Alsvid begins 8-year-old season in optional-claiming sprint

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The ageless Alsvid will launch his 8-year-old season Thursday at Oaklawn Park, where he meets fellow stakes winners Candy Ruby, Will Munnings, Sharp Art, Imahit, and Fleet Eagle in a competitive optional $50,000 claiming sprint at six furlongs. The race could produce starters for the sprint stakes series at Oaklawn, which starts Feb. 4 with the $125,000 King Cotton and builds to the Grade 3, $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on April 15.

Alsvid won the Count Fleet two years ago and last year ran second before winning the Kelly’s Landing at Churchill Downs and finishing third in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby, which was won by Lord Nelson in July at Del Mar. Alsvid has won 15 of 46 starts and has earned $1,327,215.

“One of his best attributes is his longevity,” said Chris Hartman, who trains Alsvid for Black Hawk Stable. “He still has the same speed. He’s an awesome work horse. He loves his job, and he’s really never had any kind of big setbacks in his career. He’s always been real healthy.”

Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Alsvid, by Officer
Last 3 Beyers: 87-96-91

◗ He will be making his first start since Nov. 19, when he finished fourth in the $78,000 Bet On Sunshine at Churchill Downs. He finished three lengths behind Recount, and the race’s runner-up, Holy Boss, won the Duncan F. Kenner Stakes last Saturday at Fair Grounds.

“In the Bet On Sunshine, he just sort of flattened the last little bit of the race,” Hartman said. “He had a pretty serious work right before that race, so I think it took a little starch out of him. We freshened him up a little bit after that, and he’s come back pretty good. He’s pretty fresh and happy. Seems to be.”

◗ Channing Hill has the mount on Alsvid, an 11-time stakes winner who will break from the rail in the field of eight.

“He always breaks well, and hopefully he’ll be able to work a trip out from there,” Hartman said. “I don’t see [the post] as a problem. He’ll have a little cover there, and that’s not a bad thing for him.”

Candy Ruby, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 91-91-89

◗ He is a candidate to wire the field. The main-track stakes winner set a quick pace and prevailed in his turf debut in his last start Oct. 26 at Remington Park, where he covered five-eighths of a mile in 55.60 seconds.

That second-level allowance has become a key race. Runner-up Media Kid came back in his next start to take a first-level allowance at Remington with a Beyer Speed Figure of 75, and sixth-place finisher Ima Dingdong Daddy won an optional $20,000 claiming race at Retama Park with an 85 Beyer.

◗ Ramon Vazquez has the mount for Mercedes Stable and trainer Robertino Diodoro.