The arrow points to Lullaby Bling

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Looking for a red horse to bet on Valentine’s Day?

Lullaby Bling could fit the bill in the featured eighth race Friday at Oaklawn Park.

The red roan – a horse with a chestnut coat that includes white or gray hairs – will start as one of the top contenders in the conditioned allowance over six furlongs.

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“He’s a fun horse,” said trainer Danele Durham. “He’s got a fan club of people because they love his color.”

Lullaby Bling is part of a nine-horse field for the sprint for 3-year-olds and up who have never won three races. His chief rivals include stakes winner Dunph, Kentucky invader Augie, the sharp Impressed, and the comebacking Firecrow.

KEY CONTENDERS

Lullaby Bling, by Too Much Bling

Last 3 Beyers: 75-73-80

◗ He contested the pace and ran on well through the stretch in an optional $50,000 claiming race Feb. 1 at Oaklawn. The winner, Curate, dominated by more than five lengths and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91.

“I was real happy with his effort,” Durham said of Lullaby Bling. “Sometimes you just have to say we were third best that day.”

◗ Lullaby Bling will break from post 5 under Luis Quinonez. The horse will be making his second start of the meet Friday.

“It’s a little quick back, but we did not breeze him in between,” Durham said. “The race was in the book and it was going. I’ve been looking for a non-winners of three for him for quite some time. Whenever you get that spot, you have to take it.”

◗ The 4-year-old Lullaby Bling has stepped up his game over his last several starts, putting up his best career Beyer Speed Figure, an 80, in November, winning a first-level allowance at Remington Park.

“He’s really coming into his own,” said Durham, who owns Lullaby Bling with Ed Farmer Beggs II. “He had such a growth spurt. He really got a little taller than we expected – way over 17 hands – and he kind of had to grow into that.

“He’s more like a mature horse now.”

◗ Lullaby Bling is a full brother to Bling On the Music, who defeated male rivals by 13 lengths in the 2016 running of the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity at Arapahoe Park. Durham said in the interest of Valentine’s Day, it’s worth noting Lullaby Bling has a yearling half-sister by Cupid.

Impressed, by Flashpoint

Last 3 Beyers: 83-64-60

◗ He’s looking for his third straight win, having captured a maiden special weight and an optional $20,000 claiming race in his last two starts, both sprints at Hawthorne.

◗ He owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, an 83.

◗ Julio Felix has the mount for Muddy Waters Stables and trainer Ingrid Mason.