Carbone to get first real test in Southwest Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The unbeaten and untested Carbone likely will make his next start in the Grade 3, $800,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, trainer Steve Asmussen said Tuesday.

The 1 1/16-mile race will reward its first five finishers Kentucky Derby points on a scale of 20-10-6-4-2. The Southwest anchors a card of four stakes Jan. 27.

Carbone has won his two career starts by a combined 12 lengths. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 85 in November, when he won a maiden special weight by eight lengths over Goldbrick, who is a half-brother to millionaire Mr. Wireless.

Carbone’s other start came Dec. 31, when made his two-turn debut at a mile in an entry-level allowance at Oaklawn. He seized the lead right after the start and led throughout, covering the mile in 1:38.63 and earned a Beyer of 86.

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“I thought he came home well – nice time first time going two turns,” said Asmussen. “He’ll most likely run in the Southwest.”

Carbone races for his breeders, Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt. He is a son of their champion sprinter Mitole.

“Mitole has a pedigree to do a lot,” Bill Heiligbrodt said. “We didn’t run him long because he was so good sprinting. When he did run a mile, he won the Met Mile and went in 1:32 and change.”

Carbone’s dam is Treasure in Heaven, who was purchased by Corinne Heiligbrodt. Her husband noted the couple bred and raced both the horse’s second dam, Richwoman, a Grade 3 winner, and third dam, Richbabe, a multiple stakes winner.

“It’s our breeding,” Bill Heiligbrodt said. “Richwoman and Richbabe were both outstanding horses Steve trained on the female side. This horse is fairly large. He looks more like the Richman type of horse, real tall, a little different made.”

Richman, the sire of Richbabe, won the Louisiana Derby and Illinois Derby.

Corrine Heiligbrodt named Carbone.

“It’s a Mexican charcoal,” Bill Heiligbrodt said. “We use it all the time in Texas.”

The name reflects the horse’s color, said Corrine Heiligbrodt.

“If you look at him up close, he’s almost black,” she said.

Corrine Heiligbrodt also explained the name for Valentine Candy, a horse the couple races in partnership. The 3-year-old is a two-time stakes winner this meet at Oaklawn.

“He’s out of a Candy Ride mare and he was born on Valentine’s Day,” she said.

Valentine Candy has won back-to-back sprint stakes, the Advent and Renaissance.

“We’ll keep him sprinting,” Asmussen said. “Obviously, we’re very happy with how effective he’s been. There’s plenty of opportunity to sprint at Oaklawn.”

The new $150,000 Ozark for 3-year-olds at six furlongs is Feb. 10 and the $200,000 Bachelor is April 27.

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