Cabrera off mounts indefinitely

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockey David Cabrera will be off his mounts for an undetermined period as he tends to a family emergency in Mexico, according to his agent, Jose Santos Jr. He missed racing here Saturday.

“We spoke the other night, and he is down in Mexico,” Santos said Monday. “He’s going to touch base whenever he thinks he can be back, maybe riding the last few weeks of this meet, or waiting until Prairie Meadows.”

Cabrera won the Remington Park title in December and set a single-season record for mount earnings at the track with $2.7 million. He ranks seventh in the current standings at Oaklawn.

Santos is now representing Tyler Baze, who has moved his tack to Oaklawn from Southern California. Baze picked up mounts on Sunday’s card and after finishing second in his first two races at the meet won the seventh race with Bolita Boyz.

“He’s been able to get on live horses right out of the gate,” Santos said.

Another rider represented by Santos, Israel Rodriguez, is headed to Florida after riding here Thursday, Santos said.

◗ Oaklawn handled $16,221,639 from all sources on its 11-race Rebel Day card Saturday – the track’s highest handle for a single program outside of an Arkansas Derby Day, according to Oaklawn official David Longinotti. Oaklawn handled $13,924,084 on its live races offtrack and another $2,297,554 ontrack, where attendance was an estimated 45,500.

◗ Amy’s Challenge, who has won back-to-back sprint stakes at the meet, worked a half-mile in a bullet 45.60 seconds first after the break Monday at Oaklawn. The track’s clockers caught her galloping out five furlongs in 58.20. She went by herself for trainer Mac Robertson.

◗ Kentucky Dan, 4-year-old out of champion Silverbulletday, ran fourth in his career debut Sunday at Oaklawn and was claimed out of the race for $20,000 by Racer’s Edge and Maxis Stable and trainer Norm McKnight.

◗ Always a Suspect and Strolling lead the eighth race, an optional $20,000 claiming sprint that highlights the Thursday card.