Ain’t Life Grand pulls clear in Lake Ouachita Stakes
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Ain’t Life Grand won the sixth stakes race of his career Friday, when he barreled down the stretch for a two-length victory over Frosted Grace in the $150,000 Lake Ouachita at Oaklawn Park. It was another half-length back in third to 4-5 favorite Mr. Wireless.
The Lake Ouachita, which had its first running Friday, was for 4-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles. There were three scratches, and all were runners with speed, Forza Di Oro, Joe Frazier, and Perfect Flight.
The scenario put Ain’t Life Grand ($22.40) and Mr. Wireless closer to the pace than usual. Ain’t Life Grand settled in fifth, but was about three lengths off leader Great Escape, who was pushed along by Mr. Wireless through fractions of 23.88 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.92 for the half-mile, and 1:12.46 for six furlongs. Mr. Wireless moved to the fore into the stretch, but Ain’t Life Grand was winding up and kept coming through the lane to get past Mr. Wireless, then new leader Frosted Grace. Ain’t Life Grand covered the distance in 1:42.76, on a fast track that was upgraded from good three races earlier Friday.
“He just ran a big race,” said winning trainer Kelly Von Hemel. “It took all we could do to get by [Frosted Grace]. He’s a really nice horse. It was a big win for us."
Martin Garcia was aboard Ain’t Life Grand.
Von Hemel said Ain’t Life Grand will now be based at Prairie Meadows. The Oaklawn meet closes Saturday. Last year, the Iowa-bred defeated open company in the $300,000 Iowa Derby.
“Our goal this summer is the Cornhusker,” Von Hemel said of the meet’s major stakes for older horses at Prairie Meadows. “We’ll get up home and map out a plan. There’s a prep race at Prairie to get to the Cornhusker.”
Ain’t Life Grand is a son of Not This Time who races for his breeders, RPM Thoroughbreds. He has now won 7 of 12 starts, and the win Friday pushed him over $500,000 in earnings, with a new bankroll of $585,624.
Oaklawn celebrated breast cancer survivors on a “pink out” afternoon. There was a parade down the apron mid-card and later some of the Oaklawn staff that survived breast cancer made the winner’s circle presentation for the feature Friday.
Of the scratches, Joe Frazier is entered back in the $150,000 Lake Hamilton, which is one of two closing-day stakes Saturday at Oaklawn.
Perfect Flight is entered back in the Knicks Go, an overnight stakes Saturday at Churchill Downs.
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