The Big Beast works bullet five furlongs

The Big Beast breezed five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.20 on Tuesday at Oaklawn in his first work since winning a local allowance March 1. He remains a candidate for either the Carter at Aqueduct or the Count Fleet at Oaklawn, according to trainer Tony Dutrow.

“He’s doing super,” Dutrow said Wednesday. “He’s still on schedule for either the Carter or the Count Fleet. A decision really doesn’t have to be made on that right now. We’re just watching our horse, and he seems to be very, very good.”

The Big Beast breezed under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. Oaklawn clocker Ronnie Morse had his final quarter-mile in 23.80 seconds and had him galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.40.

The Big Beast, the winner of last year’s Grade 1 King’s Bishop, races for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong.

◗ Santana had a three-day suspension for a riding infraction reduced to one day at a recent hearing before the Arkansas Racing Commission, according to Oaklawn steward Larry Snyder. Santana is serving the day Friday.

◗ Ron Moquett was named the Arkansas Racetrack Chaplaincy’s person of the year at a gala last week, said event organizer Jerry Hissam. A Kentucky Derby-Kentucky Oaks box sold for $6,000 during the annual fundraiser, said Hissam.