Bourbonize nips Knock Em Flat in Northern Spur

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Bourbonize closed with a rush to catch Knock Em Flat nearing the wire and win the $100,000 Northern Spur by a neck at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. Knock Em Flat finished three-quarters of a length clear of third-place finisher Fabulous Kid.

The Northern Spur, a one-mile race for 3-year-olds, was the first of four stakes on a program topped by the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

Bourbonize settled behind the first flight along the rail in the Northern Spur, as Fabulous Kid, a late nominee to the Triple Crown, cruised through fractions of 23 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.77 seconds for the half-mile, tracked by Knock Em Flat. Bourbonize worked his way off the fence on the second turn, swung four wide into the stretch, and closed well in his first start in blinkers. He covered the distance on a track rated fast in 1:38.06.

“He’s worked the last few times in blinkers,” said winning trainer Kellyn Gorder. “It wasn’t so much to put speed in him, but to keep him focused in the lane.”

Ramon Vazquez rode Bourbonize for Bourbon Lane Stable.

“This is a nice way to end the meet for sure,” said Gorder.

Bourbonize has now won 3 of 5 starts. He entered the Northern Spur off a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby. Bourbonize is a son of Tiz Wonderful and he was bred in Kentucky by Troy Rankin and Joe Davis.

Street Story bookends meet

Street Story won a stakes on opening day at Oaklawn and also won one on closing day Saturday, when she rallied through the stretch to capture the $100,000 Instant Racing by a half-length over Jojo Warrior. It was another 4 1/2 lengths back in third to Adrianne G. Street Story’s other stakes win this meet came in the $100,000 Dixie Belle on Jan. 10.

Street Story ($30.60) let the pacesetters go Saturday, as Adrianne G took the field through an opening quarter in 21.40 seconds and a half-mile in 44.69. Street Story, with jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. aboard for trainer Steve Asmussen, covered six furlongs in 1:10.20.

Street Story races for Whispering Oaks Farm.

Asmussen wrapped up the Oaklawn training title Saturday, while Santana won the riding title and Danny Caldwell was the leading owner.