HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park’s opening day got off to a rousing start Friday morning when Arkansas Derby winner Sandman breezed over the local strip as part of an outstanding division of horses Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse is preparing for the meet. It’s a regular Mark’s Millionaires Row, really. La Cara, who like Sandman has earned more than $1 million, worked Thursday at Oaklawn, while $2 million earner Nitrogen is set to arrive in about a month. Casse also has Ewing and Strategic Risk penciled in for separate preps on the road to this meet’s Arkansas Derby. It’s a much deeper division than the Florida-based operation he brought last season to Oaklawn. “We like it there,” Casse said. “We’ve had success there. And let’s face it, money talks. We’re in a different position now this year than we were last year. Last year, we had a lot of young horses that were still proving themselves. “This year, those horses are now there, the La Caras, the Sandmans, and later on the Nitrogens. I’m hoping we can have the same success where we have some of our young horses become stars. Our experience last year with Sandman was great and we’re just hoping to do that again. We’ve sent a lot of young horses that I feel like have potential.” :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Sandman won an allowance last season at Oaklawn before running second in the Southwest, third in the Rebel, and winning the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby. After taking down the meet’s richest race, he went on to run seventh in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness. Sandman is now gearing up for a 4-year-old campaign after being freshened, and on Friday worked a half-mile by himself in 49 seconds. “He’s breezed a few times in Ocala, and he’ll get a little more serious next week,” Casse said Friday. “We’re looking at the Razorback and would like to run him one time before that.” The Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap is Feb. 28. It’s part of a series for older horses that leads to the Grade 2, $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap on April 18. La Cara won a pair of Grade 1 races earlier this year, the Ashland at Keeneland and the Acorn at Saratoga. She breezed a half-mile in 50.80 Thursday and could see action around the first of the year, said Casse. Nitrogen, another Grade 1-winning 3-year-old filly, made her final push for an Eclipse Award last out when running second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. “I have her on a little break,” Casse said. “She wouldn’t probably come out there for another 30 days, 40 days. Plans are for her to come there.” As for young talent, unbeaten Grade 2 Saratoga Special winner Ewing is on schedule to arrive soon in Hot Springs. “He breezes next week in Ocala and probably goes to Oaklawn then,” Casse said. “The Southwest, that would be his goal.” The Grade 3, $1 million points race for the Kentucky Derby is on Jan. 31. Strategic Risk won the $300,000 In Reality division of the Florida Sire Stakes by nine lengths in his last start Nov. 29 at Gulfstream Park. “It was his first time going long and he was very impressive,” Casse said. “I have him penciled in for the Smarty Jones. I’m not 100 percent sure he’s coming yet, but he could be heading that way soon.” The $250,000 Smarty Jones on Jan. 3 is the first of the meet’s four points races for the Kentucky Derby. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.