And the edge goes to . . . Remington Rock

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Remington Rock, second to San Pedro in the $75,000 Louisiana Handicap last out at Fair Grounds, has a seasoning edge over most of his rivals in the featured eighth race Sunday at Oaklawn Park.

The one-mile allowance has drawn a competitive field of six horses, including the Cole Norman-trained duo of Royal Spy and Unrullah Bull, who are both returning from layoffs. The race, which carries a purse of $36,000, should produce starters for the $75,000 Essex Handicap on Feb. 23.

Remington Rock returns to his favorite track Sunday. He has finished first or second in 10 of 15 starts at Oaklawn, and last year became a graded winner here when he captured the Fifth Season Breeders' Cup.

Marlon St. Julien, who was aboard Remington Rock when he closed for second, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, in the Louisiana Handicap on Dec. 29, has the mount for trainer Richard Jackson.

Unrullah Bull, who has not raced since he was beaten a half-length by Mr Ross in the $75,000 Silver Bullet Centennial Handicap at Remington Park on Sept. 14, appears to be the chief threat to Remington Rock. He has more speed than that one, which should serve him well at the distance Sunday.

Here she comes, Miss Seffens

Miss Seffens, who made a name for herself at Oaklawn Park two years ago by winning the first four starts of her career, including the $50,000 Martha Washington Stakes, is to return to training on Feb. 1. She has not raced since finishing fifth as the favorite in the Grade 3 Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland on Oct. 21.

"We gave her a little R and R," said Steve Wren, who trains Miss Seffens for Kaaren and Hays Biggs. "She's been getting a little sunshine."

Miss Seffens could make her comeback during the Racing Festival of the South in the $100,000 Carousel Breeders' Cup on April 7. "We let her tell us when she's ready, but that's the race that's on our mind right now," said Wren.

Barnett has promising pair

Bobby Barnett, who won three Oaklawn training titles between 1994-96, has a pair of promising 3-year-olds pointing for races at the meet. The first is Gold Shadeed, a maiden winner in his first two-turn start last out. He is a half-brother to Circle of Life, a Grade 1 winner of $268,925.

"Hopefully, he'll turn into a stakes horse," said Barnett. "It looks like he might be all right for the 3-year-old series at Oaklawn." Gold Shadeed races for his breeder, John Franks.

Barnett's other prospect is Never Out, who has not raced since she finished second, beaten a length, in the Grade 2 Alcibiades at Keeneland on Oct. 5. "We backed off and gave her some time," said Barnett. "She will be back Feb. 1."

Never Out won her debut at Ellis Park, then came back and cleared her second condition by 10 lengths at Turfway Park. She races for John Raven. Barnett has 20 horses at Oaklawn.

What's next for Mr Ross

Trainer Donnie Von Hemel is considering all his options for Mr Ross, who became a millionaire two weeks ago with his win in the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston. "There's the three older handicap races here that we'll be looking at, and we'll probably also look at the Fair Grounds," said Von Hemel.

Last year, Mr Ross won two of the three major handicap races at Oaklawn, taking the Grade 3 Essex and Razorback before finishing second in the Grade 1 Oaklawn Handicap.

* Bidis and Kettle Man, who are pointing for the $50,000 King Cotton on Feb. 2, both worked bullets Friday. Bidis, the race's defending champ, went five furlongs in 1:01.40, while Kettle Man traveled six furlongs in 1:13.

* Roythelittleone, who won the Hot Springs in 1996, makes his 10-year-old debut Sunday in the first race, a 5 1/2-furlong starter allowance. Terry Thompson has the mount for trainer Stanley Roberts.

* Oaklawn will race Friday through Sunday this week, then return to its traditional Wednesday to Sunday schedule beginning Feb. 6.