Ain't He a Pistol pounces in Nodouble

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Ain't He a Pistol overtook pacesetter Sheriff Hotdog leaving the eighth pole and went on to 1 1/4-length win in the inaugural $50,000 Nodouble Breeders' Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Sunday. It was another two lengths back in third to Roll On Roll On.

The Nodouble, a six-furlong race for 4-year-olds and up, shared a card with the $50,000 Rainbow for 3-year-olds won by Texas Birdstone ($10). Both races were restricted to horses bred in Arkansas.

Ain't He a Pistol ($2.80) was content to let the pace go as Sheriff Hotdog rolled through fractions of 21.95 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.46 for the half-mile. Ain't He a Pistol drew even with the leader at the eighth pole and went on to cover the distance in 1:10.58. It was the 15th career win for Ain't He a Pistol, who came into the Nodouble off a sharp win in a wide-open allowance at Oaklawn.

"He gives his heart," said Lewis Matthews Jr., who owns Ain't He a Pistol.

Perry Compton rode the winner, one of five he had Sunday at Oaklawn. Tom Howard trains Ain't He a Pistol.

* Texas Birdstone closed fast to win a three-way photo over Coyotepass and Blushing Romeo in the Rainbow. He covered six furlongs in 1:11.25. Luis Quinonez rode the winner for Richard P. Hogue Jr. and trainer Steve Asmussen. It was the second stakes win for Texas Birdstone, who won the $50,000 Razorback Futurity for Arkansas-breds at Louisiana Downs last October.