation that some of his baby fat turned to muscle.
“He doesn’t look like a baby anymore,” Von Hemel said.
Because Arlington runs on a synthetic surface known as Polytrack, Sebastian County will be racing on dirt for the first time today.
Von Hemel said he’s worked Sebastian County behind horses during training in order to become accustomed to having dirt kicked in his face.
“You might beat him [today ], but it won’t be the track that beats him,” Von Hemel said, adding that he expects Sebastian County to lay just off the pace. “This horse has got a lot of natural talent. At this point, it makes you excited to think about what might happen in the future.” In 2005, eventual champion Afleet Alex began his 3-year-old campaign sprinting in the Mountain Valley before stretching out in the Rebel and Arkansas Derby.
Von Hemel, though, said he’s not looking that far ahead.
“If it doesn’t work out in the Rebel, then we’ll go to the Bachelor,” Von Hemel said.
Like the Mountain Valley, the $ 50, 000 Bachelor on April 6 is 6 furlongs.
Von Hemel said the colt was named Sebastian County because Keith has family connections to the Fort Smith area.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
