Arkansas-bred Georgia's Reward prepped and ready for the Downthedustyroad

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Ron Moquett said an important function of his stable each meet at Oaklawn Park is being ready to capitalize on the Arkansas-bred opportunities. On Saturday, his stable has a good chance to win the first statebred stakes of the meet with Georgia’s Reward in the $125,000 Downthedustyroad.

The Downthedustyroad is a six-furlong race for fillies and mares bred in Arkansas. It drew a field of 11, including two-time stakes winner Bye Bye J and the undefeated 3-year-old filly Proud Victoria. The card also features an Arkansas-bred allowance sprint that drew Hoonani Road, who is unbeaten at Oaklawn. He is 7 for 7 over the strip, including two stakes here in 2019.

“The Arkansas-bred stakes program is very lucrative,” Moquett said.

Georgia’s Reward is sitting on go after launching her season last out in an allowance sprint won by What a Fox, who is now a two-time winner at the meet. Georgia’s Reward finished fourth in the Jan. 25 race, her first out since April.

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“We were able to get her an allowance race before,” Moquett said. “It was an open race against really nice horses, and she held her own against them. Very good for an Arkansas-bred. Now, it sets us up perfectly for the stakes, the Downthedustyroad.”

Georgia’s Reward earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 68, the best last-race number in the field Saturday. Ramon Vazquez has the mount from post 3.

JRita Young Thoroughbreds owns Georgia’s Reward, a 5-year-old mare by Warrior’s Reward who earlier in her career won the Rainbow Miss at Oaklawn.

The same owner-trainer team will start Proud Victoria. The 3-year-old filly by Laurie’s Rocket is 2 for 2. She won a maiden special weight sprint over open company last December at Remington Park, then opened her season with an allowance win over older statebreds Feb. 1 at Oaklawn. Joe Talamo has the mount from post 5.

Bye Bye J is the most accomplished runner in the field by virtue of her two stakes wins, including last year’s $100,000 Rainbow Miss at Oaklawn. She is making her first start since May, when she finished sixth to eventual champion Covfefe in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness in the Pimlico. Earlier in her career, Bye Bye J won the $75,000 House Party at Gulfstream Park.

Ricardo Santana Jr., has the mount from post 9 for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong and trainer Steve Asmussen.

◗ The Saturday card marks the season debut of Grade 1 winner Knicks Go.