Oaklawn: Smashing debut winner Jan’s Perfect Star returns

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Jan’s Perfect Star will be making her first start for new connections, her first start against winners, and her first start against open company when she runs in Thursday’s eighth race at Oaklawn. She comes into the first-level allowance sprint for fillies and mares off a 12-length debut win Feb. 7 at Oaklawn for which she earned a Beyer of 89.

Jan’s Perfect Star was sold privately following the score, with Dave Clark of Little Rock, Ark., purchasing the filly and transferring her to his trainer, Randy Morse. A 4-year-old by Imperialism, Jan’s Perfect Star beat fellow Arkansas-breds in her debut, when she covered six furlongs in 1:10.60.

“Her race was huge,” said Morse. “She ran almost two seconds faster than the open maiden special weight for fillies that same day.”

Jan’s Perfect Star will face seven others, including Apropos, a maiden special weight winner at Keeneland in her last start Oct. 21. Since that race, four of the horses she defeated have come back to win maiden special weight races, at Gulfstream, Churchill Downs, Mountaineer, and Turfway. Victor Lebron has the mount for trainer Al Stall Jr.

◗ Oaklawn’s track was closed Monday for maintenance after a wetter than usual winter. “We did extensive blading to even out the surface a little,” said David Longinotti, assistant general manager for racing at Oaklawn. There was also material added to the stretch.

◗ Jockey Calvin Borel, who is one win shy of career victory 5,000, has mounts in the sixth and ninth races Thursday.