HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – At first glance, there does not appear to be an abundance of pace in the $150,000 King Cotton on Sunday at Oaklawn Park, which could give the quick Roll On Big Joe a tactical advantage as he seeks to win his third consecutive stakes race. However, the six-furlong race for 4-year-olds and up drew a field of nine seasoned sprinters, and some have used front-running tactics in the past. The group also includes a new divisional member in Frost Free, who could go from the bell. Others in the field might run somewhat fresh after missing training time due to Winter Storm Fern. Regardless of how the King Cotton unfolds, Roll On Big Joe should be able to adapt to the pace dynamics when he breaks from post 5 under Julien Leparoux. “I always like him better stalking, but if he’s in front, [fine],” said trainer Bob Hess Jr. “He definitely doesn’t need the lead. I think he has a pretty decent post, so if he’s in front, fine. If he’s stalking, second, third, fourth,whatever, that’s fine with me, too. That’s up to Julien.” :: Live racing action at Oaklawn Park! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Leparoux has ridden Roll On Big Joe in his last six starts, four of them wins. The victories include the Grade 3 Kelly’s Landing in June at Churchill Downs, the Bet On Sunshine over the same surface in November, and the Ring the Bell Stakes in his last start Dec. 13 at Oaklawn. Roll On Big Joe has again shipped in from Kentucky. “We got him there a couple days ago,” Hess said Thursday. “Like most everyone, we did miss a work, but he’s been sharp and obviously likes the surface.” Hess said earlier in the meet that the sprint series at Oaklawn, which is led by the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap in the spring, is his current focus for Roll On Big Joe. “He’s won on Tapeta, but I still think the real money [for the division] is on dirt,” Hess said. “I tinkered with Turfway because it wasn’t much of a ship, [but] I just felt like if he ships and needs a little more time between races, that’s fine. We’ll just go race to race. I think the real money is going to be on dirt, and we’re hoping he continues to improve and become a better horse.” Wendelssohn could be closer to the pace than he was in his last race, when he finished fourth in the Duncan Kenner at Fair Grounds. That race was over 5 1/2 furlongs and he will be picking up a bit more real estate Sunday. Tyler Bacon has the mount for trainer Chris Hartman. Hartman also will saddle the serious closer Tejano Twist, an earner of $1.6 million. Francisco Arrieta has the mount from post 6. Durante is a horse who could be closer to the pace than he found himself last time, and so is Tough Catch. Bourbon Bash won an overnight stakes from a stalking position last out at Oaklawn. Sunday’s field also includes stalker Gold Sweep and closer Lips Say Bliss. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.