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HOT SPRINGS, Ark.– Trainer David Whited understands a horse’s varying degrees of speed firsthand as a retired jockey who won close to 4,000 races. So when he says Orchard House is a quick starter, he has a great frame of reference for such a statement.
Orchard House showed her speed in her debut last month, when she broke on top from the rail and went on to a more than seven-length win. She again figures to be prominent Friday, when she meets winners in a first-level allowance sprint for Arkansas-bred fillies and mares at Oaklawn Park.
“She’s super fast,” said Whited, who retired from riding in 1992. “I do my own works, and out of the gate, she’s a rocket. She is an absolute rocket. She leaves there in a hurry.”
Orchard House, who will break from post 3, made her debut Jan. 27 at Oaklawn. She earned a Beyer Figure of 63 for her win in the $25,000 maiden claiming sprint, and the number is the best last-race Beyer in the field Friday. Cliff Berry, who was aboard, has the call again for Whited, who also owns Orchard House.
The allowance drew 10 fillies and mares, and it figures to produce starters for the $50,000 Downthedustyroad at Oaklawn on Feb. 25. Whether or not Orchard House advances to such a race remains to be seen, said Whited. The filly did not start her career until she was 4 because of minor physical setbacks.
“I don’t want to get my expectations too high because she had some small minor things,” Whited said. “I don’t want to get my sights set too high for her. [But] she’s brilliantly fast. She’s cordial. She does everything absolutely perfect.
“I’d look for her to be in front for quite a ways [Friday.] I don’t know how far she’ll last, but she’s extremely fast.”
The race also drew Spadra, who won her maiden in the $50,000 Lady Razorback Futurity for Arkansas-bred 2-year-old fillies at Louisiana Downs in September. The score came in her debut, and it made her the early favorite for next month’s $50,000 Rainbow Miss for 3-year-old Arkansas-bred fillies at Oaklawn. Channing Hill has the mount Friday for trainer Lynn Whiting.
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UNCLE HARRY caught the eye with a solid late run in his local debut last time, just missing despite racing well back early in a race which featured a gate-to-wire winner; he was 2nd two back in his first try on the grass after setting the early pace, and the fact that he's versatile enough to lead or rate gives him added appeal in the finale. EDGE OF GLORY comes out of the same race as the top pick and he was in fact a half-length in front of that rival on the wire, gradually closing on the winner through the lane; certainly deserves a long look off that running line.
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