Caldwell looks for quick return on claim in Arkansas Breeders' Championship

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Danny Caldwell won the claiming-game battle for Mrs. Beans, when a 28-way shake went his way last month at Oaklawn Park.

Now, he will attempt to win the war.

Mrs. Beans is one of 14 runners set to start in the $200,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Championship on Saturday at Oaklawn. The 1 1/16-mile race is the richest offering for Arkansas-breds, and the field of 3-year-olds and up includes the last two winners of the race, Tempt Fate and Man in the Can, and the allowance prep winner Bandit Point.

“It’s a very tough race,” Caldwell said. “It’s a huge field, and I could see six to eight horses winning the race. It won’t be easy. I think we should be right there at the end if we get a good trip.”

Caldwell and trainer Federico Villafranco have had success with claimed horses winning stakes. Caldwell took Don’t Tell Noobody for $15,000 in 2020, and the horse won that year’s richest offering for Oklahoma-breds, the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Championship at Remington Park. Rated R Superstar was a $50,000 claim last year, and his wins include this year’s Grade 3 Essex at Oaklawn.

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Mrs. Beans, a 4-year-old gelding, was a $20,000 claim on April 3. Caldwell has dropped 76 claims at the meet, which started in December. He’s been able to secure 24 horses, including eight through shakes. He said winning a 28-way shake for Mrs. Beans was new territory for his operation.

“I’d won a 16-way one until that one,” he said.

Caldwell thought Mrs Beans might be a candidate for the Arkansas Breeders’ Championship. The day he claimed the horse, Mrs. Beans won at a mile against Arkansas-breds at 4-5. The Beyer Speed Figure of 84 earned by Mrs. Beans is the co-highest last-race number in Saturday’s field.

“I saw he had been competitive at the allowance level, and he seemed like he would be able to get the distance,” Caldwell said. “The day I claimed him, he seemed to handle it very well. He came out of the race good and has worked good enough.”

Mrs. Beans went five-eighths in a bullet 1:00.20 on April 27 at Oaklawn. In his last start, he was prominent throughout. He will break from post 13 under Martin Garcia.

“I think we let him run into the first turn and get position,” Caldwell said. “I don’t think we have to be on the front. I think he’ll be up close. It seems like he has enough speed to get position. Martin Garcia has won a lot of races. He’ll get the best spot for us.”

Mrs. Beans is by Cyber Secret, winner of the Oaklawn Handicap at 4 who also is the sire of Don’t Tell Noobody. Mrs. Beans is out of All About Allie, a six-time stakes winner who earned more than $300,000.

Tempt Fate, the reigning Arkansas-bred of the year, stakes winner K J’s Nobility, and Bandit Point are among those who could go over $500,000 in earnings Saturday.