Beulah Park: Babst/Palacios rebound spot for Almighty O

Almighty O will attempt to return to his winning ways when he takes on nine other Ohio-registered older horses in the $50,000 Babst/Palacios Memorial on closing day of the Beulah Park winter/spring meet.

Trained by Doug Cowans, Almighty O was a perfect 4 for 4 in 2012. All four victories came against statebred company at the same six-furlong distance as the Babst/Palacios. The 6-year-old gelding’s final victory in 2012 came in the $50,000 Honey Jay at Thistledown on Aug. 18. In his only attempt this year, Almighty O finished last of five in an open optional claimer April 16.

Almighty O has won from off the pace as well as gate to wire. That versatility should work to his advantage as there is an abundance of early speed in the Babst/Palacios.

Cowans is having a banner year, having won 13 of 27 starts through racing Wednesday. Luis Gonzalez will ride Almighty O for the first time.

Trainer Jeff Radosevich sends out a formidable trio of horses, each making his first start of the year. Sneak a Cold Treat is the 124-pound highweight in the race and will be spotting rivals from 1 to 13 pounds. The 8-year-old gelding closed 2012 with wins in the Best of Ohio Sprint on Oct. 12 and in a statebred optional claimer going a mile Nov. 17, both at Thistledown. Ademar Santos will ride Sneak a Cold Treat for the first time.

The Radosevich-trained Klassy Korbin finished in a dead heat for second with Sneak a Cold Treat in the Honey Jay last season behind Almighty O. A 7-year-old gelding, Klassy Korbin set the early pace before tiring. Klassy Korbin and Sneak a Cold Treat were coupled in that race, but in the Babst/Palacios all three of Radosevich’s entrants will be separate betting interests.

Raise the Reward is the only Radosevich entrant who runs from off the pace, and he may benefit from the expected quick pace of this race. Although more of a route horse, the 7-year-old Raise the Reward has won at the six-furlong distance.

The remainder of the field is Catlaunch, Gold Baron, Candy Bites, Daves Kind Eyes, In my Rear View, and Pretty Much Mine.